by Terence Dunn

The concept of ch'i ("qi" in the more recent pinyin romanisation), has caused much confusion for Western students of martial, meditative and healing arts.  What exactly is ch'i? Much talk about chi is perpetually steeped in mystical belief and metaphysical speculation that is ungrounded in yogic experience, sometimes projecting superstition and forming belief systems that take much for granted at the expense of common sense. This article looks at the growing fascination with ch'i and ch'i arts in the West and attempts to lay some basic foundations for understanding this esoteric concept.

Ch'i is a potential energy that is latent in the body and also exists in all forms of life. It is bio-electro-chemical in nature, and by and large, it is invisible, intangible and immeasurable. In the human process, ch'i is intimately tied to breath, blood, and nerve. No wonder confusion pervades.