Concept and Theory of Qi

Etymology  

The word Qi 氣, written in its old form, is made up of two separate words: Vapor 气and Rice 米. 

The general concept of the origin of the word Qi 氣 comes from the Ancients’ observation of their surroundings and their daily life chores. This word being a combination of two characters of Vapor 气and Rice 米, tells us that the Ancients formulated this word when they observed steam rising from rice being cooked.

Qi 氣, however, is more than just steam rising from a cooking pot. It is something not easily translated or interpreted with our limited language. It is something that is so pervasive and encompassing that it touches and affects everything within our universe. From the ticking of the clock to the changing of seasons, everything involves Qi. Nothing escapes its pervasiveness.

Different Definitions of Qi

Generally, when we talk about Qi, people tend to think of the air that we breathe. Well, this is partly true because air is also part of Qi. But Qi is more than just air. It is a lot of other things, not easily described in one word or a few sentences.

There are a lot of names being given to Qi. Here are a few different names: Subtle Energy; Vital Energy; Life Energy; Cosmic Life Force; Dynamic Energy; Bio-Energy; etc…

In Chinese Metaphysics, all the different branches such as FengShui, BaZi, Divination, Healing…. would have a similar definition and interpretation of Qi. Every explanation given by all the different practitioners of Chinese Metaphysics, points toward ‘something’ that is supposed to ‘give life,’ ‘sustain life,’ ‘wellbeing,’ etc.

Categorization of Qi

In all the similar definitions and interpretations of Qi, there are two and only two ‘main’ fundamental divisions of Qi, as acknowledged by all the branches of Chinese Metaphysics – Yin Qi and Yang Qi. 

Every branch of Chinese Metaphysics would base their subsequent divisions of the different types of Qi on this fundamental Yin and Yang principle, each individual branch of Chinese Metaphysics would have their own categorization of Qi.

For example, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi is divided into two main categories – ‘Congenital Qi’ and ‘Acquired Qi.’

‘Congenital Qi’ is Qi that we are born with and that is inherited from our parents. It consists of Original Qi and Essence (from our parents).

‘Acquired Qi’ is Qi that we take in after birth. It consists of Air and Essence from food and grains.

There also are sub-categorizations of the two mentioned above, but that is not the subject of discussion here. The Qi to which TCM refers all reside in the body of a person. It is very similar to the Qi that is referred to in QiGong and Daoism, as the life force that gives life, health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally.

The QiGong view of Qi is as a life force coursing through our body giving us energy and vitality. They do acknowledge that Qi can be acquired from external sources.

The Daoist, too, have a similar view, but they have a wider perspective world-view than TCM and QiGong. The Daoists view the world as one big vibrating phenomenon that is purely maintained by Qi. That everything from the tiniest molecule to the huge towering mountains is nothing but the manifestation of Qi.

The Daoist view of Qi also encompasses the ‘paranormal’ aspect of worldly phenomena. The traditional FengShui view of Qi, in the olden days, was similar to this Daoist view.

But in contemporary FengShui, there are many who hold a view of Qi that is now slightly different from the Daoist view, in the sense that they have exclude the ‘paranormal’ aspect of the phenomena of Qi. The contemporary FengShui view does not take that into account.

 

Excerpted from Chapter 7 of my book Chinese Metaphysics: Essential FengShui Basics