According to ancient texts of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the human being is composed of five fundamental substances: Qi (energy), blood, Jing (essence), Shen (spirit), and fluids. In this wealth of concepts, Qi stands out as an essential pillar, being one of the “Three Treasures” along with Jing and Shen.
Jing, known as essence, represents the substance that nourishes and sustains all life. It is the very source of existence. On the other hand, Shen, translated as spirit, embodies the vitality and purity found beyond Jing and Qi. It is the luminosity of those who are fully aware, resting in the liver during the night and residing in the heart during the day. Shen nourishes the mind’s ability to conceive new ideas and is the burning desire to live fully.
Qi, on its part, holds a fundamental place in Eastern thought, being a word that encounters challenges in translation to the West. Often interpreted as “vital energy,” this translation is incomplete as Chinese thought does not distinguish between energy and matter. Qi means “air” or “breath,” and indeed, everything in the universe, both organic and inorganic, is composed and defined by Qi. Its understanding is achieved through its various functions, a perspective that permeates all traditional Chinese medicine.
Qi in the human being comes from multiple sources: prenatal Qi transmitted by parents at the moment of conception and stored in the kidneys; Qi derived from digestion; Qi obtained through breathing, among others. Its presence is omnipresent, limitless in its reach.
This dynamic concept serves various functions in the human body: it generates movement, protects the body, forms the basis of internal transformations, sustains bodily fluids, and provides warmth. Different types of Qi, such as organ Qi, meridian Qi, nutritive Qi, and ancestral Qi governing the heart, demonstrate the complexity and vitality of this life-giving energy.
Beyond defining what Qi is, the key lies in understanding its functions. This energetic flow maintains balance, promotes change, and regulates life itself. In the universe of the human being, Qi is the intimate link with existence, as Chinese wisdom declares: “without Qi, there is no life.”
Jordi Ibern
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