If you have wondered whether Qigong and Ch'i Kung and
Chi Gung are all the same thing, you are not alone. If you
have wondered about the difference between T'ai Chi, Taiji
and Taijiquan your questions are shared by millions. Why do
some writers translate the Chinese character for energy or
vitality as Qi and others as Ch'i?
There are two systems for translating Chinese
characters into phonetic words. One is the Wade-Giles system
developed by academic thinkers in the Western tradition. In
the Wade-Giles system the capital city of China is
phonetically spelled - Peking. The other is the Pin Yin
system that has been developed by the Chinese in Mainland
China. China's capital city in Pin Yin is phonetically
spelled - Beijing.
Much of the confusion that people experience regarding
the self healing and empowerment practices of China is due
to these two systems of spelling and their phonetic
sounds.
For example, there are many kinds of self healing
exercises in China. These practices are generally called
Qigong (Ch'i Kung in Wade - Giles). One of the most widely
known forms of Qigong is Tai Ji Quan or Taijiquan (T'ai Chi
in Wade - Giles). The character for energy and vitality Qi
(Ch'i) is in neither T'ai Chi nor in Taiji. Ji (Chi) means
ultimate, pure or absolute.
All of these words describe wonderful concepts. It may
help you in your quest for self healing and spiritual
balance to get the language clear.
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Qi =
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Chinese (Pin Yin) transliteration of the
character which means energy, vitality, and
breath
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Ch'i =
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European (Wade - Giles) transliteration of
the character which means energy, vitality, and
breath
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Ji =
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Chinese, Pin Yin, meaning ultimate, pure,
absolute
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Chi =
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European, Wade-Giles, meaning ultimate, pure,
absolute
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Quan =
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Chinese, Pin Yin for fist or boxing
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Ch'uan =
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European, Wade-Giles for fist or boxing
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Gong =
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Chinese, Pin Yin for practice, exercise,
refine, cultivate
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About The Author Roger Jahnke has been in the health field since 1967 beginning with body therapies, herbal medicine, Tai Chi, Yoga and meditation. He turned his attention seriously to Oriental medicine in 1972 with study at the North American College of Acupuncture in Vancouver, B.C., under Dr. Kok Yeung Leung who now has his school in France. In 1975 Roger transferred to the Tai Hsuan School of... ...more |
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