Qì-Gong and Taiji: What are they and what is the difference?
The difference is simple Qì-Gong (氣功) is the practice or work (gong) of vital life force. Taiji (太極) is the a philosophical term which defines the state that changes wuji (nothingness) to polarity (Yin and Yang) It is also important to underline the fact that the famous martial art Taiji is the short version to say Taiji Quan (太極拳) literally meaning the Fist of Taji; that is a martial art using the philosophy of Taiji. I guess as westerners our confusion between these terms come from the fact that we cannot produce the qì sound properly. Qì (氣) and Ji (極) are different words. The former meaning - in a simplified sense - vital force and the letter meaning supreme or ultimate.
From Left to Right: 1.Wuji (nothingness) 2. The original Taijitu (symbol representing Taji) and 3. the modern yin-yang symbol (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taijitu)
Taiji is the force that creates from Wuji (without ridge pole, nothingness) and is better seen as the intermediate force before becoming absolute yin or yang. Now that we know the real meaning of Taiji and Qì-Gong in a basic sense we can easily understand the meaning of Taiji QìGong; that is the work or exercise (Gong) of vital life force (Qì) that uses the philosophy of Taiji as its working principle. I will be writing in more detail about the philosophical meanings of the terms Wuji and Taji in a later blog post. For the time being for a better understanding of the Taiji please have a look at this video where great Qì-Gong scholar Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming explains the concept.
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