Transformation of Qi

Types of Qi
Qi

English
Translation

location

function

Qing Qi

Air Qi

Lung

inhaled by the Lung

Gu Qi

Food Qi

Spleen and
Stomach

produced by Spleen and Stomach

Zong Qi

Gathering Qi stored in chest

air qi + food qi
helps lung to breath
helps heart to move blood and control vessels

Yuan Qi

Primary Qi

roots in Kidneys,
derived from congenital essence (Jing)
spreads to whole
supplemented and nourished by food qi
body via the San
Jiao (triple warmer)

Zhen Qi

Vital Qi

meridians

ying qi +wei qi
last stage of transformation of qi

Wei Qi

Defensive Qi circulates outside

the vessels

protects the surface and defends the body against

pathogens
controls opening and closing of pores
moistens skin and hair
readjusts body temperature
warms up the sang-fu organs
circulates 50 times in 24 hours (25 x during day and 25 x
and night)

Zangfu Qi

Organ Qi

organs

each organ has its own qi with its own characteristics

Zhong Qi

Central Qi

spleen and
stomach

the zhen qi of spleen and stomach

helps spleens function of transforming and transporting
helps spleen to raise qi

Zheng Qi

Righteous Qi

Wei qi +Ying qi +Jing

Defends the body from external evil invasions opposite of
xie qi (evil qi or pathogenic qi)

Ying Qi

Nutritive Qi

circulates in the
vessels

copyright Bronwyn Michaelis 2010

produces blood and circulates with it

nourishes blood

Transformation of Qi

Jing Qi = Essence
There are 3 types of Jing or Essence. Pre-heaven, post-heaven, and Kidney
Jing.
Diagnosis : One can assess the health of the Essence by any pre-mature aging
signs (pre-mature greying of hair, impotence, sore low back and/or knees, etc.).
One can also observe Kidney depletion in folks with dark grey circles under their
eyes.
Treatment: treat Kidneys and Adrenal glands directly with Reiki

Pre-heaven qi - Xi Tian Qi (pre-natal)

Pre-heaven Jing is a substance inherited from our parents at the time of our
conception. This pre-heaven essence or Jing pre-determines ones overall
constitution, strength, and vitality. It is believed that one cannot quantitatively
increase the amount of JIng given to us at conception, but we can alter the quality
of it as we go through our lives. Usually this is accomplished through a balance in
the way we live in terms of work, rest, sexual activity, and nutrition.
The main force that motivates the qi to complete its transformational
processes arises from between the Kidneys at the ming men. The motive force
between the Kidneys determines human life, it is the root of the 12 channels and is
called Original Qi Classic of Difficulties (Macioca).

JING
3. The KIDNEY essence is a combination of pre-heaven and post-heaven
essence. It is stored in the Kidneys but circulates all over the body especially in the
8 extra-ordinary meridians. This essence determines growth, pregnancy, fertility,
and sexual vitality.

copyright Bronwyn Michaelis 2010

Transformation of Qi
differences between jing and qi
Essence (Jing)

Qi

Comes from our conception and therefore our

parents

Formed during our life

Fluid like

Energy like

Similar to Ojas in Ayurveda

Similar to Vayus in Ayurveda

Resides mostly in the Kidneys and circulates in

the 8 extra-ordinary meridians

everywhere

Very difficult to replenish

Can easily be replenished on a day to day basis by

food, sleep, etc.

Follows long cycles of 7 years in women and 8

years on men

Follows shorter cycles, yearly, and daily, and lunar

Moves and changes very slowly over long periods Changes quickly from moment to moment
of time
Partly summarized from Macioca, page 38-39

QI + HEAT = YANG
BLOOD + COLD = YIN

Yuan Qi-Original Qi
2. Post heaven essence or Jing comes from the complex process of
extracting refined substance from food, and so therefore is more related to spleen
and stomach health.
This type of qi is essence in the form of qi rather than fluid. (Essence
transformed into qi). A dynamic and rarefied form of Essence as it has its origin in
the Kidneys _Macioca page 41.

copyright Bronwyn Michaelis 2010

Transformation of Qi
Yuan Qi (Original Qi) Functions:
1. Motive Force behind the functional activity of all the organs. Derived from
essence. Essence is more of a fluid and related to long term cycles. Yuan qi is more
like energy and related to short term cycles.
2. Basis of KID qi where it takes root
3. Facilitates the transformation of Qi.
4. Facilitates the transformation of blood.
5. Comes out at the source points.
6. Supplemented and nourished by GU qi (food qi)
7. Spreads to the entire body via the San Jiao

Gu Qi - Food Qi Qi of the grains

The first stage in the transformation of food into qi
The stomach is responsible for rotting and ripening the food and then it is
transformed into gu qi by the spleen. Gu qi is not yet in a usable form by the body.
The gu qi rises up first to the lungs where it it combines with qing qi or AIR qi
and then to the heart where it forms Zong qi (GATHERING qi).
(Because the spleen sends gu qi up to the chest we know the spleen qi is
responsible for the raising of qi in the whole body)- if it flows down it is called
Spleen qi sinking and leads to diarrhea, organ prolapse, and downward bearing
sensation and hemorrhoids.
Because gu qi is the basis for all qi in the body there is placed a strong
importance in asian medicine on the quality, quantity, pace, and type of food
chosen.
If no food is eaten for half a day, Qi is weakened, if no food is eaten for a
whole day, Qi is depleted Spiritual Axis chapter 56. (emphasis on not fasting)

