Qigong (气功) and Taichi (太极) lexicon, glossary, pronunciation

Tai Chi (Taiji - 太极), also known as Tai Chi Chuan (Taiji quan - 太极拳) and Qigong (Chi Kung - 气功), lexicon, glossary, definition, phonetic, pronunciation in English. Many terms are also used elsewhere, such as in other martial arts: (Saolin, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Aikido etc.) and in I Ching.

[ Τσι Κουνγκ Τσιγκονγκ και Τάι Τσι Τσουάν: Γλωσσάρι, λεξικό, εκφώνηση ]

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Why this lexicon and glossary of Tai chi and Qigong terms? Well, I started studying qigong and there were many new terms in Chinese, many of which were not correctly transferred into English. Those words were multiple times referred in the books, so, in order to be able and continue my study, I first had to learn their meaning and pronunciation. Plus, many words were located in different lists online and their definition was incomplete. So, I combined them all in one large list, I combined all the known definitions for each word, I added the phonetic, the word in Chinese and where is possible also the pronunciation of the word, to hear it live from Chinese people.

The list continues to grow steadily. Perhaps you also can help. Is Chinese your native language? Then you can help with the pronunciation of words that are still pending.

If this glossary has helped you in any way,

you can express your appreciation by

clicking the link below. Thank you!

