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Glossary

The knowledge graph of Chinese mind–body practice. Every entry follows the same structure: literal meaning → history → traditional interpretation → modern explanation → related concepts → common misunderstandings.

An entry is not a dictionary definition. It is a small, carefully researched page that connects to the concepts around it.

Core concepts

Term Chinese Pinyin Meaning
Qi 氣 qì breath; air; vital energy
Dantian 丹田 dāntián cinnabar field; center of gravity
Yin–Yang 陰陽 yīn yáng complementary opposites
Jing 精 jīng essence; constitutional reserve
Jin 勁 jìn refined force; trained power
Li 力 lì raw strength; muscular force
Fa Jin (Issuing Force) 發勁 fājìn issuing trained force
Shen 神 shén spirit; mind; consciousness
Qigong 氣功 qìgōng qi work; breath work
Tai Chi 太極 tàijí the supreme ultimate
Neigong 內功 nèigōng internal work

Practice

Term Chinese Pinyin Meaning
Breathing 呼吸 hūxī exhale–inhale; the breath
Liu Zi Jue 六字訣 liù zì jué six healing sounds
Meditation 靜坐 jìngzuò quiet sitting
Zhan Zhuang 站樁 zhànzhuāng standing like a post
Wu Qin Xi 五禽戲 wǔ qín xì five animals play
Yi Jin Jing 易筋經 yì jīn jīng changing the sinews classic
Rooting (Gen) 根 gēn root; grounded stability
Sinking (Chen) 沉 chén sinking; settling downward
Silk Reeling (Chan Si Jing) 纏絲勁 chánsījìn silk-reeling force; the spiral
Push Hands (Tui Shou) 推手 tuīshǒu pushing hands; partner practice
Fang Song (Release & Loosen) 放鬆 fàng sōng release and loosen
Ting Jin (Listening Force) 聽勁 tīng jìn listening force; touch sensitivity

Philosophy

Term Chinese Pinyin Meaning
Wu Xing 五行 wǔxíng the five phases
Balance 平衡 pínghéng balance; equilibrium
Dao Yin 導引 dǎoyǐn guiding and pulling
Song 鬆 sōng loose; relaxed release
San Bao 三寶 sānbǎo the three treasures
Wuji 無極 wújí without limit; the undivided state
Xing, Yi, Qi 形意氣 xíng yì qì form, intention, energy
Yang Sheng (Nourishing Life) 養生 yǎng shēng nourishing life
Xiao Zhou Tian (Microcosmic Orbit) 小周天 xiǎozhōutiān microcosmic orbit

Body-map

Term Chinese Pinyin Meaning
San Guan (Three Gates) 三關 sān guān the spine's three gates
Jingluo (Meridians) 經絡 jīngluò channels and network
Ming Men (Life Gate) 命門 mìng mén gate of life; the lower back
Lao Gong (Palm Point) 勞宮 láo gōng labor palace; the palm center
Hui Yin (Perineum Point) 會陰 huì yīn meeting of yin; the perineum
Bai Hui (Crown Point) 百會 bǎi huì hundred meetings; the crown
Yong Quan (Bubbling Well) 湧泉 yǒng quán gushing spring; the sole
Kua (The Hips) 胯 kuà hip; inguinal region

Tradition

Term Chinese Pinyin Meaning
Tai Chi Styles 太極拳式 tàijíquán shì the five family lineages

The knowledge graph

These concepts are not isolated. The most important links:

  • The three treasures — Jing → Qi → Shen: the classical chain of refinement (essence → energy → spirit). Together they are the San Bao.
  • The three regulations — body, breath, and mind: the method of every practice.
  • The center — Dantian stores qi, anchors breath, and grounds meditation.
  • The frame — Yin–Yang describes the dynamic balance that both tai chi and qigong express through the body; Wu Xing extends it into the five phases.
  • The foundation — Song (release) → Chen (sinking) → Gen (rooting): the chain that grounds every stance.
  • The vertical axis — Bai Hui (crown) → Dantian (center) → Yong Quan (sole): the aligned line of standing posture, with the Kua as the hinge that lets it settle.

More entries are added steadily as the site grows.