{"id":1464,"date":"2024-03-04T20:18:28","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T20:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qigongessencial.pt\/definition-of-qi\/"},"modified":"2024-08-13T12:24:13","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T12:24:13","slug":"definition-of-qi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/qigongessencial.pt\/en\/principles\/definition-of-qi\/","title":{"rendered":"Definition of Qi"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 has-pattern-background has-mask-background fusion-parallax-none nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:30%;--awb-background-image:url(&quot;https:\/\/qigongessencial.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/landscaper-gallery-04-1024x683.jpg&quot;);--awb-background-size:cover;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last fusion-animated\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;\" data-animationType=\"fadeInDown\" data-animationDuration=\"1.0\" data-animationOffset=\"top-into-view\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:8%;--awb-padding-bottom:8%;--awb-background-color:#faf9f6;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last fusion-animated\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;\" data-animationType=\"fadeInDown\" data-animationDuration=\"1.0\" data-animationOffset=\"top-into-view\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><b>Definition of Qi<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Qi is the energy or natural force that fills the universe.<br \/>\nIn Chinese tradition, there are three great powers in the universe: heaven, earth and man.<br \/>\nHeaven (or the universe) has the qi of heaven, the most important of the three, which is made up of the forces that celestial bodies exert on the earth, such as sunlight, moonlight, the moon&#8217;s gravity and the energy of the stars.<br \/>\nIn ancient times, the Chinese believed that the qi of the sky governed the weather, the climate and the   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">natural disasters.<br \/>\nEven today, the Chinese refer to the weather as &#8220;sky qi&#8221;.<br \/>\nEach energy field strives to remain in balance, so whenever the qi of the sky loses its balance, it seeks to rebalance itself.<br \/>\nSo the wind must blow, the rain must fall, and even tornadoes or hurricanes become necessary for the qi of the sky to reach a new energy balance.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below the sky, there is the qi of the earth.<br \/>\nThis is influenced and controlled by the qi of the sky.<br \/>\nFor example, too much rain will cause a river to flood or change its path.<br \/>\nWithout rain,     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the plants will die.<br \/>\nThe Chinese believe that the qi of the earth is made up of lines and patterns of   <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">energy, as well as the earth&#8217;s magnetic field and the heat hidden underground.<br \/>\nThese energies must also be in balance, otherwise disasters such as earthquakes will occur.<br \/>\nWhen the earth&#8217;s qi is balanced and in harmony, plants will grow and    <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the animals will thrive.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, within the qi of the earth, each person, animal and plant has its own qi field, which is always seeking balance.<br \/>\nWhen any individual living being loses its   <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">balance, get sick, die and decompose.<br \/>\nAll natural things, including humanity   <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and human qi, grows within and is influenced by the natural cycles of heaven and earth.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout the history of qigong, people have been more interested in human qi and its relationship with the qi of heaven and the qi of earth.<br \/>\nIn Chinese tradition, qi can also be defined as any type of energy capable of demonstrating power and strength.<br \/>\nThis energy can be electricity, magnetism, heat or light.    <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The word qi has a much broader and more general definition than most people think.<br \/>\nIt doesn&#8217;t just refer to the energy circulating in the human body.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Human Qi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you understand the general definition of qi, let&#8217;s see how qi is defined among qigong practitioners today. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned earlier, among the three powers, earth, heaven and man, the one that has received the most attention over the ages is human qi because it affects our health and longevity. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When people mention qi, or prana or vital energy, it usually means the energy that circulates in our bodies.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Chinese medicine, each of our internal organs needs to receive<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a specific amount of qi to function properly.<br \/>\nIf an organ receives an improper amount of qi, usually too much &#8211; in other words, too much yang or too much fire &#8211; it will start to malfunction and, over time, physical damage will occur.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, the goal of doctors or qigong practitioners should be to achieve a state of &#8220;no fire&#8221;, which eventually became the word qi.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The qi that circulates in our bodies is mainly produced by inhaling air (oxygen) and consuming food (rice). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If we think carefully about what we know from science today, we can<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">see that there is really only one type of energy in this universe, and that is electromagnetic energy (electromagnetic waves). <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means that light and heat (infrared waves) are also defined as electromagnetic energy.<br \/>\nThis makes it very clear that the qi circulating in our bodies is actually &#8221; <\/span><b>bioelectricity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;, and that our body is a &#8220;<\/span><b>live electromagnetic field<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This field is affected by our thoughts, feelings, activities, the food we eat, the quality of the air we breathe, our lifestyle, the natural energy that surrounds us and the unnatural energy that modern science inflicts on us.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Appendix<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For there to be electrical circulation, there must be an electromotive force.<br \/>\nIn general, there are five possible causes for the generation of bioelectricity in the human circuit: <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 &#8211; <\/span><b>Natural energy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">  Our body is made of electrically conductive material, and our electromagnetic field is always affected by the sun, the moon, the clouds, the earth&#8217;s magnetic field and the other energies around it.<br \/>\nThe main influences are the sun&#8217;s radiation, the moon&#8217;s gravity and the earth&#8217;s magnetic field, which significantly affect the circulation of Qi and are responsible for the pattern of Qi circulation since our embryonic formation.<br \/>\nWe are now also greatly affected by the energy generated by modern technology, such as the electromagnetic waves generated by radio, TV, microwaves, mobile phones, computers and many other things.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 &#8211; <\/span><b>Food and Air<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> To maintain life, we ingest the essence of food and air<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">through the mouth and nose.<br \/>\nThese essences are then converted into Qi through a biochemical reaction in the chest and digestive system (called the Triple Heater in Chinese medicine).<br \/>\nWhen the Qi is converted into essence, an electromagnetic force is generated which causes the Qi to circulate throughout the body.<br \/>\nConsequently, an important part of Qigong is dedicated to getting the right kinds of food and fresh air.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 &#8211; <\/span><b>Thoughts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">  The human mind is the most important and efficient source for generating magnetic fields of bioelectricity.<br \/>\nWhenever we move to do something, we first generate an idea (Yi).<br \/>\nThis idea generates bioelectricity and leads the Qi to energize the appropriate muscles to carry out the desired movement.<br \/>\nThe more we concentrate, the stronger the energy we can generate and the stronger the flow of Qi we can conduct.<br \/>\nNaturally, the stronger the flow of Qi we bring to the muscles, the more they will be energized.<br \/>\nFor this reason, the mind is considered the most important factor in Qigong training.     <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 &#8211; <\/span><b>Exercise<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">  Exercise converts the food essence (fat) stored in the body into Qi.<br \/>\nMany Qigong styles that have been created use movement for this purpose.<br \/>\nIn addition, when we exercise, we also use the mind to control the physical body, and this increases the circulation of Qi.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 &#8211; <\/span><b>Converting prenatal essence into Qi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">  The hormones produced by our endocrine glands are called &#8220;prenatal essence&#8221; in Chinese medicine.<br \/>\nThey can be converted into Qi to stimulate the functioning of our physical body, thus increasing our vitality.<br \/>\nBalancing the production of hormones when you are young and increasing their production when you get older are important issues in Qigong.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><div 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