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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
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These search terms might be related to Chi:
A Life of Happiness and Prosperity
A Life of Serenity Yields Understanding
Air Force
Beautiful Life / Life in Perfect Harmony
Beautiful Soul
Better to Sacrifice Your Life Than Your Principles
Birth / Life
Breath of Life
Choose Life
Daredevil Warrior / Soul of a Warrior
Embrace Life
Embrace Life / Embrace Living
Enjoy Life
Essence
Eternal Life / Everlasting Life / Immortality
Eternal Life / Future Life
Eternal Wheel of Life
Everyday Life
Forever Young / Long Life
Ghost / Soul / Spirit
Guan Shi Yin: Protector of Life
Heart and Soul
Inner Heart / Inner Soul
Jesus is My Life
Journey of Life
Life Energy / Spiritual Energy
Life Force
Life Full of Love
Life Goes On
Life in Balance / Balancing Life
Life in Every Breath
Life in Harmony / Balanced Life
Life is a Dew Drop
Life is a Journey
Life is but a Dream
Life is Fun
Life is Good
Life is Good / Life is Beautiful
Life is Short
Life is What You Make It
Life is What You Make of It
Life of Love
Life of Serenity
Life With Love
Life-Saving Sword
Living / Live Life
Lonely Soul / Lost Soul
Lonely Soul / Solitary
Longevity / Long Life
Longevity / Long Life Wishes
Lost Soul
Love Life
Moral Principles of Life
Music is Life
My Life is Complete Because of You
My Life, My Rules
New Life
One Heart / One Mind / Heart and Soul
Principles of Life
Prosperous Life
Reincarnation / Life in Flux
Soul / Spirit
Soul Mates
Soul Mates at Heart
Soul of a Warrior
Soul Sisters
Spirit / Soul
Spirit / Spiritual Essence
Spiritual Soul Mates
Strong / Powerful / Force
Such is Life
Such is Life / Such is Destiny
Tao / Dao of the Heart / Soul
The Force
The Good Life / Beautiful Life
The Key to Immortality is First Living a Life Worth Remembering
The Single Life
The Two Most Important Days in Your Life...
This is Life
Through the Ups and Downs of Life
Thug Life
True Essence
Warrior Essence / Warrior Spirit / Martial
Warrior Soul / Heroic Spirit
Warrior Soul / Spirit of a Fighter
Way of Life / Art of Life
Wolf Spirit / Soul of a Wolf
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your chi search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
七 see styles |
qī qi1 ch`i chi chii / chi チー |
More info & calligraphy: Seven(numeric) seven (chi: qī); (female given name) Nano sapta, seven. |
棋 see styles |
qí qi2 ch`i chi go ご |
More info & calligraphy: Chessgo (board game of capturing territory) |
氣 气 see styles |
qì qi4 ch`i chi ki き |
More info & calligraphy: Life Energy / Spiritual Energy(out-dated kanji) (1) spirit; mind; heart; (2) nature; disposition; (3) motivation; intention; (4) mood; feelings; (5) ambience; atmosphere; mood energy |
赤 see styles |
chì chi4 ch`ih chih sekizaki せきざき |
More info & calligraphy: Scarlet / Red / Crimson(1) red; crimson; scarlet; (2) red-containing colour (e.g. brown, pink, orange); (3) (colloquialism) Red (i.e. communist); (4) (abbreviation) red light; (5) (abbreviation) red ink (i.e. in finance or proof-reading); (in) the red; (adj-no,n-pref) (6) complete; total; perfect; obvious; (7) copper; (surname) Sekizaki kaṣāya 袈沙野, red, hot; south; naked. |
鴟 鸱 see styles |
chī chi1 ch`ih chih tonbi とんび tobi とび |
More info & calligraphy: Scops Owl / Black Kite(1) (kana only) black kite (Milvus migrans); (2) (abbreviation) Inverness cape; (1) (kana only) black kite (Milvus migrans); (2) (abbreviation) construction worker; scaffold erector; firefighter |
齊 齐 see styles |
qí qi2 ch`i chi hitoshi ひとし |
More info & calligraphy: Uniform / Complete / Perfect / OrderQi (kingdom in China during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Period of the Warring States); Ch'i; (male given name) Hitoshi Even, level, equal, uniform; complete, perfect; equalize; tranquillize; alike; all; at the same time, altogether. |
七月 see styles |
