What is Qi? Unravelling The Mystery
- Ben Elliot
- Feb 6
- 5 min read
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture theory, Qi (气) (pronounced "chee") is known as the fundamental life force or energy that flows through the body and maintains balance and health. It's also been stated that all things are Qi and Qi is all things... so it's Matter? Daniel Keown expands on this idea in his book 'Spark & The Machine', discussing that Qi could be air, intelligence, growth, development and function. From a more tangible perspective, he explores the idea that Qi is the electricity that is conducted through our body via the connective tissue or fascia.
That's Qi solved then? Not really. It's an immeasurable concept from which the fundamentals bear little relationship to our modern understanding of the body. Does that mean it's an irrelevant ideology? Personally, I don't think so - though, as a pragmatist, I've had a bumpy ride with the concept.
The National Institute of Health in the US stated that "it was impossible to determine a scientifically justified basis for the existence of Qi" and that it was "difficult to reconcile with contemporary biomedical information".
Considering this, it suddenly doesn't look good for Qi. Statements like this lead to an assumption that acupuncture and TCM are a load of rubbish. However, just because something doesn't fit into modern Western research boxes doesn't mean it's not valuable or real. There are a few different ways we could consider the immeasurable and un-researchable nature of Qi.
Firstly, we could assume that it is all a load of rubbish and that the frameworks of acupuncture and TCM don't work. But there is so much evidence to say acupuncture improves certain conditions, and we are understanding more about which mechanisms in the body are stimulated by acupuncture to help us get better. Many of which I've explored in previous blog posts. The aspect we don't understand fully is how and why acupuncture has these effects on the body if we use 'contemporary biomedical information' to conduct our analysis.
Another way to look at it is that we don't fully understand it yet. There is so much that we still don't know about the human body, and about science broadly. Although we often think we are at the pinnacle of scientific understanding, we also thought that 100 years ago, and may well think we are in 100 years time. Put simply, we don't know what we don't know until we know it, so to brand something as fake or false, that has clear outcome-based benefits could be considered naive.
The third consideration is - what if Qi isn't real, but is a way of describing bodily processes and systems in a time when very little was understood about the body's functions? This is an idea I've spoken about in previous blog posts - the concept that the language used in TCM theory is almost like a metaphor, or a philosophical outlook on functions they couldn't possibly have understood when the terms were conceived. To explore this idea further we need to move past the basic description of Qi. It's too vague to pin to any modern scientific systems. The fact is, the ancient classic TCM texts define many different types of Qi, each with different functions, relationships and locations. When you start to explore this, you realise that Qi is not just a generalised 'life force', it's an umbrella for every detailed function within the mind and body.
Each type of Qi roughly describes a function or system of the body as we understand them today. Collectively, all the different types of Qi do provide a life-force or generalised picture of one's health. The balance and interactions between the different Qi types are what creates or disrupts the balance of health.
Yuan Qi (Original Qi / Source Qi / 元气)
Yuan Qi is inherited from our parents and related to Jing. Jing is seen to be a substance that fuels growth and development. Yuan Qi and Jing have been likened to our general constitution and DNA. Any genetic disorders passed down through parents can be attributed to these things in TCM.
Gu Qi (Food Qi / 谷气)
Gu Qi is extracted from the food we eat and so partially responsible for our day to day energy levels and related closely to our digestive system. If we eat badly or too little we will not generate enough Gu Qi, which will not only leave is lacking in energy but also leave less energy to pass on to different areas and systems, potentially leading to other health issues.
It is a a precursor to Ying Qi which is said to circulate the body and nourish the internal organs. Ying Qi is also related to the functions of the digestive system.
Zong Qi (Gathering Qi / 宗气)
Zong Qi is formed from the combination of Gu Qi and Kong Qi. It is stored in the chest and associated with the Lungs and Heart, as it is seen to support respiration and circulation. So essentially, what we eat relates to the health of our lungs and heart as well as digestion.
Wei Qi (Defensive Qi / 卫气) & Zheng Qi (Upright Qi / 正气)
Wei Qi is more like our first line of defense which protects the body from external pathogens. It circulates at the surface of the body (skin and muscles) and is associated with the lungs, as they have a direct connection to the exterior. In TCM terms, this is why many respiratory illnesses present skin, nail or dermatological symptoms.
When Wei Qi is combined with Yuan Qi, Zheng Qi is created. The functions of Zheng Qi likened to our immune response and internal resistance to illness.
Kong Qi (Air Qi / 室气)
Kong Qi is derived from breathing in the air. It is combined with Gu Qi in the Lungs to form Zong Qi, so has a relationship with the respiratory system.
Xie Qi (Pathogenic Qi / 邪气)
Xie Qi refers to external or internal harmful influences and factors that create illness, like germs. Xie Qi can invade the body when Wei Qi is weak. A basic reasoning we understand: when we are run down, we are more likely to pick up a cold.
Organ-Specific Qi (Zangfu Qi)
Each organ has its own Qi (e.g., Lung Qi, Liver Qi, Kidney Qi). This Qi ensures proper function of the organ. A dysfunction of deficiency of Qi in an organ will create symptoms specific to the functions of that organ. Though do be mindful that the TCM organs don't always match the functions of the biomedical organ.
Other Types of Qi
The previous types of Qi are those with purpose and function. There are types or general functions of Qi that are more descriptive in nature. For example, you can have Stagnant Qi, which refers to stuckness and pain - this could be used to refer to muscle tension, or stuck emotions that could be causing emotional trauma. Rebellious Qi describes functions working in the wrong direction or force. For example, coughing, sneezing, nausea or vomiting. Sinking Qi can be used to describe symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath or prolapse.
The spectrum of opinions on what Qi is, and what it does are vast. Hopefully this insight will provide some food for thought, whether you have ultimate faith in Qi and its functions, or if you're a skeptic who prefers measurable and tangible artifacts.
