Qi, (spelled written more frequently the old fashioned way as 'Chi',) is an element of eastern asian cultures, (particularly China, Japan ' ki', Korea and Vietnam.) It is central to their cultural underpinning of how the life functions. There are many different meanings of the character qi. (I was told by one researcher that they knew of several hundred.) It is translated most commonly in English as 'breath', 'energy' and 'life force.' Undoubtedly the concept is central to taijiquan. The taiji classics make central reference to the idea. The highest level practitioners make constant reference to qi. What is clear to me is that there does not appear to be any high level practitioners who has has not operated under this Qi paradigm, I have puzzled over how to get around the cultural and linguistic impediments that the phrase qi offers for many years. So that others can perhaps avoid some of the hurdles and dead ends that I have ventured around, I have gathered together ten questions, with quotations from the highest level sources that appear to address these questions directly.
1. How important is qi in Taijiquan?
2. What is the function of qi in Taijiquan?
3. What are the sensations / feelings relating to qi in Taijiquan? Is there a process of qi sensation?
"Some things can only be felt and cannot be described. You should be feeling "hot water", pouring through your arm and to your hand. Even at low levels, people can feel this. When the arm is circling the little finger moves, energy goes to the dantian. When the thumb moves, the qi goes from the dantian out to the hand." Chen Xiao Wang.
"The inner energy, qi, can be gradually induced to move within the trunk and limbs with refinement of one's movements. In the first level of gong fu.. one can only feel the internal energy but is not able to channel the energy to every part of the body in one go" Chen Xiao Wang - TL.
4. Is there a particular way to train the qi?
5. Is it important to be able to feel qi in Taijiquan?
6. Should a practitioner of Taijiquan be concentrating principally on qi sensations? What importance should be placed on these sensations?
7. Is it necessary to imagine the path of the qi?
8. What are qigongs and neigongs?
9. Are there particular taijiquan qigongs?
10. Is it important for taijiquan practitioners to have an awareness of the energy system and the accupoints and meridians etc.?
GH – Chen Zheng Lei on Chen style Silk Reeling Practice, with Gao Xiao Hui and De Ru, in Tai Chi Magasine.
JC – Chen Xiao Wang on Silk Reeling Energy Skills: an interview with Chen Xiao Wang conducted by Marvin Smalheiser, translated by Joseph Cheu.
TP – 'The Five Levels of Skill in Chen Style Taijiquan' by Chen Xiao Wang, translated by Tan Lee-Peng.