Unity of Qi在线视频

Hello everyone

For today’s class

we’ll continue to study chapter 2

the philosophical basis of TCM

As we have mentioned

TCM has a long history

which people struggled against diseases

Under the influence of

ancient materialism and dialectics

TCM evolved into a unique

integral system of medical theory through long clinical practice

The systemization and development

of the TCM theoretical system were deeply influenced

by ancient Chinese philosophical thought

since experimental science was undeveloped at that time

The unity of qi

the yin-yang theory and five-element theory

were the most influential philosophical thoughts

and methods for the formation of the TCM system

Qi is the most basic

and tiny substance in constant motion

The unity of qi also known as qi-monism

is an important philosophical thought

in the Pre-Qin Dynasty

With the developing

qi monism was introduced into TCM

and became one of the philosophical bases of TCM

Originally qi was not a philosophical concept

It was observed by the ancient people as clouds

or vapor of water

just like air

as it is commonly used in our daily life

We have a book which is called Word and expression

the first dictionary of Chinese characters

was written by Xu Shen in Han dynasty

It explains that qi as cloud

From the explanation

we can know that the cloud in the sky

is the basic meaning of qi in Han dynasty

Therefore the original meaning of qi

is cloud without philosophical meaning

The ancient philosophers extended

the meaning of qi to the philosophical field

They extracted the philosophical meaning of qi

From then on

qi is often used as a philosophical word

The word of qi is used to refer to the essential substance

constituting everything in the universe

While the specific qi is called cloud qi

or air qi or water qi or body qi etc

At the same time

they thought that everything in the universe

is a result of qi movement

The unity of qi also known as qi-monism

is an ancient philosophical thought

which defines that primordial qi is the origin of everything in the universe

Since qi is considered as the original principle of the universe

it is called primordial qi

From the view of ancient philosophers

qi is the primary state of the universe

All things in the universe are generated

by the movement of qi

Qi is filled throughout the universe and is the medium

for the intercommunication of everything

This is the philosophical concept of qi

As we say

everything in the world is composed by qi

This is called qi monism

The things look different

just because the qi stays in different status

The infinite variety of phenomena in the universe

is the result of the continuous coming together of qi

which is material and visible

and dispersion of qi

which is immaterial and invisible

The gathering and dispersing form

the phenomena of various degrees of materialization

Here qi is used in a broad sense

Qi is a substance or more precisely

it is the potential for change within a physical substance

when qi comes together

However

qi is also the prime mover the spark

not only of the movement in the universe

but also of life like energy

information and function

when it disperses

Qi is used in a narrow sense

when it is used to refer to the human body

So broadly speaking

qi is used to refer to everything in the universe

Narrowly speaking

qi is mainly used to refer to the body qi in TCM

When qi was introduced into TCM

it refers to the very small substance

in existence in the human body which exercises continuously

and be full of energy

it is one of the fundamental substances

constituting the human body and maintaining its life activities

As one of the things in the universe

human being is also created

by the coagulation of qi

from heaven and earth

Human being will make substance exchanges

with everything in nature taking qi as the medium

The qi-monism of the ancient Chinese philosophy

has been turned into a worldview and methodology

used to understand the natural phenomena

and vital activities after being applied to TCM

We have talked about the holistic concept

which one of the points is

the unity of human being and universe

The concept of qi-monism is the theoretical basis

for this point

The body qi is comprised three kinds of qi

first one is the congenital qi

which is transformed from essence stored in kidney

second one is fresh air which is inhaled by lung

from the natural world

third one is food essence which is transformed

and transported by spleen from the food and water

In TCM

qi is the basic material to maintain

the physiological functions of zang fu organs

meridians and collaterals

We’ll talk about the functions of zang fu organs

in next chapter

Let’s take a quick view of meridian qi

The human body has vital energy

which is called Qi

the narrow sense of Qi

And qi flows along invisible lines

which run over the body

are called channels or meridians

like the river conducting water through the earth

The way Qi flows through the channels

presides over wellness or disease

If qi flows through the meridians smoothly

and in a balanced way

It represents health

Harmony happiness or we say wellness

If qi is blocked in the meridians

which can induce various kinds of suffering

or we say disease

For example

we have a meridian around our waist

which is called Dai meridian

Normally

the qi flows inside the Dai meridian smoothly

Our waist will be thickening

if the circulation of qi is blocked

Acupoints are the sites

where Qi is transported to the body surface

through the meridians

Acupoints are considered

to be the gates of the body

the most accessible place to receive stimulation

For example

we have an acupoint neiguan

which locates along the

pericardial meridian of hand Jueyin

The vomiting can be relieved

by stimulating the neiguan acupoint

Summarization for today’s content

qi is the original source

constituting everything in the universe

Qi is the smallest functional unit in any environment

in living creatures and in the organs

Qi monism has been introduced into TCM

and became one of its philosophical bases

The formation and development of TCM theory

was influenced by qi monism

OK that’s all for today

I’ll see you next class