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精, 氣, 神 are the characters jing, qi, and shen.
As a set, these three characters are known in English as the treasures of traditional Chinese medicine, the treasures of Qi Gong, or the three treasures of Taoism / Daoism.
Sometimes this set is titled 三寶 (sānbǎo) or “three treasures,” but here, we're writing each treasure out.
Here's how these characters are perceived in this context...
Jing: nutritive essence; refined; perfected; pure
Qi: vitality; energy; force; breath; vigor
Shen: spirit; soul; mind; being
To keep it simple, you can use “essence, vitality, and spirit” to define these.
Chi Energy: Essence of Life / Energy Flow
This 氣 energy flow is a fundamental concept of traditional Asian culture.
氣 is romanized as “Qi” or “Chi” in Chinese, “Gi” in Korean, and “Ki” in Japanese.
Chi is believed to be part of everything that exists, as in “life force” or “spiritual energy.” It is most often translated as “energy flow” or literally as “air” or “breath.” Some people will simply translate this as “spirit,” but you must consider the kind of spirit we're talking about. I think this is weighted more toward energy than spirit.
The character itself is a representation of steam (or breath) rising from rice. To clarify, the character for rice looks like this:
Steam was apparently seen as visual evidence of the release of “life energy” when this concept was first developed. The Qi / Chi / Ki character is still used in compound words to mean steam or vapor.
The etymology of this character is a bit complicated. It's suggested that the first form of this character from bronze script (about 2500 years ago) looked like these samples:
However, it was easy to confuse this with the character for the number three. So the rice radical was added by 221 B.C. (the exact time of this change is debated). This first version with the rice radical looks like this:
The idea of Qi / Chi / Ki is really a philosophical concept. It's often used to refer to the “flow” of metaphysical energy that sustains living beings. Yet there is much debate that has continued for thousands of years as to whether Qi / Chi / Ki is pure energy or consists partially or fully of matter.
You can also see the character for Qi / Chi / Ki in common compound words such as Tai Chi / Tai Qi, Aikido, Reiki, and Qi Gong / Chi Kung.
In the modern Japanese Kanji, the rice radical has been changed into two strokes that form an X.
The original and traditional Chinese form is still understood in Japanese, but we can also offer that modern Kanji form in our custom calligraphy. If you want this Japanese Kanji, please click on the character to the right instead of the “Select and Customize” button above.
More language notes: This is pronounced like “chee” in Mandarin Chinese, and like “key” in Japanese.
This is also the same way to write this in Korean Hanja where it is Romanized as “gi” and pronounced like “gee” but with a real G-sound, not a J-sound.
Though Vietnamese no longer use Chinese characters in their daily language, this character is still widely known in Vietnam.
See Also: Energy | Life Force | Vitality | Life | Birth | Soul
氣功 or Qigong is the title of a technique that is somewhere between medical practice, meditation, and in some cases, religion.
The definition is blurred depending on which school of Qigong you are following. In some cases, it is even incorporated with martial arts.
Some people (even Chinese people) mix this title with Tai Chi (Tai Qi) exercises.
Lately, in China, people will claim to practice Tai Chi rather than Qigong because the Qigong title was recently used as a cover for an illegal pseudo-religious movement in China with the initials F.G. or F.D. (I can not write those names here for fear of our website being banned in China).
You can learn those names and more here: Further info about Qigong
If you are wondering why I wrote “Qi Gong” and “Chi Kung” as the title of this calligraphy entry, I should teach you a little about the various ways in which Chinese can be Romanized. One form writes this as “Chi Kung” or “Chikung” (Taiwan). In the mainland and elsewhere, it is Romanized as “Qi Gong” or “Qigong.” The pronunciation is the same in Taiwan, mainland, and Singapore Mandarin. Neither Romanization is exactly like English. If you want to know how to say this with English rules, it would be something like “Chee Gong” (but the “gong” has a vowel sound like the “O” in “go”).
Romanization is a really confusing topic and has caused many Chinese words to be mispronounced in the west. One example is “Kung Pao Chicken,” which should actually be more like “Gong Bao” with the “O” sounding like “oh” for both characters. Neither the Romanization system in Taiwan nor the Mainland is perfect, in my opinion, and leads to many misunderstandings.
In modern Japan, you may see this written as 気功, but the original 氣功 is still recognized. If you need the Japanese version, please contact me.
A state of mind
入靜 is used in Taoism and Qi Gong to describe the state you can reach while sitting quietly in meditation. It contains the idea of achieving a highly-tranquil and peaceful state. Some may describe this state as “sleeping while still awake.”
If you have a relaxation or meditation room, this is the calming wall scroll that you would want hanging in that room.
