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82-518: The name "Hanyang" means "the Yang side of Han River", referring to the town's historic location on the north ("yang") bank of the Han River mouth . However, the lower Han River changed course to the north side of the town during Ming dynasty 's Chenghua -era. The town, now on the south ("yin") side of the river, should have been renamed to "Hanyin" by naming convention, but the name "Hanyang" remained as it

164-436: A calm meditative state of mind. People practice qigong throughout China and worldwide for recreation, exercise, relaxation, preventive medicine, self-healing, alternative medicine , meditation, self-cultivation, and training for martial arts. Qigong ( Pinyin ), ch'i kung ( Wade-Giles ), and chi gung ( Yale ) are romanizations of two Chinese words " qì " and " gōng " ( 功 ). Qi primarily means air, gas or breath but

246-612: A chemical hormone produced by the body in response to stress. Basic and clinical research in China during the 1980s was mostly descriptive, and few results were reported in peer-reviewed English-language journals. Qigong became known outside China in the 1990s, and clinical randomized controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of qigong on health and mental conditions began to be published worldwide, along with systematic reviews. Most existing clinical trials have small sample sizes and many have inadequate controls. Of particular concern

328-564: A closer connection with the natural world. Daoist Qigong found it philosophical roots in the Dao De Jing . Its featured techniques of internal elixir emerged in the Eastern Han dynasty and reached a level of maturity in the Ming and Qing dynasty. The Ming dynasty compendium Chifeng sui , written by a Daoist ascetic, lists various qigong-based "longevity methods". Meditative practices are part of

410-479: A collocation of two words A–B that cannot be idiomatically reversed as B–A, for example, English cat and mouse (not * mouse and cat ) and friend or foe (not * foe or friend ). Similarly, the usual pattern among Chinese binomial compounds is for positive A and negative B, where the A word is dominant or privileged over B. For example, tiandi 天地 "heaven and earth" and nannü 男女 "men and women". Yinyang meaning "dark and light; female and male; moon and sun",

492-636: A concept that originated in ancient Chinese philosophy that describes how opposite or contrary forces may create each other by their comparison and are to be seen as actually complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. In Daoist philosophy, dark and light, yin and yang, arrive in the Tao Te Ching at chapter 42. It becomes sensible from an initial quiescence or emptiness ( wuji , sometimes symbolized by an empty circle), and continues moving until quiescence

574-408: A cycle. Creation as part of yang, and destruction as part of yin, progress on one side (yang) and entropy on the other side (yin), is represented in the cycles. Yin is the black side, and yang is the white side. Other color arrangements have included the white of yang being replaced by red. The taijitu is sometimes accompanied by other shapes, such as bagua . The relationship between yin and yang

656-506: A diverse set of practices that coordinate body ( 調身 ), breath ( 調息 ), and mind ( 調心 ) based on Chinese philosophy. Practices include moving and still meditation, massage, chanting, sound meditation, and non-contact treatments, performed in a broad array of body postures. Qigong is commonly classified into two foundational categories: 1) dynamic or active qigong ( dong gong ), with slow flowing movement; and 2) meditative or passive qigong ( jing gong ), with still positions and inner movement of

738-573: A mistake or typographical error for the Chinese loanword yin-yang —yet they are not equivalents. Chinese does have some yangyin collocations , such as 洋銀 (lit. "foreign silver") "silver coin/dollar", but not even the most comprehensive dictionaries (e.g., the Hanyu Da Cidian ) enter yangyin * 陽陰 . While yang and yin can occur together in context, yangyin is not synonymous with yinyang . The linguistic term " irreversible binomial " refers to

820-706: A mountain or the north bank of a river will receive more direct sunlight than the opposite side. Yang refers to the "south side of a hill" in Hengyang 衡陽 , which is south of Mount Heng 衡山 in Hunan province, and to the "north bank of a river" in Luoyang 洛陽 , which is located north of the Luo River 洛河 in Henan . Similarly, yin refers to "north side of a hill" in Huayin 華陰 , which