First published: June 25, 2014
Last time edited: December 31, 2014

Chinese term (in PinYin)	Pronunciation/Phonetic	Definition in English
A a
An	anh - 安 -	Push. Downward energy. The arms and body should move as a single unit. Number 4 of the 8 fundamental Taiji techniques.[2]
An Jing	ahn cheen - 安晶 -	Quiet energy[3]
B b
Ba Chu	panh choo - 仈除 -	The Eight Touches (Physical and Sensory Phenomena)[1]
Ba Duan Jin	bah dewanh gin - 八段锦 -	Eight pieces of brocade. A highly regarded Qigong sequence.[2]
Bagua	pah gwah - 八卦 -	Eight Palms. Along with XingYi, one of the three pillars of internal arts. Eight trigrams. Eight basic principles after two, Yin and Yang, but before the 64 hexagrams.[2]
Ba Gua Zhang	pah gwah zhang - 八卦掌 -	Eight Trigrams Palm (internal martial art).[6]
Ba Men	bah menh - 仈们 -	Eight Gates. The 8 fundamental Taiji techniques.[2]
Bai He	paee hweh - 捭阖 -	White Crane[2]
Bai Hui	pahew whoeeh - 柏慧 -	"Hundred meetings". Acupuncture point on the crown of the head, regarded as a nexus for many meridians.[2]
Bu Fa	poo faah - 部发 -	Foot method. How your feet should move.[2]
C c
Cai	tsaeh - 蔡 -	Pluck. Sometimes referred to as press (as in press down); Needle at sea bottom; Bring opponent’s force downward. Number 5 of the 8 fundamental Taiji techniques.[2]
Chang, San-Feng (Zhang, San-Feng)	→	see: Zhang, San-Feng
Chi (Qi)	chee - 气(氣) -	The energy pervading the universe, including the energy circulating in the human body. A current popular model is that the Qi circulating in the human body is bioeletric in nature.[1] Qi is a fundamental concept of traditional Chinese culture. Qi is believed to be part of everything that exists, as in “life force” or “spiritual energy”. It is most often translated as “air” or “breath”.[4]
Chi Kung (Qigong)	chee kung - 气功 -	The science of cultivating the body's vital internal energy (Qi) involving the coordination of different breathing patterns with various physical postures and motions of the body (exercises). Qigong is mostly taught for health maintenance purposes, but there are also some who teach it as a therapeutic intervention. Various forms of traditional qigong are also widely taught in conjunction with Chinese martial arts, and are especially prevalent in the advanced training of internal martial arts.[4] It is the Gongfu of Qi, which means the study of Qi.[1] Qigong means "working with the qi." It is the ancient Chinese art and science of becoming aware of this life energy and learning how to control its flow through a precise choreography of posture, movement, respiratory technique, and meditation.[7]
Chin Na (Qin Na)	→	see: Qin Na.
Chuan (Quan)	chwen - 泉 -	Fist. Last word in Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan).[2]
Chuang	chewang - 庄 -	Window. An opening through someone can attack.[2]
Chong Wei Jian Gong	chong vhae jien kung 创威健宫 -	Building the strength externally.[1]
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
D d
Dan	tahn - 丹 -	Elixir, cinnabar. Elixir is a hypothetical, life prolonging substance for which Chinese Daoists have been searching for millennia. They originally thought that the elixir was something physical which could be prepared with herbs or chemicals purified in a furnace. After thousands of years of study and experimentation, they found that the elixir is in the body. If you want to prolong your life, you must find the elixir in your body, and then learn to protect it and nourish it.[1]
Dan Tian	tahn tienh - 丹田 -	Also known as Dan Tien or Tan Tien and Field of Elixir or Cinnabar Field[4][1][7]. In Japanese it is known as Tanden or Hara[7]. It is described as an important focus point for internal meditative techniques, and refers specifically to the physical center of gravity located in the abdomen three finger widths below and two finger widths behind the navel, where the qigong practitioner plants the seed of health, longevity, and wisdom. It is where chi is stored and generated. The Dantian is important in qigong, neigong, and other breathing techniques, as well as for traditional Chinese medicine and is also widely used throughout East Asian meditation and martial arts theory. The Dan Tian is sometimes divided into sections. The lower Dan Tian (at the navel as described above) is associated with physical energy, and sometimes sexuality. The middle Dan Tian (at the Solar plexus) deals with respiration and the health of internal organs. The upper Dan Tian (at the Third eye) relates to your consciousness, or shen, and your brain.[4]
Dan Tien	→	see Dan Tian
Dao (Tao)	→	see Tao
Daodejing	→	see: Tao Te Ching
Dao De Jing	→	see: Tao Te Ching
Di Qi	tee chee - 低泣 -	Earth Qi. Under heaven Qi which is the most important of the three*, is Earth Qi which is influenced and controlled by Heaven Qi. Chinese believe that Earth Qi is made up of patterns and lines of energy, as well as the earth's magnetic field and the heat concealed underground. *The third Qi that mentioned is the individual Qi of each person (Ren Qi), animal, plant.[1]
Di Li Shi	tee lee shee - 迪李实 -	Geomancy teachers or wind water teachers (Feng Shui Shi).[1]
Di Zi	Table Cell	Table Cell
Du Mai	too maeh - 杜迈 -	The Governing Vessel. The Governing Vessel is the confluence of all the Yang channels, over which it is said to "govern". Because it controls all the Yang channels, it is called the "Sea of Yang Meridians."[1]
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
E e
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
F f
