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| Traditional ] ] theories also discuss qi. For instance, ] attempt to cultivate and direct this energy during combat as well as to ensure proper health. Many other martial arts include some concept of qi in their philosophies. | Traditional ] ] theories also discuss qi. For instance, ] attempt to cultivate and direct this energy during combat as well as to ensure proper health. Many other martial arts include some concept of qi in their philosophies. | ||
| The nature of qi is highly controversial. Among some TCM practitioners, qi is merely a metaphor for biological processes similar to the Western concept of the ], and there is no need to invoke new biology much less new physics to account for its effects. Others argue that qi involves requires some new physics or biology. | The nature of qi is highly controversial. Among some TCM practitioners, qi is merely a metaphor for biological processes similar to the Western concept of the ], and there is no need to invoke new biology much less new physics to account for its effects. Others argue that qi involves requires some new physics or biology. Attempts to directly connect qi with some scientific phenonomenon have been attempted since the mid-nineteenth century. The philosopher ] argued that qi was synonomous with the later abandoned concept of ]. | ||
| Some in the early 21st century are attempting to link the | |||
| concept of qi to ]. As of yet, science considers these claims of qi as an independent force to be unconvincing, and laims that control of qi that allows one to transcend normal physical and biological processes are widely regarded as ]. | |||
| Ironically, views of qi as an esoteric force tend to be more prominent in the West where it is often associated with New Age spritualism. They are less prominent in China where traditional Chinese medicine is often practiced and considered effective, but in which esoteric notions of qi are considered either to contradict Marxist notions of ]. | Ironically, views of qi as an esoteric force tend to be more prominent in the West where it is often associated with New Age spritualism. They are less prominent in China where traditional Chinese medicine is often practiced and considered effective, but in which esoteric notions of qi are considered either to contradict Marxist notions of ]. | ||
Revision as of 04:00, 17 February 2004
Qi or, as spelled in Wade-Giles, ch'i (氣 in pinyin: "qi4"), is defined as "breath" and, by extension, "life energy" or "spiritual energy" that is part of everything that exists. Also known as ki (Japanese) or gi (Korean). References to it or similar concepts as a type of metaphysical energy that sustains living beings are used in many belief systems, especially in Asia. A common Western pronunciation (from Japanese) is as in the English "key".
The philosophical origins of qi stem from the earliest times in Chinese thinking. One of the most important early figures in Chinese mythology is Huang Di or the Yellow Emperor. He is storied to have been the culture hero who collected and formalized much of what subsequently became known as Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine assert that the body has natural patterns of metabolic energy associated with it that circulate in channels called meridians in English. Symptoms of various illnesses are seen many times as the product of disrupted or unbalanced energy movement through such channels. Traditional Chinese Medicine attempts to relieve these symptoms by balancing the flow of qi in the body using various techniques. Some of these techniques include herbal medicines, special diets, physical training regimens (qigong) and acupuncture (which uses tiny metal needles inserted into the skin to reroute or balance qi).
Traditional Asian martial arts theories also discuss qi. For instance, Internal Systems attempt to cultivate and direct this energy during combat as well as to ensure proper health. Many other martial arts include some concept of qi in their philosophies.
The nature of qi is highly controversial. Among some TCM practitioners, qi is merely a metaphor for biological processes similar to the Western concept of the soul, and there is no need to invoke new biology much less new physics to account for its effects. Others argue that qi involves requires some new physics or biology. Attempts to directly connect qi with some scientific phenonomenon have been attempted since the mid-nineteenth century. The philosopher Kang Youwei argued that qi was synonomous with the later abandoned concept of lumeniferous ether. Some in the early 21st century are attempting to link the concept of qi to biophotons. As of yet, science considers these claims of qi as an independent force to be unconvincing, and laims that control of qi that allows one to transcend normal physical and biological processes are widely regarded as pseudoscience.
Ironically, views of qi as an esoteric force tend to be more prominent in the West where it is often associated with New Age spritualism. They are less prominent in China where traditional Chinese medicine is often practiced and considered effective, but in which esoteric notions of qi are considered either to contradict Marxist notions of dialectic materalism.
Currently, individuals investigating qi promote three differing perspectives regarding its qualities and processes: (1) that these energies exist but do not affect organic life in any way; (2) that subtle energies are a "fifth force," distinctly different from the other four standard forces; (3) that the variations and complexities of subtle energies manifest the four forces and elements that compose all force and matter; or (4) that qi is merely a metaphor for normal biological processes and that no new physics or biology is necessary to explain the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine. Of these theories, only the last is taken seriously by most scientists and western doctors.
To date, there is no evidence that results claimed by martial arts students and patients of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners are the result of esoteric processes. Proponents of the esoteric theories of qi maintain that since modern scientific technologies have to this point been unable to create life out of organic chemicals in their laboratories, and that qi is a metaphor for the energy of life itself, it is to be thereby demonstrated that the mechanisms of how the subject of such a metaphor would work so far eludes the abilities of the scientific community to describe. Opponents of these theories argue that qi is merely a new form of vitalism, a theory that was largely abandoned in the early 19th century.
The concept of qi appears often in Chinese fiction, and a stock character in Chinese fiction is that of the Kung-fu master who has mastered the control of qi to the point that he can control the forces of nature. Many have remarked on the similar between the concept of qi and that of the Force in the Star Wars movies and suggest that George Lucas may have borrowed the concept.
See also:
Resources: ENERGY MEDICINE: The Scientific Basis, by James L. Oschman, PhD, Churchill Livingston, 2000
Qi (齊 qi2) is also the name of several states in Chinese history. See Qi (state).
Qi (旗 qi2) were Banners, the Manchu organizations.
See also QI