902-469: A mountain)" with the uncommon English geographic terms ubac "shady side of a mountain" and adret "sunny side of a mountain" (which are of French origin ). Many Chinese place names or toponyms contain the word yang "sunny side" and a few contain yin "shady side". In China , as elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere , sunlight comes predominantly from the south, and thus the south face of

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984-427: A physician when combining with conventional treatment. Although there is ongoing clinical research examining the potential health effects of qigong, there is little financial or medical incentive to support high-quality research, and still only a limited number of studies meet accepted medical and scientific standards of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) . Clinical research concerning qigong has been conducted for

1066-422: A pilot randomized clinical trial. Moreover, studies have indicated Qigong-based exercises may be effective for alleviating depression symptoms in individuals with major depressive disorder and future well-designed, randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings. Qigong is generally viewed as safe. No adverse effects have been observed in clinical trials, such that qigong

1148-415: A primary chaos of material energy, organized into the cycles of yin and yang, form and matter. 'Yin' is retractive, passive and contractive in nature, while 'yang' is repelling, active and expansive in principle, this dichotomy in some form, is seen in all things in nature—patterns of change and difference, such as biological and seasonal cycles, evolution of the landscape over days, weeks, years and eons (with

1230-443: A rich history in the language, their etymologies and evolution analyzable through lenses of orthography , phonology , and meanings . The Chinese characters 陰 and 陽 are both considered to be phono-semantic compounds , with semantic component 阝 'mound', 'hill' , a graphical variant of 阜 —with the phonetic components 今 ; jīn (and the added semantic component 云 ; yún ; 'cloud') and 昜 ; yáng . In

1312-405: A spiritual path that leads to enlightenment or Buddhahood . They are considered by some as Buddhist qigong. In Confucianism practices now known as Confucian qigong provide a means to become a Junzi ( 君子 ) through awareness of morality. Confucian qigong can include dynamic exercise or static meditation, as well as cultivation of the mind to achieve "noble spirit". In contemporary China,

1394-748: A type of qigong, traced back to an origin in the seventeenth century. In modern practice, qigong typically focuses more on health and meditation rather than martial applications, and plays an important role in training for tai chi, in particular used to build strength, develop breath control, and increase vitality ("life energy"). Qigong has shown therapeutic benefits in various health conditions. Research suggests in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Qigong has been found to improve lung function, exercise capacity, and quality of life. Qigong exercise shows therapeutic efficacy in alleviating fibromyalgia symptoms including pain, sleep quality, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and fibromyalgia impact, as per

1476-461: A wide range of medical conditions, including bone density, cardiopulmonary effects , physical function, falls and related risk factors, quality of life, immune function, inflammation, hypertension, pain, and cancer treatment. Especially since the 1990s, conventional or mainstream Western medicine often strives to heed the model of evidence-based medicine , EBM, which demotes medical theory, clinical experience, and physiological data to prioritize

1558-547: A wide variety of qigong forms have developed within different segments of Chinese society: in traditional Chinese medicine for preventive and curative functions; in Confucianism to promote longevity and improve moral character; in Taoism and Buddhism as part of meditative practice; and in Chinese martial arts to enhance self defending abilities. Contemporary qigong blends diverse and sometimes disparate traditions, in particular

1640-466: Is a concept that originated in Chinese philosophy , describing an opposite but interconnected, self-perpetuating cycle. Yin and yang can be thought of as complementary and at the same time opposing forces that interact to form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the assembled parts and the parts are important for cohesion of the whole. In Chinese cosmology , the universe creates itself out of

1722-497: Is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation said to be useful for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial arts training. With roots in Chinese medicine , philosophy , and martial arts , qigong is traditionally viewed by the Chinese and throughout Asia as a practice to cultivate and balance the mythical life-force qi . Qigong practice typically involves moving meditation, coordinating slow-flowing movement, deep rhythmic breathing, and

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1804-496: Is an exception. Scholars have proposed various explanations for why yinyang violates this pattern, including "linguistic convenience" (it is easier to say yinyang than yangyin ), the idea that "proto-Chinese society was matriarchal", or perhaps, since yinyang first became prominent during the late Warring States period, this term was "purposely directed at challenging persistent cultural assumptions". Joseph Needham discusses yin and yang together with Five Elements as part of

