Yüan-ch’i Chin., lit. “primordial breath”; the primordial energy in which yin and yang (yin-yang) are still closely intermingled and which gives rise to the whole universe-i.e., the multiplicity and variety of the ten thousand things
(wan-wu).
The yüan-ch’i corresponds to the inner ch’i (nei-ch’i) found in the human body. The Yün-chi ch’i-ch’ien states, “Before the breaths became separated in order to take on form, they were entangled and resembled an egg. They formed a perfect whole the Great One [T’ai-i]. The yüan-ch ‘i [i.e., the egg-shaped energy forming a whole] ascended in a pure state and became Heaven; when it was already turbid it descended and became Earth.”
In addition, the concept of yüan-ch’i is of great importance in traditional Chinese medicine.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the yüan-ch’i is produced in the “portal of destiny” (ming-men) near the kidneys and accumulated in the lower cinnabar field (tan-t’ien) or the Ocean of Breath (ch’i-hai). From there it follows the path of the threefold meridian and disperses to all parts of the body, ensuring the proper functioning of the five organs (wu-tsang) and the six containers (liu-fu). By absorbing the yüan-ch’i of the cosmos and strengthening it within the body, a person may considerably lengthen the life span.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Yüan-ch’i documents
Books on Yüan-ch’i
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