Basic Concept of Yuanqi

Introduction

In traditional herbal medicine, the concept of yuanqi is fundamental. It is often referred to by various terms such as qi, yangqi, zhenqi, and zhenyuan. But what exactly is yuanqi, or simply qi? It is challenging to describe it precisely.

Ancient Chinese believed that all life activities, including birth, aging, illness, and death, are closely related to the changes in yuanqi. In traditional herbal medicine, yuanqi can be loosely translated as vital-energy in Western medicine. However, while Western medicine views energy changes as a cycle of energy replenishment and consumption, yuanqi encompasses more functions beyond just energy.

Practitioners of traditional herbal medicine often discuss the functions of yuanqi, including the studies of yin and yang and wuxing, which explore the movements of yuanqi.

02 Discovery of Yuanqi

In ancient times, without sophisticated instruments, herbal medicine practitioners relied on their observations and analytical skills to understand human activities. How did they discover the existence of yuanqi?

The earliest explanation of qi is represented by a pictorial Chinese character. The top part of the character signifies something invisible, intangible, and odorless, while the four dots at the bottom represent something that exists. Thus, qi is something that cannot be seen or touched but is present.

Qi was discovered through observations of natural phenomena. For example, why can people move and talk? Why can’t they walk or perform other activities when asleep? People wake up after sleeping, but why can’t they get up after death? Observing a person lying on the ground, whether fainted or dead, requires close examination to determine their state. The basis for these judgments lies in the presence or absence of qi.

Characteristics of Yuanqi

The difference between a sleeping person and a dead person is the presence of qi.
From birth to death, a person’s qi gradually strengthens and then slowly declines as the body ages.

When qi is active, the person is awake; when qi is dormant, the person is asleep.
Qi is innate, present from birth. It is relatively weak at birth, gradually becoming stronger with age. As it strengthens, the person becomes more robust. Conversely, as the body ages, qi weakens.

The yuanqi of a young person is like the midday sun—abundant and full.
In contrast, the yuanqi of an elderly person is like the setting sun, still bright but quickly fading.

04 Operational Rules of Yuanqi

Practitioners of traditional herbal medicine learn about the origin of yuanqi from ancient texts. Dr. Guo Yaning, through her study of ancient books and modern medicine, concluded that all physiological changes in humans can be explained by changes in yuanqi.

In traditional herbal medicine, practitioners discuss kidney-qi, liver-qi, spleen-qi, heart-qi, and lung-qi. These are considered variations of yuanqi. Studying traditional herbal medicine involves learning the operational rules of yuanqi. Ancient practitioners discovered that yuanqi is constantly circulating and summarized its operational rules as depicted in the following diagram.

In the diagram, the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys are not just organs but represent the movement of yuanqi among several subsystems, forming the entire system.

The movement of yuanqi can be compared to the water cycle in nature. Water continuously cycles: it evaporates when heated, rises as vapor, condenses when cooled, and falls as rain.

Similarly, yuanqi in our body rises when heated and falls when cooled. Ancient Chinese described rising yuanqi as yangqi and falling yuanqi as yinqi, thus coining the terms yin and yang.

Extended Application of Yuanqi

With the discovery of yuanqi around two thousand years ago, herbal medicine practitioners began focusing on understanding its operations and identifying herbs that could enhance yuanqi.

The study of yuanqi extended into the field of martial arts (kungfu). Practitioners experimented with various techniques to circulate yuanqi within the body, aiming to increase their strength and combat effectiveness.

Additionally, the study of yuanqi expanded into the religious domain, particularly within Taoism. People explored and practiced jing-qi-shen, a protocol that transitions from nutrients to yuanqi to spirit, with the ultimate goal of achieving longevity and immortality.

Looking ahead

For more stories about Huang Yuanyu and his contributions to traditional herbal medicine, and how it helps in rejuvenating our health, stay tuned for the next episode.

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