1886-426: Is an important component in both internal and external style Chinese martial arts . Focus on qi is considered to be a source of power as well as the foundation of the internal style of martial arts ( neijia ). Tai chi , xingyiquan , and baguazhang are representative of the types of Chinese martial arts that rely on the concept of qi as the foundation. Extraordinary feats of martial arts prowess, such as

1968-598: Is an indivisible whole. In the ethics of Confucianism on the other hand, most notably in the philosophy of Dong Zhongshu ( c. 2nd century BC), a moral dimension is attached to the idea of yin and yang. The Ahom philosophy of duality of the individual self han and pu is quite similar to yin and yang of Taoism. The tradition was originated in Yunnan , China and followed by some Ahom , descendants of Dai ethnic Minority . The Chinese terms 陰 ; yīn ; 'dark side' and 陽 ; yáng ; 'light side' have

2050-446: Is based on "adjustment" ( tiao 调 , also translated as "regulation", "tuning", or "alignment") of body, breath, and mind. As such, qigong is viewed by practitioners as being more than common physical exercise, because qigong combines postural, breathing, and mental training in one to produce a particular psychophysiological state of being. While CMQ is still based on traditional and classical theory, modern practitioners also emphasize

2132-457: Is believed to be cultivated and stored in three main dantian energy centers and to travel through the body along twelve main meridians , with numerous smaller branches and tributaries. The main meridians correspond to twelve main organs . Qi is balanced in terms of yin and yang in the context of the traditional system of Five Elements. It is understood that illness and disease emerge when qi becomes diminished, unbalanced, or stagnant. Health

2214-505: Is believed to be returned and maintained by rebuilding qi , eliminating qi blockages, and correcting qi imbalances. Although not all TCM concepts align with modern science and medicine, they are widely adopted by practitioners throughout East Asia and are increasingly used in the West to treat patients. In Daoism, various practices now known as Daoist qigong are claimed to provide a way to achieve longevity and spiritual realization, as well as

2296-539: Is considered by some sinologists as the start of the modern or scientific interpretation of qigong. During the Great Leap Forward (1958–1963) and the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), qigong, along with other traditional Chinese medicine, was under tight control with limited access among the general public, but was encouraged in state-run rehabilitation centers and spread to universities and hospitals. After

2378-427: Is considered safe for use across diverse populations. Cost for self-care is minimal, and cost efficiencies are high for group delivered care. Typically the cautions associated with qigong are the same as those associated with any physical activity, including risk of muscle strains or sprains, advisability of stretching to prevent injury, general safety for use alongside conventional medical treatments, and consulting with

2460-665: Is low impact and can be done lying, sitting, or standing, qigong is accessible for people with disabilities, seniors, and people recovering from injuries. Qigong is practiced for meditation and self-cultivation as part of various philosophical and spiritual traditions. As meditation, qigong is a means to still the mind and enter a state of consciousness that brings serenity, clarity, and bliss. Many practitioners find qigong, with its gentle focused movement, to be more accessible than seated meditation. Qigong for self-cultivation can be classified in terms of traditional Chinese philosophy: Daoist, Buddhist, and Confucian. The practice of qigong

2542-507: Is most associated with these theories. Although yin and yang are not mentioned in any of the surviving documents of Zou Yan, his school was known as the Yin Yang Jia (Yin and Yang School). Needham concludes "There can be very little doubt that the philosophical use of the terms began about the beginning of the 4th century, and that the passages in older texts which mention this use are interpolations made later than that time." Yin and yang are

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2624-562: Is north of Mount Hua 華山 in Shaanxi province. In Japan , the characters are used in western Honshu to delineate the north-side San'in region 山陰 from the south-side San'yō region 山陽 , separated by the Chūgoku Mountains 中国山地 . English yin , yang , and yin-yang are familiar loanwords of Chinese origin . The Oxford English Dictionary defines: yin (jɪn) Also Yin , Yn . [Chinese yīn shade, feminine;

