John Asher, R.Ac
Acupuncturist

Chi

The meaning of Qi (Chi) in Chinese medicine is very difficult to translate and is often associated in the West with such definitions as life-force or energy. The reason it is so difficult to translate correctly, lies in the fact that Qi can mean and be different things in different situations.

This is best explained by understanding the Chinese character for the word Qi, this is made up of two characters which symbolise 'steam' or 'vapour' and 'uncooked rice'. This illustrates that Qi can be both immaterial like vapour and dense or material as in uncooked rice.

Thus in Chinese medicine Qi often refers to the functional activity of the internal organs as well as such definitions as life-force or energy (these are symbolised by the steam aspect of the Chinese character for Qi) but it can also refer to the more material aspects of the body such as the nutrition we receive from food and the oxygen we receive from air (these in comparison are more symbolised by the uncooked rice aspect of the Chinese character for Qi).

About the Photograph

The photograph above is taken from Kirlian photography which is able to photograph the electromagnetic field that surrounds living things (such as the human hand in this case).

The photograph clearly shows a natural energy field around the hand, this neither proves or disproves the Chinese theory of Qi, but it certainly goes some way in showing that the human body is more than just a collection of biochemical components.