What is qi? Although there
are many definitions of what qi is, an ancient Chinese medical textbook defined
qi as a small physical matter that make up the physiological body and maintain
its physiologic organs functions. Today, there are several scientific
experiments which have demonstrated that qi possess physical properties.
Therefore, we can interpret qi as physical matter in the following three
ways:
- It is present in the form of energy. When people experience with qi,
it is often described in the form of bodily sensations such as warmth, coolness,
a feeling of bloating, pain, itchiness and/or numbness. These sensations are
similar to the sensations we experience when we have contact with other forms
of energy that we understand such as numbness in electricity, coolness in ice,
and warmth in fire, etc.
- It circulates in space in the form of molecules.
Although it is so small that we cannot see it with the naked eye, but we can
detect its presence with our other senses such as feeling or smell. e.g. We
often smell flowers when we come close to them and the same thing with foods.
This is so because the molecules that carry the fragrant odors of flower and
food circulate in space; when we contact with any of these molecules, we smell
flowers and food. The same principle can be applied to qigong practice when the
practitioner detects or smell fragrant odors while in qigong condition.
- It
transmits as a field, wave after wave in all directions, as in an electrical
field or an electromagnetic field.
The Qi Composition We can say the qi inside the body comes from five
sources. It comes from the air we breathe, from the food we eat, from our
parents, from the environment and the internal qi or the combination of all the
above.
- Breathing qi
Regeneration is a natural process that
nobody can stop. Through this process, the body obtains oxygen from outside the
body and removes carbon dioxide from the body. This kind of exchange with our
environment is called breathing. This process involves the lungs, bronchi,
alveolus sac and the chest cavity. The bronchi transport the air, the alveolus
sac is the actual exchange location where the blood intakes oxygen and removes
carbon dioxide. Generally, air exchange in the lung is considered the external
breathing and blood cells exchange of oxygen is consider internal breathing. The
skin that covers our body is not just for protection and transmission. It is
also a breathing vehicle in contact with the environment through the hair
follicles on the skin. Among the breathing methods described above, the most
important method is breathing with the lung because it is the major source of
the body's oxygen intake. Internal breathing is the result of breathing with the
lung combining with the qi derived from foods. Breathing through the hair
follicles on the skin only function as a supporting role.
- Food qi
We need food and nutrients regularly for the body's growth and daily
activities. Most of the nutrients come from the food we eat. They come from the
process of digestion by the stomach and absorption by the intestines. These
nutrients are transported throughout the body by blood circulation. The food qi
has two functions. The first function is to protect the body from pathogens.
This form of the food qi is called the "Wei" or protective qi. Its activity
outside of the meridians. The second function of the food qi is as "Ying" or
nutritive qi which provides the body with the necessary nutrients. These two
kinds of qi exist throughout the body and provide nutrients and
protection.
- Original qi
Original qi is something which we are
born with. It is different from the qi from breathing or derive from the food we
eat. It comes from the parents. It is also called the primordial qi. This is the
qi that determines and maintains life. When this original qi weakens, one will
be sick. This weakness can be supplement by the "post-birth" qi or the qi from
food and breathing. Because one can supplement the other, it is difficult to
separate the original qi from the post-birth qi. Therefore, it is difficult for
people to understand the difference between the two.
- Environmental qi
The Tai Chi Chuan Classics said "Wu Chi is the origin of Tai Chi. Tai
Chi is the origin of the Two Elements, Two Elements are the origin of the Four
Phenomenon, the Four Elements are the origin of Pa Kua and Pa Kua is the origin
of everything or all things come from Pa Kua". From this statement, Wu Chi is
the originator of all things. This also refers to today's concepts of
environmental or universal qi. There are two techniques to obtain this
environmental qi.
Environmental qi is a special kind of energy, it
requires a very special technique to get it. The technique requires the
practitioner to be in harmony with or combine with the environment with proper
orientation and discipline so that the body qi will exchange with the
environmental qi. The exchange involves breathe out all the bad qi or sick qi
and breathe in or absorb all the environmental qi. Besides applying the mouth to
breathe, it involves the hair follicles on the skin as well. This qi will
improve the body's condition, prolong life and cultivate the ability to heal
others. The mechanics of this kind of breathing involve using the whole body as
a conscious act. It is different from breathing with the lungs which mainly draw
in oxygen.
The second technique is the practitioner channel this
environmental qi to heal others. From this channeling, the practitioner emits qi
onto the patient through certain acupuncture points and as the same time,
retain residue or certain amount of qi remain with the practitioner's own
body.