2706-447: Is not convincing enough to suggest that internal qigong is an effective modality for pain management." A 2010 systematic review of the effect of qigong exercises on cancer treatment concluded "the effectiveness of qigong in cancer care is not yet supported by the evidence from rigorous clinical trials." A separate systematic review that looked at the effects of qigong exercises on various physiological or psychological outcomes found that

2788-474: Is often described in terms of sunlight playing over a mountain and a valley. Yin (literally the 'shady place' or 'north slope') is the dark area occluded by the mountain's bulk, while yang (literally the "sunny place' or "south slope") is the brightly lit portion. As the sun moves across the sky, yin and yang gradually trade places with each other, revealing what was obscured and obscuring what was revealed. Qigong Qigong ( / ˈ tʃ iː ˈ ɡ ɒ ŋ / )

2870-447: Is often translated as a metaphysical concept of 'vital energy', referring to a supposed energy circulating through the body; though a more general definition is universal energy, including heat, light, and electromagnetic energy; and definitions often involve breath, air, gas, or the relationship between matter, energy, and spirit. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts. Gong (or kung )

2952-416: Is often translated as cultivation or work, and definitions include practice, skill, mastery, merit, achievement, service, result, or accomplishment, and is often used to mean gongfu (kung fu) in the traditional sense of achievement through great effort. The two words are combined to describe systems to cultivate and balance life energy, especially for health and wellbeing. The term qigong as currently used

3034-816: Is perhaps cognate with Chinese chāng < *k-hlaŋ 昌 ; 'prosperous', 'bright' (compare areal words like Tai plaŋ 'bright' & Proto- Viet-Muong hlaŋ ). To this word-family, Unger also includes 炳 ; bǐng < *pl(j)aŋʔ 'bright'; however Schuessler reconstructs 炳 ; bǐng 's Old Chinese pronunciation as *braŋʔ and includes it in an Austroasiatic word family, besides 亮 ; liàng < *raŋh 爽 ; shuǎng < *sraŋʔ 'twilight of dawn'; míng < *mraŋ 明 'bright', 'become light', 'enlighten'; owing to "the different OC initial consonant which seems to have no recognizable OC morphological function". Yin and yang are semantically complex words. John DeFrancis 's ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary gives

3116-453: Is reached again. For instance, dropping a stone in a calm pool of water will simultaneously raise waves and lower troughs between them, and this alternation of high and low points in the water will radiate outward until the movement dissipates and the pool is calm once more. Yin and yang thus are always opposite and equal qualities and create and control each other. Whenever one quality reaches its peak, it will naturally begin to transform into

3198-436: Is the impracticality of double blinding using appropriate sham treatments, and the difficulty of placebo control, such that benefits often cannot be distinguished from the placebo effect . Also of concern is the choice of which qigong form to use and how to standardize the treatment or amount with respect to the skill of the practitioner leading or administering treatment, the tradition of individualization of treatments, and

3280-580: The Korean War and Vietnam War . As of 2016, Hanyang District administers eleven subdistricts, one economic development zone and one administrative committee: Colleges and universities: Primary and secondary schools: Yin and yang Model humanity: Main philosophical traditions: Ritual traditions: Devotional traditions: Salvation churches and sects : Confucian churches and sects: Yin and yang ( English: / j ɪ n / , / j æ ŋ / ), also yinyang or yin-yang ,

3362-674: The School of Naturalists . He says that it would be proper to begin with yin and yang before Five Elements because the former: "lay, as it were, at a deeper level in Nature, and were the most ultimate principles of which the ancient Chinese could conceive. But it so happens that we know a good deal more about the historical origin of the Five-Element theory than about that of the yin and the yang, and it will therefore be more convenient to deal with it first." He then discusses Zou Yan ( 鄒衍 ; 305–240 BC) who

