Qi
氣
Chinese concept of life energy, breath and vitality. Ki in Japanese, gi in Korean. In the internal arts, cultivating qi is the main goal of practice.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Qi (氣, simplified 气) originally means steam, air and breath. In philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine it denotes the life energy flowing through the body. In Japanese the same concept is read ki (気), in Korean gi (기). It appears in the words kiai, kihap, aikido and qigong. In martial arts qi is practised mainly in the internal styles such as taijiquan, baguazhang or xingyiquan, and in qigong exercises. Practitioners learn to control it by breath, relaxation and posture, with the center of gravity in the dantian. Science has not confirmed qi as a measurable energy. In practice the concept mainly describes the interplay of breath, relaxation and concentration.
Relations to other terms
See also
“Field of elixir” in the lower abdomen, in Chinese tradition the store of qi and the body's center of gravity. Japanese tanden.
Fajin發勁Explosive release of force by the whole body, typical of internal Chinese styles. A short strike comes from the legs and hips, not just the arm.
Kiai気合A short energetic shout in Japanese martial arts. It tightens the trunk, supports the exhalation and in kendo is a condition for a strike to be scored.