Fa Jin	faah cheen - 发劲 -	"Emitting Jin". Jin is martial power, in which muscular power is manifested to its maximum from mental concentration and Qi circulation.[1] In short, to issue explosive power.[3]
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
G g
Gongfu (Kung Fu)	→	see Kung Fu
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
H h
Hou Tian Qi	hohotien chee - 后天气 or 侯天齐	Post-birth Qi. The Qi that is acquired after birth. Otherwise known as 'Post-heaven Qi'. This Qi is drawn from the Jing (Essence) of the food and air we take in. Pre-birth Qi is commonly called 'Water Qi' (Shui Qi) because it is able to cool down the Post-birth Qi, which is called 'Fire Qi' (Huo Qi).[1]
Hun	houn - 魂 -	The soul when left the body, not while still is in the body. In that latter it's called "shen".[1]
Huo Qi	hwoa chee - 火气 -	Fire Qi; internal heat. The "water Qi" is able to cool down the "fire Qi" which is generated from the Essence (Jing) of food and air and which resides at the Middle Dan Tian. Fire Qi usually brings the body to a positive (Yang) state, which stimulates the emotions and scatters and confuses the mind.[1]
I i
I Ching (Yi Ching)	yi cheen - 易经 -	The Book of Changes or the book of divination, dating from before 1000 BC in one form or another.[3][1]
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
J j
Jin	cheen - 斤 -	1. 2. Chinese martial power. A combination of "Li" (muscular power) and "Qi".[1] Muscular energy[2] Force. We listen for our opponent's Jin and redirect it with our own before discharging Jin at our opponent.[5] Power, force or advance, there are many types of Jin energy.[3]
Jing	jeengh - 京 -	Essence. The most refined part of anything. The part which is energized by Qi.[1] The 12 pairs of energy channels through which Qi flows.[2] Internal energy channels.[3] Sexual energy, essence, semen, a yin form of Qi.[7]
Jingmen	cheenmen - 荆门 -	Essence Doors. These two cavities are the doors through which the kidneys communicate with the outside, and they are used to regulate the Qi production in the kidneys.[1]
K k
Kung Fu (Gongfu)	kung foo - 功夫 -	Means "energy and time". Anything which will take time and energy to learn or to accomplish is called kung fu.[1][2] "Hard work", or any discipline which requires training and practice.[7] A focus on accomplishment/excellence.[2] Kung fu or gongfu is a well-known Chinese term often used by speakers of the English language to refer to Chinese martial arts. Its original meaning is somewhat different, referring to one's expertise in any skill, not necessarily martial.[4] Same origin as Gung Ho in English.
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
L l
Lao Shi	Table Cell	Table Cell
Li	lee - 里 -	The power that is generated from muscular strength.[1] Muscular power. Force. It's what you feel when someone hits you. You can feel their Li, you can not feel their Qi. They can sense their Qi, they can not feel their Li.[2]
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
M m
Men Ren	Table Cell	Door Person. One who has become a disciple of a master.[5]
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
N n
Nei Dan	nei tan - 内丹 -	Internal alchemy.[5] Internal Elixir. To build the elixir internally. Internally here means in the body(torso) instead of in the limbs which is Wai Dan (External Elixir).[1]
Nei Gong (Nei Kung)	nei kung - 内功 -	Internal Kung Fu. A person's training and practice to build up the internal Qi.[1] Internal Strength. More specifically a reference to the 24 Yin and Yang Internal Strength exercises.[5]
Neijin	nhei cheen - 内劲 -	Table Cell
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
O o
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
P p
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
Q q
Qi (Chi)	chee - 齐 -	Vital internal energy.[3] The energy pervading the universe, including the energy circulating in the human body. A current popular model is that the Qi circulating in the human body is bioelectric in nature.[1] Qi is a fundamental concept of traditional Chinese culture. Qi is believed to be part of everything that exists, as in “life force” or “spiritual energy”. It is most often translated as “air” or “breath”.[4]
Qigong (Chi Kung)	chee kung - 气功 -	The science of cultivating the body's vital internal energy (Qi) involving the coordination of different breathing patterns with various physical postures and motions of the body (exercises). Qigong is mostly taught for health maintenance purposes, but there are also some who teach it as a therapeutic intervention. Various forms of traditional qigong are also widely taught in conjunction with Chinese martial arts, and are especially prevalent in the advanced training of internal martial arts.[4] It is the Gongfu of Qi, which means the study of Qi.[1] Qigong means "working with the qi." It is the ancient Chinese art and science of becoming aware of this life energy and learning how to control its flow through a precise choreography of posture, movement, respiratory technique, and meditation.[7]
Qishi	chee shue - 奇石 -	Table Cell
Qin Na (Chin Na)	chin nah - 秦钠 -	System using manipulation of joints, dividing the muscle, sealing opponent's breath and cavity press to defeat an attacker.[1]
R r
Ren Qi	rén chee - 忍气 -	Human Qi. Human Qi is usually considered a separate type of Qi, different from the Qi of the earth and of plants and animals. The reason for this is simply that because we are human, we particularly concerned with Human Qi, and have devoted a great deal to study to it.[1]
Rou	zhow - 柔 -	To make something soft.[5][6]
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
S s