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your qigong search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
全日本少林寺気功協会 see styles |
zennihonshourinjikikoukyoukai / zennihonshorinjikikokyokai ぜんにほんしょうりんじきこうきょうかい |
(org) All Japan Shaolin Temple Qigong Association; (o) All Japan Shaolin Temple Qigong Association |
氣功 气功 see styles |
qì gōng qi4 gong1 ch`i kung chi kung |
More info & calligraphy: Qi Gong / Chi Kung |
気功 see styles |
kikou / kiko きこう |
breathing exercise; breath control; spirit cultivation; chi kung; qigong |
氣場 气场 see styles |
qì chǎng qi4 chang3 ch`i ch`ang chi chang |
qi field (in qigong or feng shui); vibe (of a person or place); aura; atmosphere |
八段錦 八段锦 see styles |
bā duàn jǐn ba1 duan4 jin3 pa tuan chin |
eight-section brocade, a traditional eight-part sequence of qigong exercises |
気功師 see styles |
kikoushi / kikoshi きこうし |
qigong therapist |
磬 see styles |
qìng qing4 ch`ing ching kei / ke けい |
More info & calligraphy: Khánhsounding stone; qing; ancient Chinese chime shaped like a chevron (inverted 'v'), orig. of stone, today often metal, in Japan primarily used at Buddhist temples; (given name) Kei A piece of flat stone or metal, used as a gong, or for musical percussion. |
龔 龚 see styles |
gōng gong1 kung kū |
More info & calligraphy: Kung / Gongto provide |
こん see styles |
gon ごん |
(archaism) (feminine speech) (secret language of court ladies) (See 牛蒡) great burdock; (place-name) Gong; Khong; Conn |
コーン see styles |
goon ゴーン |
More info & calligraphy: Coan |
呯 see styles |
píng ping2 p`ing ping |
(onom.) bang! (gong, gun firing etc) |
敲 see styles |
qiāo qiao1 ch`iao chiao noboru のぼる |
to hit; to strike; to tap; to rap; to knock; to rip sb off; to overcharge (given name) Noboru To knock, beat, pound, e.g. a drum, gong, or gate. |
椎 see styles |
zhuī zhui1 chui shii; shii / shi; shi しい; シイ |
(bound form) vertebra (kana only) any beech tree of genus Castanopsis; chinquapin; chinkapin; (female given name) Shiina A hammer, especially for a gong, etc.; idem 槌. |
篩 筛 see styles |
shāi shai1 shai furui ふるい |
(bound form) a sieve; to sieve; to sift; to filter; to eliminate through selection; to warm a pot of rice wine (over a fire or in hot water); to pour (wine or tea); (dialect) to strike (a gong) (1) sieve; sifter; screen; (2) screening (jobs, candidates, etc.) |
鉦 钲 see styles |
zhēng zheng1 cheng kane; shou / kane; sho かね; しょう |
gong used to halt troops gong; handbell; (given name) Masashi A small gong struck during the worship, or service. |
錚 铮 see styles |
zhēng zheng1 cheng |
clang of metals; small gong |
鑼 锣 see styles |
luó luo2 lo |
gong; CL:面[mian4] |
ちん see styles |
chin チン |
jing (Korean gong) (kor:); (place-name) Chin (Burmah); Ching; Chinn; Zinn |
喚鐘 唤钟 see styles |
huàn zhōng huan4 zhong1 huan chung kanshō |
半鐘 (or飯鐘) The dinner bell or gong. |
子貢 子贡 see styles |
zǐ gòng zi3 gong4 tzu kung shikou / shiko しこう |
Zi Gong or Duanmu Ci 端木賜|端木赐[Duan1 mu4 Ci4] (520 BC-), disciple of Confucius (personal name) Shikou |
廝鑼 厮锣 see styles |
sī luó si1 luo2 ssu lo |
small gong |
愚公 see styles |
gukou / guko ぐこう |
(char) Yu Gong (main character in the 4th century BC Chinese fable "The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains"); Yúgōng; Yukong; (ch) Yu Gong (main character in the 4th century BC Chinese fable "The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains"); Yúgōng; Yukong |
敲鑼 敲锣 see styles |
qiāo luó qiao1 luo2 ch`iao lo chiao lo |
to beat a gong |
曾鞏 曾巩 see styles |
zēng gǒng zeng1 gong3 tseng kung soukyou / sokyo そうきょう |
Zeng Gong (1019-1083), Song dynasty writer, one of the eight giants 唐宋八大家[Tang2-Song4 ba1da4jia1] (personal name) Soukyō |
木鐸 木铎 see styles |
mù duó mu4 duo2 mu to bokutaku ぼくたく |
(1) bell with wooden clapper; (2) leader; guide (of the public) wooden gong |
木魚 木鱼 see styles |
mù yú mu4 yu2 mu yü mokugyo もくぎょ |