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3444-496: The Taoist meditative practice of "internal alchemy" ( neidan ), the ancient meditative practices of "circulating qi " ( xingqi ) and "standing meditation" ( zhan zhuang ), and the slow gymnastic breathing exercise of "guiding and pulling" ( daoyin ). Traditionally, qigong was taught by master to students through training and oral transmission , with an emphasis on meditative practice by scholars and gymnastic or dynamic practice by

3526-472: The yin and yang and Five Elements Theory, the Three Treasures Theory, Zang-Xiang Theory, Meridians, and the qi -Blood Theory, which have been synthesized as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) . TCM aims to identify and correct underlying disharmony, addressing deficiency and excess by utilizing the complementary and opposing forces of yin and yang, to create a balanced flow of qi . Qi

3608-424: The 1982 second edition of the book, the author provided a modern definition of Qigong: "…the training of the body, breath, and mind as a means to cultivate the body's vital energy (Qi), with the aim of preventing illness and prolonging life. Based on classical theory, we named this self-exercise method, which focuses on cultivating Qi, 'Qigong'". With roots in ancient Chinese culture dating back more than 2,000 years,

3690-431: The 1999 crackdown, qigong research and practice have only been officially supported in the context of health and traditional Chinese medicine. The Chinese Health Qigong Association, established in 2000, strictly regulates public qigong practice, with limitation of public gatherings, requirement of state approved training and certification of instructors, and restriction of practice to state-approved forms. Qigong comprises

3772-483: The Cultural Revolution, qigong, along with tai chi , was popularized as daily morning exercise practiced en masse throughout China. Popularity of qigong grew rapidly through the 1990s, during Chairman Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin eras after Mao Zedong's death in 1976, with estimates of between 60 and 200 million practitioners throughout China. In 1985, the state-run China Qigong Science and Research Society

3854-527: The ability to withstand heavy strikes ( Iron Shirt , 鐵衫 ) and the ability to break hard objects ( Iron Palm , 鐵掌 ; alt. 鐵絲掌 , 鐵沙掌 , or 鐵砂掌 ) are abilities attributed to qigong training. Tai chi is a widely practiced Chinese internal martial style based on the theory of taiji , closely associated with qigong, and typically involving more complex choreographed movement coordinated with breath, done slowly for health and training, or quickly for self-defense. Many scholars consider tai chi to be

3936-465: The available studies were poorly designed, with a high risk of bias in the results. Therefore, the authors concluded, "Due to limited number of RCTs in the field and methodological problems and high risk of bias in the included studies, it is still too early to reach a conclusion about the efficacy and the effectiveness of qigong exercise as a form of health practice adopted by the cancer patients during their curative, palliative, and rehabilitative phases of

4018-539: The body. While implementation details vary, generally qigong forms can be characterized as a mix of four types of practice: dynamic, static, meditative, and activities requiring external aids. There are numerous qigong forms. 75 ancient forms that can be found in ancient literature and also 56 common or contemporary forms have been described in a qigong compendium. The list is by no means exhaustive. Many contemporary forms were developed by people who had recovered from their illness after qigong practice. Whether viewed from

4100-480: The bottom of the foot without the top). A way to illustrate this idea is to postulate the notion of a race with only women or only men; this race would disappear in a single generation. Yet, women and men together create new generations that allow the race they mutually create (and mutually come from) to survive. The interaction of the two (Heaven and Earth) gives birth to human and therefore the ten thousand things. Yin and yang transform each other: like an undertow in

4182-439: The breath. From a therapeutic perspective, qigong can be classified into two systems: 1) internal qigong, which focuses on self-care and self-cultivation, and; 2) external qigong, which involves treatment by a therapist who directs or transmits qi . As moving meditation, qigong practice typically coordinates slow stylized movement, deep diaphragmatic breathing , and calm mental focus, with visualization of guiding qi through

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4264-581: The cancer journey." A 2011 overview of systematic reviews of controlled clinical trials, Lee et al. concluded that "the effectiveness of qigong is based mostly on poor quality research" and "therefore, it would be unwise to draw firm conclusions at this stage." Although a 2010 comprehensive literature review found 77 peer-reviewed RCTs, Lee et al.'s overview of systematic reviews as to particular health conditions found problems like sample size, lack of proper control groups, with lack of blinding associated with high risk of bias. A 2015 systematic review of

