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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.

There is active research comparing qi to biophotons. Mainstream science considers all claims of qi actually existing to be religious claims that have no physical reality or proof. Claims that qi has been related to any physical or biological phenomenon are regarded as pseudoscience by much of mainstream Western science.

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; or (3) that the variations and complexities of subtle energies manifest the four forces and elements that compose all force and matter. This last perspective, if proven true, would indicate that qi is a particular expression of space at the sub-quark level, according to Western science.

To date, there is no proof that something other than qi brings about the results claimed by martial arts students and patients of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, results often verified by objective eyewitness accounts. Proponents of the 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.

See also:

• Taoism
• Neo-Confucianism
• Martial Arts
• Tai Chi Chuan
• Aikido
• Yoga
• Prana
• Kundalini
• Chakra
• Criticism of Qi gong

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