mokugyo; wooden fish (percussion instrument) (Buddhist term) fish gong; fish wood block; temple block; round, hollow, wood block (vaguely fish-shaped, usu. with scales), struck while chanting sutras The wooden fish; there are two kinds, one round for use to keep time in chanting, the other long for calling to meals. The origin of the use of a fish is unkজxample to monks to be watchful: there is no evidence of connection with the Christian ίχθύς.ί 木馬 Wooden horse, a symbol of emancipation. |
杢魚 see styles |
mokugyo もくぎょ |
(Buddhist term) fish gong; fish wood block; temple block; round, hollow, wood block (vaguely fish-shaped, usu. with scales), struck while chanting sutras |
犍稚 see styles |
jiān zhì jian1 zhi4 chien chih kenchi |
ghaṇṭā, also 犍地; 犍椎; 犍槌; 犍遲; a bell, gong, or any similar resonant article. |
玄奘 see styles |
xuán zàng xuan2 zang4 hsüan tsang genjou / genjo げんじょう |
Xuanzang (602-664), Tang dynasty Buddhist monk and translator who traveled to India 629-645 (given name) Genjō; (person) Xuanzang (602-664) Xuanzang, whose name is written variously e. g. Hsüan Chuang, Hiüen-tsang, Hiouen Tsang, Yüan Tsang, Yüen Chwang; the famous pilgrim to India, whose surname was 陳 Chen and personal name 禕 Wei; a native of Henan, A. D. 600-664 (Giles). It is said that he entered a monastery at 13 years of age and in 618 with his elder brother, who had preceded him in becoming a monk, went to Chang-an 長安, the capital, where in 622 he was fully ordained. Finding that China possessed only half of the Buddhist classics, he took his staff, bound his feet, and on foot braved the perils of the deserts and mountains of Central Asia. The date of his setting out is uncertain (629 or 627), but the year of his arrival in India is given as 633: after visiting and studying in many parts of India, he returned home, reaching the capital in 645, was received with honour and presented his collection of 657 works, 'besides many images and pictures, and one hundred and fifty relics, 'to the Court. Taizong, the emperor, gave him the 弘福寺 Hongfu monastery in which to work. He presented the manuscript of his famous 大唐西域記 Record of Western Countries in 646 and completed it as it now stands by 648. The emperor Gaozong called him to Court in 653 and gave him the 慈恩寺 Cien monastery in which to work, a monastery which ever after was associated with him; in 657 he removed him to the 玉華宮 Yuhua Gong and made that palace a monastery. He translated seventy-five works in 1335 juan. In India he received the titles of 摩訶耶那提婆 Mahāyānadeva and 木叉提婆 Mokṣadeva; he was also known as 三藏法師 Tripiṭaka teacher of Dharma. He died in 664, in his 65th year. |
珙縣 珙县 see styles |
gǒng xiàn gong3 xian4 kung hsien |
Gong county in Yibin 宜賓|宜宾[Yi2 bin1], Sichuan |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Three Treasures of Chinese Medicine | 精氣神 精气神 | jīng qì shén jing1 qi4 shen2 jing qi shen jingqishen | ching ch`i shen chingchishen ching chi shen |
|
Life Energy Spiritual Energy | 氣 气 / 気 | ki | qì / qi4 / qi | ch`i / chi |
Qi Gong Chi Kung | 氣功 气功 | ki kou / kikou / ki ko | qì gōng / qi4 gong1 / qi gong / qigong | ch`i kung / chikung / chi kung |
Sit Quietly in Meditation | 入靜 入静 | rù jìng / ru4 jing4 / ru jing / rujing | ju ching / juching | |
Tai Chi Ball | 太極球 太极球 | tai kyoku kyuu taikyokukyuu tai kyoku kyu | tài jí qiú tai4 ji2 qiu2 tai ji qiu taijiqiu | t`ai chi ch`iu taichichiu tai chi chiu |
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
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All of our calligraphy wall scrolls are handmade.
When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!
When you select your calligraphy, you'll be taken to another page where you can choose various custom options.
The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.
Some people may refer to this entry as Qigong Kanji, Qigong Characters, Qigong in Mandarin Chinese, Qigong Characters, Qigong in Chinese Writing, Qigong in Japanese Writing, Qigong in Asian Writing, Qigong Ideograms, Chinese Qigong symbols, Qigong Hieroglyphics, Qigong Glyphs, Qigong in Chinese Letters, Qigong Hanzi, Qigong in Japanese Kanji, Qigong Pictograms, Qigong in the Chinese Written-Language, or Qigong in the Japanese Written-Language.
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