Labeling the particular school of qigong to be focused on throughout this site is simply to distinguish the characteristics of this school from the thirty three hundred other styles and schools of Qi Gong. In this introduction, the main concern is describing what qigong is. “Qi” is a word denoting a special form of energy originating from Southern China (what is now the province of Fu Zhou and its surrounding area, also spoken in Taiwan as Taiwanese) over 3,300 years ago. “Gong” means work or technique. Though not written with the same characters, the sound “Qi” in this dialect also means “air” or “breath.” It is these alternate meanings that were translated into the Mandarin Chinese dialect as “Chi” and have caused current misconceptions. The summary provided by wikipedia incorrectly emphasized that “Qi” means breath or respiration.

Much of the criticism of qigong involves its method of operation. Both traditional Chinese and Western medicine practitioners have little argument with the notion that qigong can improve and in many cases maintain health by encouraging movement, increasing range of motion, relaxation, blood oxygen saturation and improving joint flexibility and resilience.

It may break a lot of practitioners’ hearts or cause some controversy, but this description qigong is inexplicably similar to general exercises. This is not Qi Gong as practiced 3,300 years ago but “Chi Gong” or just another exercise.

However, the benefits of qigong become much more controversial when it is asserted that qigong derives its benefits from qi acting as an external non-physical force.

Biologists and applied health physicists do not believe Qi exists in this manner because health and medicine are thought of in terms of Newtonian physics. This is the 21st Century, however, and should also be able to use a Quantum physics approach. Quantum physics is difficult enough to understand for those in the sciences. It can be a complete mystery to your average Joe, may even seem like witchcraft or science fiction, which is how the world has viewed Qi Gong for the longest time. Furthermore, losses through translation and having originated from the Orient has made Qi Gong seem exotic rather than the scientific marvel that it is.

“Qi” is a form of energy that exists in several dimensions and has a wave propagation speed that is faster than light. Theoretically a form of energy with such characteristics is possible, but we do not have the equiptment to detect it. For now, it can’t be disproven nor can I prove it so you’ll just have to take my word for it. Study of subatomic particles have shown us that matter exists as probabilistic concentration of energy. Although energy might be classified in different ways, “Qi” can be thought of as the most basic energy by which matter exists. Qi as used with Formless Qi Gong can permeate all matter because it is smaller than any matter. It can travel across any distance since it travels faster than light.

By thinking of Qi as an energy wave with the most basic frequency, the energy frequency of any matter will be a harmonic of the Qi frequency. For example, any non-decimal frequency will be a harmonic of a basic frequency of 1, and any frequency to the first decimal will be a harmonic of a basic frequency of 0.1. In this way, Qi can be used in Qi Gong to target, or resonate, with any part of the body and be used for healing purposes. Obviously with the basic characteristics just described, a much more universal role and utility of Qi is implied and is the reason for this section of this site.

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