Ask a Chinese what is 'chi/qi' and you
will get as many answers as you would asking an Aikidoka
(student) how to perform a kokyunage. A common
answer is that chi refers to a particular mental and physical state
that exhibits in a psychophysiological power associates with blood
and breath.
A chinese philosopher will talk about this microcosmical
'matter-energy' which is fundamental in forming and governing the
universe. A traditional chinese physician, usually also a taoist by
education, speaks about a microbiomaterial that circulates within the
body, maintaining the living force that makes the body function.
The chinese will probably accept any of these definitions in a
'matter-of-fact' manner and do not expect questions or disagreements
concerning the meaning of chi. Of course this does not mean that they
actually had a very accurate idea about the meaning of chi
or that
everybody knows exactly in what context one means when one talks about
chi. In fact, the chinese probably means all of the above definitions,
and more.
This raises immediate problems
for western minds which makes clear distinctions between
matter/mind, material/nonmaterial,
physical/psychological/ physiological
etc. Whether you agree or disagree
with the chinese blatant disregard for the cartesian dichotomy, this
is the way in which the chinese conceptualizes chi, or any
other phenomena at all. Furthermore, they seems to be happy to trade
off the analytical clarity for the imaginative richness.
Sensei Boyd simply says,
"That's
the way it is."
When the Chinese cosmic system which uses
chi to explain the
structure and function of virtually every phenomenon in the universe
finally got transmitted to Japan in the seventh century, it had the shinto and tendai buddhist flavours added on.
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You
can read more on Aikido Philosophy at The Aikido FAQ
(http://www.aikidofaq.com/
philosophy/index.html)
or by
clicking here
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