What is True Chi?
Master Simon,
I was wondering if you can help me understand what this means. I am quoting this from a book called “Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine.”
The quote is “Be imperturbable and the true chi will come to you”.
What exactly does this quote mean? I hope that you know what it means, and I trust your 30 years of experience with tai chi and qigong.
Danny
Hi Danny -
When you are looking at translations of Chinese texts, one thing to take special care with is “technical terminology”.
By that I mean, words that have specific meanings in Chinese, but when translated into English appear to use “everyday” meanings.
When I was working on my own translation of portions of the Chinese Tai Chi classics, this idea of “technical terms” comes up rather frequently. A lot of the nonsense you read from English speakers about the Tai Chi classics and other writings results from mistaking “technical terms” for ordinary English.
“True” (as in “true chi”) in this quote falls into this “technical terms” category. It does NOT mean the opposite of “false” as it would in English.
I’m not as familiar with the “Yellow Emperor’s Classic” as I am with the Tai Chi classics. But I believe in the quote you mentioned, “true chi” is a translation of the term “Zhen Qi” in the original.
“Zhen Qi” is often translated as “true chi” in other works. Other translators render it as “genuine chi”, “real chi”, “righteous chi”, “original chi”, “vital chi” or even “upright chi”.
The technical term “Zhen Qi” usually refers to one or more of the various types of chi. Often, it refers to the various “ying chi” (the chi that circulates inside the body through our energy pathways). Sometimes it refers to the combination of “ying chi” with “wei qi” (chi that protects our body from the outside). It may also refer to the conversion of jing (internal essence) to chi energy.
I realize these Chinese terms can be confusing, and we usually stay away from them as much as possible in your ChiFusion course. However, if you are interested in the theory behind these terms, we do have a report in the Bonus Material with your course, entitled “The Four Treasures of Tai Chi”. It explains the theory behind chi cultivation in great detail.
In the course itself, we do cover both “ying qi” and “wei qi”, with specific exercises to help their development. Though we avoid the Chinese technical term “ying chi”, you’ll find that the section in Level 2 on “Energy Pathways” (our “plain English” term for it) is all about ying qi. And wei qi (that’s a term we do actually use) is in the Tai Chi Energetics section in Level 3. Just look for those sections in your course to learn more about these types of “true chi” and how we develop them.
That’s the meaning behind “true chi”. As far as the rest of the quote, “imperturbable” in these ancient writings usually means something like “extreme calm and composure.” The idea, common to Chinese Medicine and Qigong, is that health begins by developing a deep level of calm.
So I would suggest a better translation of
”Be imperturbable and the true chi will come to you”
would be
”By calming the mind, body and breath, one can cultivate the maximum accumulation and free flow of chi.”
…and, as in equitation, calm is not the opposite of action… ! Or, in other words, what then is the proper explanation of calm…?
Christine Sander
29 Oct 11 at 1:49 pm
@Christine – In this regard, “calm” is very much like the Chinese term tiao, which we usually translate as “regulating.” For more on regulating, just check the bonus material at the end of Level 2 in the course.
Al Simon
29 Oct 11 at 1:50 pm
Following your recommendation, I have been following Marucus Santer’s course – now completed. He talks about the Small Universe. For the first time , in about 6 months now, I experienced a vibrant tingling that began in my fingers and extended through my whole body, till I almost felt I was ready to levitate!(ludicrous though this may seem).
Is this The Small Universe? If not, what?
Jonathan Biggs
29 Oct 11 at 2:00 pm
@Jonathan Since each master approaches this differently, I would hesitate to speak for Marcus. However, I generally use the term “small universe” (also known as the “microcosmic orbit”) to refer to the process of storing and circulating chi in two of the chi energy “reservoirs” located in the torso. I use the term grand universe, also known as “large circulation” or the “macrocosmic orbit”, to discuss the opening the 12 acupuncture meridians or energy “pipelines” that run from the major organs in the torso to the limbs. (See the “Energy Pathways” introduction to Level 2 for more on reservoirs and pipelines in chi circulation.) Teachers who teach only or primarily Nei Dan Qigong styles recommend working on small circulation first, to build up your store of chi, before working on grand circulation, which circulates the chi. Teachers who teach only or primarily Wai Dan Qigong styles reverse the process, believing that you should have unobstructed pathways before you attempt to increase your store of chi. Teachers who incorporate both styles usually (though not always) work on grand circulation first, like we do in our course. If you are actually feeling this whole body, it is more likely grand circulation rather than small circulation. However, having a “name” for the experience is unimportant. The experience is what counts.
Al Simon
29 Oct 11 at 2:01 pm
Excellent explanation. Thanks. This clears up a number of questions I’ve had about the terminology referring to “ch’i”.
Cynthia Quarta
29 Oct 11 at 2:04 pm
Some years ago I took a class of Tai Chi Qigong,at a local Courthouse. The Master who taught us was from Chile and he was awesome. We did about 1/2 of the class in water,with 6 foot wooden poles, it gave a weightless affect to the excerise. The balance of the class was in a standard room with wood floors and floor to ceiling mirrors. I was able to experience tru Chi in the class. It reminded me of the small toy my grandparents showed me,it was the string and the button and when you pulled it, you could feel the resistance and hear the hum. I had the same feeling with the chi, as we did the beginning excerise as my hands were moving in and out to locate my center/ chi. The energy changed so much that I actually was looking at the Master and all the sudden I was able to see a White Tiger and I am not sure who was more surprised he or I when I shared my vision with him. I had such energy and clarity when I was taking the classes. I had planned to continue the classes but the Master went on vacation and was killed in an accident. I have not been able to locate a class or even a video that was the same movements as what I was used to.
