What is "Qi"?
“Everything is composed of and defined by its qi”
The Web That Has No Weaver by Ted Kaptchuk
Qi is a central concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture, as well as in martial arts and exercise practices like Qigong and Tai Qi. It is a word that we often hear in American culture as we embrace these practices but many of us may not completely grasp its meaning.
Part of the difficulty in understanding the concept of Qi is that the word Qi doesn’t have a direct English translation, so we do the best we can with the often used translation to energy. While energy is a great analogy for some aspects of Qi I think another helpful concept to consider is the concept of matter.
Like matter, Qi isn’t really created or destroyed but transfers and shifts in its form and accessibility. Acupuncture treatments, Qigong exercises, and Tai qi forms all tap into Qi, and can be utilized to increase or build qi. Saying that we are trying to help build the qi of the body may make individuals think that these practices create Qi but it may be more accurate to think that these practices can help one better access their Qi, or balance their Qi.
So rather than considering it as a force or energy that we can create and input, it is more like Qi is ever present and takes many shapes. You can think of your acupuncture treatment as a conversation with your Qi. Acupuncture points are often very specific anatomical locations or junctions but your acupuncturist is choosing a particular combination of them to send a specific message to your body.
While the intention behind this particular combination of points is key and helps the acupuncturist gauge next steps as your condition shifts, ultimately the body decides what to do with the message. The body or the body’s Qi response may differ from one person to another even when the same points are chosen depending on the person treated and the circumstances surrounding the treatment.
While the concept of matter can be helpful when thinking about Qi in the above examples, Qi is also distinct from matter in that it can take on non-material forms. This is why energy is also helpful as a translation as well. We talk about sensing energy in a room. For example, have you ever walked in on an argument taking place and sensed that something was a bit off or tense? That is an awareness of the immaterial Qi of a space. Versus the functioning of a particular body part, which is a more material function of the Qi in the body. An example of that would be when one side of your body is tighter in a particular muscle group, meaning the flow of material Qi may be blocked or not flowing well after an injury or repetitive stress.
TCM further divides Qi into types by its function. There are many types of Qi in the body that are recognized by their direction of movement, or role in the body. Defensive Qi, for example, is on the exterior of the body and helps protect us from external things that can impact our body such as transmissible germs. Nutritive Qi is on the interior of the body and has a more nourishing role.
While the concept of Qi can be difficult to grasp for those of us who didn’t grow up with it culturally, I hope the above can at least be a more complete introduction to this vast concept. If this sparks your interest in Qi, two really great resources for learning more at a more introductory level include the books “Between Heaven and Earth” and “The Web That Has No Weaver.”
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