4346-425: The duality symbolized by yin and yang. This duality, as a unity of opposites , lies at the origins of many branches of classical Chinese science , technology and philosophy, as well as being a primary guideline of traditional Chinese medicine , and a central principle of different forms of Chinese martial arts and exercise, such as baguazhang , tai chi , daoyin , kung fu and qigong , as well as appearing in

4428-524: The effect of qigong exercises on cardiovascular diseases and hypertension found no conclusive evidence for effect. Also in 2015, a systemic review into the effects on hypertension suggested that it may be effective, but that the evidence was not conclusive because of the poor quality of the trials it included, and advised more rigorous research in the future. Another 2015 systematic review of qigong on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease concluded that some trials showed favorable effects, but concludes, "Most of

4510-439: The emphasis of qigong practice has shifted away from traditional philosophy, spiritual attainment, and folklore, and increasingly to health benefits, traditional medicine and martial arts applications, and a scientific perspective. Qigong is now practiced by millions worldwide, primarily for its health benefits, though many practitioners have also adopted traditional philosophical, medical, or martial arts perspectives, and even use

4592-641: The etymology of modern Chinese words. Compare these Middle Chinese and Old Chinese reconstructions of 陰 ; yīn and 陽 ; yáng : Schuessler gives probable Sino-Tibetan etymologies for both Chinese words. yin < *ʔəm compares with Burmese ʔum 'overcast', 'cloudy', Adi muk-jum 'shade', and Lepcha so'yǔm 'shade'; it is probably cognate with Chinese àn < *ʔə̂mʔ 黯 ; 'dim', 'gloomy' and qīn < *khəm 衾 ; 'blanket'. yang < *laŋ compares with Lepcha a-lóŋ 'reflecting light', Burmese laŋ 'be bright' and ə-laŋ 'light'; and

4674-518: The following translation equivalents. Yin 陰 or 阴 — Noun : ① [philosophy] female/passive/negative principle in nature, ② Surname; Bound morpheme : ① the moon, ② shaded orientation, ③ covert; concealed; hidden, ④ vagina, ⑤ penis, ⑥ of the netherworld, ⑦ negative, ⑧ north side of a hill, ⑨ south bank of a river, ⑩ reverse side of a stele, ⑪ in intaglio; Stative verb : ① overcast, ② sinister; treacherous Yang 陽 or 阳 — Bound morpheme : ① [Chinese philosophy] male/active/positive principle in nature, ②

4756-436: The importance of a strong scientific basis. According to the 2013 CMQ textbook, physiological effects of qigong are numerous, and include improvement of respiratory and cardiovascular function, and possibly neurophysiological function. Integrative medicine (IM) refers to "the blending of conventional and complementary medicines and therapies with the aim of using the most appropriate of either or both modalities to care for

4838-466: The latter, 昜 ; yáng ; 'bright' features 日 ; 'the Sun'; + 示 + 彡 ; 'sunbeam'. The Standard Chinese pronunciation of 陰 is usually the level first tone as yīn with the meaning 'shady', 'cloudy', or sometimes with the falling fourth tone as yìn with the distinct meaning 'to shelter', 'shade'. 陽 ; 'sunny' is always pronounced with

4920-461: The long history of qigong as evidence of its effectiveness. Qigong has been recognized as a "standard medical technique" in China since 1989, and is sometimes included in the medical curriculum of major universities in China. The 2013 English translation of the official Chinese medical gigong textbook used in China defines CMQ as "the skill of body-mind exercise that integrates body, breath, and mind adjustments into one" and emphasizes that qigong

5002-411: The moon.] a. In Chinese philosophy, the feminine or negative principle (characterized by dark, wetness, cold, passivity, disintegration, etc.) of the two opposing cosmic forces into which creative energy divides and whose fusion in physical matter brings the phenomenal world into being. Also attrib . or as adj ., and transf . Cf. yang . b. Comb ., as yin-yang , the combination or fusion of