San Bao	sehn pao - 三宝 -	It means 'The Three Treasures' and these are Jing (Essence), Qi (internal energy) and Shen (spirit). In qigong a practicioner learns how to firm, solidify and conserve his jing and how to convert it into Qi. Then he learns how to lead the Qi to the head to convert it into (to nourish) the Shen. Finally, the practitioner learns to use his energized Shen to govern the emotional part of his personality.[1] Three treasures - jing, chi and shen.[3] Three Jewels (Treasures). Jing (deer) - seminal energy; Qi (crane) - life energy; Shen (turtle) - spiritual energy.[2]
San Cai (Shèng cǎi)	shang tsaeh - 圣彩 -	The Three Natural Powers: Heaven (Tian), Earth (Di) and Man (Ren) which are manifested by the three Qi's: Heaven Qi, Earth Qi and Human Qi. These three facets of nature have their definite rules and cycles. The rules never change and the cycles repeat periodically.[1] Three Wisdoms.[2]
San Gong (San Kung)	san kung - 三宫 -	Energy dispersion. Muscular over-exercise may cause at an older age the over-stressed muscle fibers of a person to lose their elasticity and degenerate faster than those of the average person. This causes the Qi to stagnate in the Qi channels. The proper amount of exercise will generate only enough Qi to stimulate the organs and help them function normally and healthily.[1]
Shen	shen - 神 -	Table Cell
Shen Xian	shen chien - 神仙 -	Imortal spirit.
Shui Qi	shuhe chee - 水气 (水氣) -	Water Chi. The "water Qi" is able to cool down the "fire Qi" which is generated from the Essence (Jing) of food and air and which resides at the Middle Dan Tian.[1] Pre-birth Qi is commonly called 'Water Qi' (Shui Qi) because it is able to cool down the Post-birth Qi, which is called 'Fire Qi' (Huo Qi).[1]
T t
Tai Chi (Taiji)	tai chee - 太极 -	see: Tai Chi Chuan
Tai Chi Chuan (Taiji quan)	tai chee chuen - 太极拳 -	Table Cell
Tan Tien	→	see Dan Tian
Tao (Dao)	Taho - 道 -	1. The Natural Way or The Way or Ways to enlightenment or self development followed by the Taoists.[5] 2. a type of Chinese sword.[3]
Tao Te Ching	tao tohecheen - 道德经 -	Way and Virtue/Power Classic. Prime Taoist text credited to Lao Tzu (the Old Boy).[5]
Tian Qi	tien chee - 天齐 -	Heaven Qi. The Qi that exists in the universe and is made up of the forces which the heavenly bodies exert on the earth, such as sunshine, moonlight and the moon's affect on the tides. In ancient times, the Chinese believed that it was Heaven Qi which controlled the weather, climate, and natural disasters.[1]
U u
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
V v
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
W w
Wai Dan	vhae tan - 外丹 -	a. External alchemy.[5] External elixir. External here means the limbs, as opposed to the torso, which includes all of the vital organs. The opposite is Nei Dan (Internal Elixir).[1] b. The use of herbal pills and by extension a reference to internal martial arts.[5]
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
X x
Xia Dan Tian	shia tan tien - 下丹田 -	The Lower Dan Tian. Literally means the pubic region. In Qigong the Lower Dan Tian or abdomen, is still considered the original Qi source, because it is there that Qi is made from the Original Essence (Yuan Jing) which one inherits from their parents.[1]
Xian	shien - 仙 -	celestial being; immortal; fairy[1][6]
Xin	sheen - 心 -	The emotional mind. The wisdom mind is Yi.[1]
Y y
Yang	yahng - 阳 -	1: The full, positive, or forceful, or energized pole of the manifest world.[2] Qualities: Positive, hard, strong, male, active, bright, heaven, side of yin/yang.[5][3] 2: Major style created by Yang Luchan (1799-1872)[3]
Yi	eee - 意 -	The wisdom mind, the emotional mind is Xin; the mind generated from wise judgement;[1] intent; desire; will; volition. The aspect of the mind that directs the chi.[7]
Yin	yinh - 阴 -	The empty, recessive, weak (apparently), negative pole of the manifest world.[2] Qualities: soft, weak, female, passive, dark, earth, side of yin/yang.[5][3]
Yuan Jing	youhen cheen - 元精 -	Original Essence. Original Jing is the fountainhead and root of the newborn baby. It is what enables the baby to grow stronger and bigger. After the baby has born, starts to absorb the Jing (Essence) of food and air converting these Jings into the Qi which supplies the body's needs. When Jing is mentioned in the Qigong society it usually refers to Yuan Jing (Original Essence).[1]
Yuan Qi	youhen chee - 元气 -	The original Qi of a person, which is created from the Original Essence (Yuan Jing).[1]
Yuanxinzhi Wai Gong Yun Dong	you an cheenzee vhae kung youn ton 袁新志外功运东 -	External exercises without mental concentration or attention.[1]
Table Cell	Table Cell	Table Cell
Z z
Zhang, San-Feng (Chang, San-Feng)	jahng, sahn fung 张圣峰 -	Zhang, San-Feng (960-1279 A.D.). In older Romanization systems of Mandarin is still written also as "Chang, San-Feng".[8] Historical lore credits him with being the creator of Taijiquan (Taichi).[2]

labels: taichi, tai chi, tai chi chuan, taijiquan, qigong, chi kung, chi gong, lexicon, glossary, terms, definition, phonetic, pronunciation, Chinese,

If this glossary has helped you in any way, you can express your appreciation by clicking the link below. Thank you!

________
References
1. 'The Root of Chinese Qigong', by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
2. ironcrane.com/TaiChiLexicon.pdf
3. Pennsylvania Chen Taijiquan  Association glossary

4. wikipedia
5. Wudang Tai Chi Chuan glossary
6. nciku
7. Kenneth S. Cohen
8. Teach me Chinese
100.


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