qī yuè qi1 yue4 ch`i yüeh chi yüeh natsuki なつき |
More info & calligraphy: July(adverbial noun) July; (female given name) Natsuki |
乞灑 乞洒 see styles |
qǐ sǎ qi3 sa3 ch`i sa chi sa kisha |
More info & calligraphy: Ksaya / Omega / Finality |
企望 see styles |
qǐ wàng qi3 wang4 ch`i wang chi wang kibou / kibo きぼう |
More info & calligraphy: Looking Forward / Hoping(noun/participle) (obsolete) making a plan and anticipating its fruition |
企鵝 企鹅 see styles |
qǐ é qi3 e2 ch`i o chi o kiga きが |
More info & calligraphy: Penguin(rare) (See ペンギン) penguin |
勇氣 勇气 see styles |
yǒng qì yong3 qi4 yung ch`i yung chi |
More info & calligraphy: Bravery / Courage |
十七 see styles |
shí qī shi2 qi1 shih ch`i shih chi tona とな |
More info & calligraphy: 17 Seventeen17; seventeen; (surname) Tona |
啟發 启发 see styles |
qǐ fā qi3 fa1 ch`i fa chi fa |
More info & calligraphy: To inspire or enlighten |
啟示 启示 see styles |
qǐ shì qi3 shi4 ch`i shih chi shih |
More info & calligraphy: Inspire |
啟蒙 启蒙 see styles |
qǐ méng qi3 meng2 ch`i meng chi meng |
More info & calligraphy: Enlightenment |
啟迪 启迪 see styles |
qǐ dí qi3 di2 ch`i ti chi ti |
More info & calligraphy: Open the Minds of the Next Generation To Stimulate Thinking |
圍棋 围棋 see styles |
wéi qí wei2 qi2 wei ch`i wei chi |
More info & calligraphy: The Game of Weiqi / Weichi / Go |
奇瑞 see styles |
qí ruì qi2 rui4 ch`i jui chi jui kizui きずい |
More info & calligraphy: Cheryauspicious (good) omen an auspicious omen |
奇跡 奇迹 see styles |
qí jì qi2 ji4 ch`i chi chi chi kiseki きせき |
More info & calligraphy: Miracle(noun - becomes adjective with の) miracle; wonder; marvel; (female given name) Kiseki |
奇遇 see styles |
qí yù qi2 yu4 ch`i yü chi yü kiguu / kigu きぐう |
More info & calligraphy: Fortuitous Meeting(adj-na,adj-no,n) unexpected meeting; coincidence |
好奇 see styles |
hào qí hao4 qi2 hao ch`i hao chi kouki / koki こうき |
More info & calligraphy: Curious / Inquisitiveinquisitiveness; (surname) Kōki |
川崎 see styles |
chuān qí chuan1 qi2 ch`uan ch`i chuan chi kawasaki かわさき |
More info & calligraphy: KawasakiKawasaki (city); (surname) Yamazaki |
廉恥 廉耻 see styles |
lián chǐ lian2 chi3 lien ch`ih lien chih renchi れんち |
More info & calligraphy: Sense of Shame / Sense of Honor / Integrity / Modesty (Korean)sense of honour (honor) |
持久 see styles |
chí jiǔ chi2 jiu3 ch`ih chiu chih chiu jikyuu / jikyu じきゅう |
More info & calligraphy: Endurance(noun/participle) endurance; persistence; (place-name) Jikyū |
枸杞 see styles |
gǒu qǐ gou3 qi3 kou ch`i kou chi kuko; kuko くこ; クコ |
More info & calligraphy: Wolfberry(kana only) Chinese matrimony vine (Lycium chinense); Chinese wolfberry; goji; (surname) Kuko a kind of tree |
氣力 气力 see styles |
qì lì qi4 li4 ch`i li chi li |
More info & calligraphy: Strength / Vigor / Energy |
氣功 气功 see styles |
qì gōng qi4 gong1 ch`i kung chi kung |
More info & calligraphy: Qi Gong / Chi Kung |
氣息 气息 see styles |
qì xī qi4 xi1 ch`i hsi chi hsi kisoku |
More info & calligraphy: Breath of Lifebreath |
氣魄 气魄 see styles |
qì pò qi4 po4 ch`i p`o chi po |
More info & calligraphy: Positive Attitude |
硬氣 硬气 see styles |
yìng qì ying4 qi4 ying ch`i ying chi |
More info & calligraphy: Strong Willed |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Life Energy Spiritual Energy | 氣 气 / 気 | ki | qì / qi4 / qi | ch`i / chi |
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. |
Successful Chinese Character and Japanese Kanji calligraphy searches within the last few hours...
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 Chi Kanji, Chi Characters, Chi in Mandarin Chinese, Chi Characters, Chi in Chinese Writing, Chi in Japanese Writing, Chi in Asian Writing, Chi Ideograms, Chinese Chi symbols, Chi Hieroglyphics, Chi Glyphs, Chi in Chinese Letters, Chi Hanzi, Chi in Japanese Kanji, Chi Pictograms, Chi in the Chinese Written-Language, or Chi in the Japanese Written-Language.
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Chi was last searched for by someone else on Apr 10th, 2024