Have you understood Tai Chi and Qi? Actually! People are always going to say that Tai Chi and Qigong are mentioned Qi, it is because Tai Chi and Qigong (pronounced "Chee gong") are traditional Chinese exercises. They are based on two ideas:
Energy, called Qi or chi, flows through the body along "energy pathways" called meridians. If the flow of chi is blocked or unbalanced at any point on a pathway, it is thought that you may become ill. You do Tai Chi and Qi gong to increase energy (chi or Qi) and improve health through gentle, graceful, repeated movements.
Nature, including the body, consists of opposing forces called yin and yang. Good health results when these forces are in balance. You do Tai Chi and Qi gong movements in an attempt to help restore the body's balance of yin and yang.
Well, what is the difference between the scientific postulate above and our own postulations on Qi found in our fundamental theory textbook, or those found in Daoism, the founding philosophy of Oriental medicine? The word Qi is simply and consistently a term we use to remain in deference to the simple truth stated above that everything is one continuous field of energy. Science knows this as do the mystics. The two are saying the same things about the same world. Our predecessors in the healing arts weren't delusional. People lived and died by the healer's abilities. Scientists certainly aren't delusional. We've built a civilization like none seen on this planet before (that we know of).
Most of the people appreciate the reaction of those in our field calling for sensible, rational discourse when it comes to our philosophies and theories. However, we must not make the mistake of assuming that our theories are "behind" or "quaint" in any way. The convergence demonstrated above should confirm for any doubter that our theoretical construct of Qi and Yin-Yang are at least as advanced as the most recent scientific findings, if not more so given our three millennia head start.
The mistranslation of Qi is not as deleterious to the efforts of those promoting reason and demonstrability in our field as is the misunderstanding of the word energy. Qi is no-doubt energy. Qi is the fundamental continuum along which every phenomenon occurs. All phenomena exist and are defined by virtue of the contrast of opposing natures inherent to each. The way we describe such opposition is Yin-Yang. The Qi construct, including Yin-Yang, is as complete as it is profound. It is as cutting edge as it is ancient. The term energy cannot be considered limiting if it is the "fundamental building block of the universe", can it? There is nothing wrong with translating Qi as energy as long as you know what energy really is.
