Terminology
- Baihui: The energy point at the top of the head which is referred to as a cavity along the governing vessel, found at the point where the line going from the top of your ears meets the top of the head. It is also called the “100 meetings point.”
- Dai Mai: Belt vessel, one of the eight extraordinary vessels, surround the lower dantien. The dai mai is important meridian for the cultivation and accumulation of qi.
- Dantien: In Taoist terminology, there are three major energy centers, one located above the bridge of the nose and the yintang point (upper dantien), one located in the center of the chest (middle dantien), and another located about 1 1/2″ below the navel at the qihai point (in front of the lower dantien). All are centered within the body and if someone uses the term dantien without specifying its location, it usually means the lower dantien. A synonym for the lower dantien is the lower elixir field.
- Dao Yin: Exercises for regulating the energy between the energy reservoirs of the body. Known as “qigong” in modern times.
- Du Mai: The ascending, yang energy meridian that starts at the Hui Yin point (between the anus and the genitals) and goes up the spine, over the head to the hard palate of the mouth. Known as the Governing Vessel.
- Ba Mai: Eight vessels or qi jing bai mai. Also known as strange flows by some, these consist of energy flows on the right and left of the torso, inside and outside of the legs, inside and outside of each arm, up the back and down the front of the body, and around the waist. These channels connect the energy flow of the 12 primary yin and yang channels. The channels on each side of the torso are frequently called the right and left channels. The Ren and Du channels constitute the central channel.
- Gong: Also spelled “kung,” meaning energy or hard work.
- Hegu: The energy point located in the web between your thumb and forefinger. When the thumb and forefinger are pressed together, the point at which the crease stops in the hegu.
- Huiyin: The energy point located midway between the anus and the genitals, where the ren channel ends and the du channel begins.
- Jeng Qi: The energy stored in the kidneys as a reserve source when needed.
- Jing: The body’s essence, one of the three treasures that humans have, the others being energy (qi) and spirit (shen).
- Kwa: The waist, where qigong and tai chi movements should originate from. Anatomically, if one turns from the waist, one moves into the kwa, or inguinal crease that goes from the hip to the groin.
- Laogong: The energy point in the center of the palm. For healing purposes, medical qigong practioners use this point as a means of connecting to another person’s energy field and causing healing to occur by various manipulations.
- Nei Gong: Inner energy work. Also known as Nei Dan or Nei Tan. Qigong is often associated with outer energy work (Wei Dan) and is characterized by coordination of breath with movement. Nei Gong, on the other hand, allows natural breathing to occur during the internal energy transformation exercises.
- Qi: Energy which connects spirit and matter. There are many types of qi, also written as “chi,” reflecting the English pronunciation. Qi is one of the three treasures that humans are given at birth.
- Ren Mai: The descending Ren meridian which goes down the front of the body, beginning at the tongue and ending at the huiyin energy point. Commonly known as the “Conception Vessel.”
- Shen: Spirit, one of the three treasures of human beings.
- Sung: Physical and mental relaxation, a condition for optimizing energy flow during qigong and tai chi exercises. This relaxing, or dropping of one’s tension, is also called sinking and it helps carry the momentum in movements. Standing meditation with dissolving practice helps one achieve sung.
- Tao: Dao, literal meaning of “path” or “way.” Taoists seek this pathway to embody being within this path, engaging in practices that allow internal transformation and alignment with the principle of wu wei. Verbalization and explanantion of the meaning of the Tao is secondary to its reality.
- Wei Qi: Your wei qi is the superficial qi that defends one from diseases, some correlate this qi to the immune system; however, others believe is in in the soft tissues of the skin, defending one from external causes of disease.
- Wuji: Formless, neutral, not yet in existence, formless void.
- Wu Wei: A state of no mind, thoughtlessness, doing without doing, regulating without regulating. Literal meaning is “no action,” the practice of wu wei is considered the epitome of Taoist virtue, being in a manner that is spontaneous and not contrived or forced.
- Yang: It is a type of energy associated with the following qualities: masculine, brightness, lightness, activity, warmth, excitation, and ascendancy.
- Yin: A type of energy associated with the following qualities: female, descending energy, coolness, darkness, heaviness, tranquility, receptivity, and inhibition.
- Yongquan: Energy point at the bottom of the foot located in front of the arch and before the toes. A major point of energy transference between the body and the earth.
- Zhan Zhuang: Standing qigong meditation practice, also known as “standing like a tree,” “pole standing,” and more. There are many different postures, beginning from the wuji posture, where the hands and arms rest at the side of the body and the feet are parallel.