- Internal qi
Internal qi is the product of internal
practice following the guidance of intent, combined with the breathing qi, food
qi, original qi and environmental qi. The Internal qi's primary component is
the original qi, the secondary component is the environmental qi, food qi is the
initial source of energy of this combination and breathing qi is the application
of this combination. Everyone has the ingredients to produce this internal qi or
to combine the original qi, environmental qi, food qi and breathing qi. However,
not everyone has internal qi. Internal qi belongs only to those practitioners
who follow the restricted discipline of internal practice. Besides the
functions and characteristics described above, internal qi also differs from the
other four forms of qi in the following ways:
The four types of qi
described above circulate automatically inside the body. They are not under our
conscious control. Internal qi, on the other hand, is able to follow our command
and can move quickly or slowly to coordinate with our physical
motion.
The four qis described above each have their own functions.
eg. food qi circulates inside the meridians and original qi is responsible for
our physiologic organs' functions. These kinds of solo functions are very
different from the internal qi which circulates throughout the body. Therefore,
the internal qi has greater function and application.
The four qis
can maintain physiologic organs' functions and healthy condition. Internal qi
can lead the practitioner to developed psychic abilities, increase bone density,
improve physical strength, body endurance and improve mental capacity and
creativity.
Internal qi is the product of internal practice. The
amount of internal qi is determined by the quantity of internal practice.
These five kinds of qi described above are often referred to as the qi
inside the body. It is difficult to distinguish them because they are
inter-related.
What is qigong? Qigong is an ancient exercise and technique
developed to utilize the qi inside the body to improve oneself by way of harmony
with the environment and to improve many aspects of the body such as the nervous
system, immune system, inborn ability, and psychic ability. It can also reduce
stress and strengthen the external substances such as the muscular and skeleton
systems. It is as well as a technique to heal others. Although the technique has
existed for thousand of years, the actual term "qigong" was introduced in 1950's
by Liu Kai Jin (1920-1984). He defined "qi" as breathing and "gong" as a
progressive body positioning exercise as the result of breathing. This narrow
definition was based on the qigong technique that he practiced which emphasized
the utilization of breathing as a method to enter the tranquility condition to
improve one's health. Later, with the popularity of qigong practice throughout
China, practitioners begin to oppose this definition. Liu redefined "qi"
according to many ancient Chinese medical textbooks as all the qi inside the
body, especially with the emphasis on the original qi. He said that "qigong"
referred to the technique that improved the original qi to benefit one's health.
It is an exercise to regulate the body, regulate the breathing and regulate the
spirit.
In ancient China, qigong had many names. They were names based on the
techniques, the emphasis, the objectives and the benefits. Generally, qigong
techniques divided into five major schools. They are The Medical Qigong School
to strengthen one's health, and heal and prevent disease. The Confucian Qigong
School is for one's self-cultivation and temperament. The Taoist Qigong School
is for one's cultivation of moral character, longevity and harmony with the
environment. The Buddhist Qigong School aims to train and purify one's mind. The
Martial art Qigong School is training for one's physical strength and improving
health.
Although there are five major schools and thousands of qigong
techniques, qigong practices are generally divided into Physical and Spiritual
forms of practice. A practitioner begins with one of the two. They are opposite,
yet complementary. They both exist in all things. One should not recognize them
as two separate things. The practices that emphasize the Physical involve the
two human treasures: essence and qi. If a person regularly practices and
cultivates these two things he will improve his physical health. These practices
that emphasize the Physical make use of the conscious spirit. Through these types
of practice one becomes more fully aware physical objects or physical reality.
When speaking of physical reality we mean those things which have shape, mass,
occupy space and can be seen.
The practices that emphasize the Spiritual
utilize the unconscious spirit. Through these practices one become more fully
aware of the non-physical objects, it is commonly refer to as the spiritual
reality, or those things which do not have shape or mass, do not occupy space
and cannot be seen.
A correct and advance qigong technique must include both
the Spiritual and the Physical. It is often said that if one practices only the
Physical that this is the first disease in training. It is also said that if one
only practices the Spiritual, that person will never achieve high level and
skill.
The experiences, emphasis and priorities adopted by qigong
practitioners over the years divided qigong training into five major schools
which exist today. Although there are numerous techniques among the schools, all
of these techniques can generally be divided into their dynamic and static
components based on the physical requirement.
The static components deal with
the spiritual body and the tranquility condition of the intent. This is the best
method to improve health and longevity. The dynamic components deal with the
physical body and the dynamic condition of the internal qi. The dynamic aspects
emphasize physical movement, and also emphasize the coordination of power,
breathing, intent and physical movements.
Both the dynamic and static
components each have their separate special functions. Although the static
component also trains the physical body, its primary emphasis are on the
development and application of energy and power. Therefore, It's major functions
are to strengthen the nervous system, immune system, physiologic organs
functions, cogitation and mental creativity of the practitioner. Similarly, the
dynamic component also improves all of these things, but its main function is to
improve one's physical strength and health.
Article By Vincent Chu
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