Qing Qi -Air Qi
Air qi that is inhaled by the lung. mixes with Gu Qi (food qi) to form Zong Qi
(gathering qi)

copyright Bronwyn Michaelis 2010

Transformation of Qi

Zong Qi - Gathering Qi - Chest QI

A more subtle and refined form of qi that is usable by the body.
Gu Qi (food qi) plus Qing Qi (air qi)= Zong Qi
functions:
1. nourishes heart and lungs
2. promotes lung function of controlling qi and respiration and heart function
of governing blood and blood vessels
3. controls the speech (HT) and the strength of the voice (LU) -Pathology,
impeded speech or weak and fine voice.
4. promotes and affects blood circulation to the extremities. (especially hands)
-Pathology, if zong qi is weak = cold limbs especially hands
5. stored in the lungs
Relationships: Zong qi flows downward to assist the Kidneys and Yuan qi
flows upwards to assist in breathing. (Lungs and Kidneys mutual assistance
relationship)
the energy that comes out under the left breast and can be felt under the
fingers, is the Zong Qi Simple Questions chapter 18.
Diagnosis: can see the state of the Zong Qi by the health of the heart, lungs,
circulation, and voice. A weak voice or poor circulation to the hands indicates
Zong Qi Deficiency.
Grief and sadness weaken the lungs and disperse the energy in the chest.
Excess Joy will deplete the Heart.
Pulse: left and right front positions are very weak or empty
Treatment: Reiki chest area- REN 17 is the controlling point for the sea of qi
and gathering qi. as well as treating HT and LU channels
Prescription: regular eating of appropriate foods and breathing practices,
emotional balance work. - especially balance of grief and joy

copyright Bronwyn Michaelis 2010

Transformation of Qi

Zhen qi=true Qi= meridian qi

Zong qi is transformed into Zhen qi by the catalytic action of Yuan Qi. Zhen qi
is the qi that circulates in the channels and nourishes the organs.
last stage in the transformation and refinement of qi. Zhen qi also originates in
the lungs, further explaining why the lungs function is to control qi in general.
Zhen Qi has 2 forms:

1. Ying Qi -nutritive qi
2. Wei Qi- defensive qi

Ying Qi- Nutritive Qi (nourishing qi)

Function: nourishes the internal organs (Zang) and the whole body. Ying qi
produces and nourishes the blood.
Location: flows with the blood and in the channels
This is the qi that is activated whenever a needle is inserted into an
acupuncture point.

Zhong QI- Central Qi

This is the true Qi of the Spleen and Stomach that embodies the Spleens
function of transforming and transporting the GU qi (food qi) as well as the Spleens
function of raising QI.
1. transforming and transporting
2. raising

Zheng Qi- Upright Qi

Zheng Qi = Wei Qi + Ying Qi + Jing
functions to defend the body from invasion by external pathogens.
Zheng qi is the opposite of Xie Qi (evil qi)

ZangFu Qi (organ qi)

Each organ has its own particular type of Qi that is characterized by the organ
itself.

copyright Bronwyn Michaelis 2010

Transformation of Qi

Wei Qi-Defensive Qi- (protective qi) (immunity)

Wei qi is derived from the courser part of food and water (finer parts make
Ying qi). It is slippery and so cannot enter the channels. this qi is coarser than ying
qi. we qi also originates form essence (Jing) and Yuan qi and is transformed from
Kidney-Yang. So resistance to Xie Qi (evil pathogens) comes from healthy Lung Qi
and Kidney Yang (as well as healthy spleen qi-ability to absorb food - intestinal
flora)!!!
Location: circulates under the skin in between the muscles, it vaporizes in
between membranes and diffuses over the chest and abdomen. simple questions
Chapter 43
functions:
1. protects the body from attack of exterior evil qi (xie qi) (examples include
wind, cold, heat, damp, etc.)
2. warms and moistens and nourishes skin and hair
3. controls the opening and closing of the pores (regulates sweating)
4. regulates the body temperature (usually by regulating sweating)
5. circulates outside the vessels
6. warms zang-fu organs
This is why we promote sweating when a being is invaded by exterior windcold. The wind-cold evil pathogen (xie qi) obstructs the we qi circulation and
blocks the pores thus disabling the dispersing function of the lungs. When we
promote sweating by restoring the lungs dispersing function the pores are
unblocked and the fluids come out as sweat and wind-cold xie qi mixed with it.
circulation

50 times in 24 hours

25 times during the day

tai yang to shao yang to yang ming

25 times at night

KD to HT to LU to LV to SP

During the night our immune system is compromised as the wei qi circulates
internally rather than on the surface to protect us.

copyright Bronwyn Michaelis 2010

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