What is the meaning of transforming Qi in traditional Chinese medicine?

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What is the meaning of transforming Qi in traditional Chinese medicine? Qi theory of traditional Chinese medicine is a systematic theory that studies the concept, generation, distribution and function of Qi in human body and its relationship with viscera, essence, blood and body fluid. It is obviously different from Qi theory of ancient philosophy. Qi is a very delicate substance with strong vitality in the human body, and it is one of the basic substances that constitute the human body and maintain human life activities. Qi runs continuously, promotes and regulates the metabolism in the human body, and maintains the life process of the human body. When the movement of Qi stops, it means the end of life.

What is the meaning of transforming Qi in traditional Chinese medicine?

The concept of Qi in traditional Chinese medicine may be derived from the ancient people's observation of human life. The ancients had a simple and intuitive understanding of Qi by observing some obvious and vital life phenomena of human body, such as the entry and exit of Qi during breathing, the steaming heat gas coming out with sweat during activities, and so on. In addition, they realized the flow of Qi in the body during Qigong exercise, so they speculated, associated, abstracted and purified on the basis of the gradual accumulation of simple knowledge, Gradually formed the concept that the Qi of the human body is the fine material that can flow in the human body. With the deepening of understanding, we have a more systematic understanding of the source, function, movement law and form of human Qi, as well as the relationship with viscera, and established the Qi theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

The formation of the concept of Qi in traditional Chinese medicine is naturally influenced by the ancient philosophy of Qi. The ancient philosophy of Qi is the concept of moving fine matter. The idea that the movement of Qi ascending and descending promotes and regulates the development and change of all things in the universe has important methodological significance for the formation of the concept of Qi as moving fine matter in traditional Chinese medicine and the construction of the theory that the movement of Qi ascending and descending promotes and regulates the life activities of human body. However, Qi in traditional Chinese medicine is the specific Qi that exists in the human body objectively. It is the fine material that constantly rises and falls in and out of the body. It is not only the basic material of the human body, but also plays a role in promoting and regulating life activities. The theory of Qi in traditional Chinese medicine has its inherent research object and scope. The theory of Qi in ancient philosophy is an ancient cosmology and methodology. Therefore, the concept of Qi in traditional Chinese medicine is strictly different from that in ancient philosophy.

The concepts of essence and Qi are strictly different in traditional Chinese medicine. Essence is the most basic material of human body, and also the basic material to maintain human life activities《 Lingshu · meridians said: "people are born first, and become essence first." Qi is a very subtle substance produced by the essence. It is said in Su Wen · Yin Yang Ying Xiang Da Lun that "the essence becomes Qi." Essence is the material basis of the functional activities of the viscera, and Qi is the driving force to promote and regulate the physiological activities of the viscera. Therefore, the transformation relationship between essence and Qi is mentioned many times in Neijing, and the distinction between essence and Qi is more clear than the concept in pre Qin philosophy.

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The Qi of the human body is formed by the combination of essence and natural Qi inhaled by the lungs. The formation of Qi in one body is the result of the comprehensive coordination of spleen, kidney, lung and other viscera. Qi has the characteristics of movement. With its continuous operation, Qi stimulates and regulates the metabolism of the body, and promotes the life process of the human body. When the movement of Qi stops and the gasification process of metabolism stops, it marks the end of the life process.