Thank you for this great blog. It brought back great memories.
Charlotte KIng
29 Oct 11 at 2:36 pm
When you learn to respond with equanimity to all situations in your life, and look for how everything is “for” you, your ch’i will flow freely. Resistance and tension cause ch’i blockages. Since this is quoted from the Yellow Emperor, they are obviously referring to ch’i that affects your health.
Jarl Forsman
29 Oct 11 at 2:56 pm
Hi Al and the whole Taïchi Community there, I had a chance to study martial arts, siprituality and chinese medecine as well as some of new and classical models of self-development. Up to my level of comprehension and studies, first I wish you all to forgive me my limit knowledges and humble understanding of these profound chinese concepts. All I want is to contribute to the clarification of theses notions for the benefit of all, to activate the think tank and deeper the level of understanding. The notion refered as “True Chi” should be in my book translated as “Genuine Concrete Chi” by opposition to the counter notion of “Virtuel Chi” (the No False Chi) like in chinese medecine there are “Genuine Fire” and “Virtual Fire”. There are also ” Upright Chi” versus “Bad Wrong Chi” as one of multiples sub-products of the “Geniune Chi” by our states of mind. I agree that these notions are almost very difficult to translate in one or two words and merit a long explanation of the whole concept to deeply understand for the benefit of applications in martial arts,in medecine or in Fengshui etc. ” Geniune Chi” is the ESSENCE of CHI (real Vital energy) of ours, already “digested and stored” normally in our Tan Tien or Hara. Therefore, my humble understanding of the quote: “Be imperturbable and the true chi will come to you” is the following: “Geniune Chi” gathered from the “Original Heaven Chi” that we accumulated from our birth inheritated from our parents and ancestors could be furher refined,accumulated and used only when we could over come our human emotions (7 emotions and 6 desires)which impeach us to unblock all the 8 channels, 12 mains meridians and the whole body meridians. Without these meridians opened and cleared, we could not “download” (gather) more “Original Heaven Chi” from the Universe, store It and circulate it for further useful applications. We will limited to the small heritage of “Original Heaven Chi” that we recieved from our parents since our birth and deplete it within the time (and with all the consequences of it like premature aging, dis-eases etc.). Be “imperturbable” means in a constant state of Voïdness or Emptyness and Loving Kindness State of Mind. When we are “Empty” accompanied by a state of “Permanent Universal Love”, we continually receive or “download” the pure & good Chi from the Universe (it’s unlimited) for the sake of cultivation and practice. The “HOW to do that” belong to different Schools of practice and cultivation and theirs owns methods. Everyone of us has our own destiny and affinity to meet and to fit with his or her own school and methods.Hope that will activate and deeper the debate for the benefit of all. May the “Geniune Chi” will flow into you all abundantly.
Vinh Nguyen
29 Oct 11 at 4:39 pm
I’ll start by saying that I have not been a student of Gigong/ Tai chi, except for Tai Chi Chih, which I took many years ago, but didn’t continue with. It’s not that I didn’t find it helpful, but it’s just that I have a problem focusing. At any rate, my humble interpretation of the quote is this: “When you can get to a point in your development when nothing perturbs you, either extreme on either direction, and you can connect to that inner force, you will experience that great feeling of oneness with the universe, that most of us have only gotten a slight glimpse of”
Yolanda Pazdera
29 Oct 11 at 11:25 pm
Hi: My humble question is: does somebody have a definition for:
“Bad wrong Chi”???
Sincerely Bo
Bo
30 Oct 11 at 7:07 pm
“Bad Wrong Chi” means the opposite of “Upright Chi”.
Sorry for my “house” translation of the concept. It means when your thinking at the moment is not Upright (bad and wrong)following the criterias of the Universal Law, you are going ashtray and then your Chi is not going upward,straight into the right meridians or channels. Chinese medecine calls the phenomena “san chi”. The result is you feel uncomfotable,your mind begin confuse, not lucid. You then attract wrong cirscumstances (unluck) toward yourself. Hope that help!
Vinh Nguyen
31 Oct 11 at 3:04 pm
there no good or bad chi, true chi i mean should the chi which we are individually related . the one which doesnot have form the one which allows us to select our parents its something follows us through lifes.
tv.ranga rao
1 Nov 11 at 1:50 pm
Great response Al … without seeing the original characters it is almost impossible to speculate exactly which qi the text is reffering to. In addition to your suggestions it could also be Yuan Qi or even Xin Dan.
Stuart Shaw
25 Nov 11 at 12:56 am
In response to what is True Qi or Zhen Qi: Giovanni Maciocia, in his book “The Foundations of Chinese Medicine” states that “True Qi is the last stage of transformation of Qi. Gathering Qi is transformed into True Qi under the catalytic action of Original Qi. True Qi is the final stage in the process of refinement and transformation of Qi. It is the Qi that circulates in the channels and nourishes the organs. True Qi assumes two different forms Nutritive Qi (Ying Qi) and Defensive Qi (Wei Qi). We cannot discuss the functions of True Qi without referring to its two different forms.
This quote from the book is what I believe is meant by that quote initially mentioned about True Qi by Danny. Original Qi is not another way of saying True Qi. It also transforms into True Qi.
And Jonathan, the tingling you are feeling is True Qi as it moves throughout your meridians:). You can achieve this effect in a number of ways, one of which is called Do-In, (pronounced dough in) which is essentially self-Shiatsu. Also there are a number of other exercises designed to build your Qi. These exercises I learned while studying Yang long form and are very simple to learn.
For the record, I have been a student of Shiatsu since 2000 and have loved every minute of it.
Jackie Cook
26 Nov 11 at 3:37 pm