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5084-411: The ocean, every advance is complemented by a retreat, and every rise transforms into a fall. Thus, a seed will sprout from the earth and grow upwards towards the sky—an intrinsically yang movement. Then, when it reaches its full potential height, it will fall. The growth of the top seeks light, while roots grow in darkness. The cycles of the seasons and of plants that progresses or entropies depending on

5166-464: The older wuji ( 無極 ; 'without pole'). In the cosmology pertaining to yin and yang, the material energy which this universe was created from is known as qi . It is believed that the organization of qi in this cosmology of yin and yang has formed the 10 thousand things. Included among these forms are humans. Many natural dualities (such as light and dark , fire and water, expanding and contracting) are thought of as physical manifestations of

5248-436: The opposite quality: for example, grain that reaches its full height in summer (fully yang) will produce seeds and die back in winter (fully yin) in an endless cycle. It is impossible to talk about yin or yang without some reference to the opposite, traditionally it is said that Yin and Yang are known by the comparison of each other, since yin and yang are bound together as parts of a mutual whole (for example, there cannot be

5330-475: The original meaning of the words being the north-facing shade and the south-facing brightness of a hill), gender (female and male), as well as the formation of the character of individuals and the grand arc of sociopolitical history in disorder and order. Taiji is a Chinese cosmological term for the "Supreme Ultimate" state of undifferentiated absolute and infinite potential, the oneness before duality, from which yin and yang originate. It can be contrasted with

5412-530: The pages of the I Ching and the famous Taoist medical treatise called the Huangdi Neijing The notion of duality can be found in many areas, such as Communities of Practice . The term "dualistic-monism" or dialectical monism has been coined in an attempt to express this fruitful paradox of simultaneous unity and duality. According to this philosophy, everything has both yin and yang aspects (for instance, shadow cannot exist without light). Either of

5494-709: The patient as a whole", whereas complementary is using a non-mainstream approach together with conventional medicine, while alternative is using a non-mainstream approach in place of conventional medicine. Qigong is used by integrative medicine practitioners to complement conventional medical treatment, based on complementary and alternative medicine interpretations of the effectiveness and safety of qigong. People practice qigong for many different reasons, including for recreation, exercise and relaxation, preventive medicine and self-healing , meditation and self-cultivation , and training for martial arts. Practitioners range from athletes to people with disabilities. Because it

5576-641: The perspective of exercise, health, philosophy, or martial arts training, several main principles emerge concerning the practice of qigong: Additional principles: Advanced goals: The most advanced practice is generally considered to be with little or no motion. Over time, five distinct traditions or schools of qigong developed in China, each with its own theories and characteristics: Chinese medical qigong , Daoist qigong, Buddhist qigong, Confucian qigong, and "martial" qigong. All of these qigong traditions include practices intended to cultivate and balance qi . The theories of ancient Chinese qigong include

5658-466: The results of controlled, and especially randomized, clinical trials of the treatment itself. Although some clinical trials support qigong's effectiveness in treating conditions diagnosed in Western medicine, the quality of these studies is mostly low and, overall, their results are mixed. A 2009 systematic review on the effect of qigong exercises on reducing pain concluded that "the existing trial evidence

5740-440: The rising second tone as yáng . Sinologists and historical linguists have reconstructed Middle Chinese pronunciations from data in the (7th century CE) Qieyun rhyme dictionary and later rhyme tables , which was subsequently used to reconstruct Old Chinese phonology from rhymes in the (11th–7th centuries BCE) Shijing and phonological components of Chinese characters. Reconstructions of Old Chinese have illuminated

5822-423: The season. In summer it seeks to procure healthier leaves, whittling (entropy) of the plant is in autumn, the degrown plants (destruction) is in winter, growth (creating) of the plant or tree during spring. Where it's gaining or progressing, fully progressed occurs during summer, summer seeks stability as it seeks to keep (progress) the leaves and branches that are healthy, growth and progress reaching its end point of

5904-426: The sun, ③ male genitals, ④ in relief, ⑤ open; overt, ⑥ belonging to this world, ⑦ [linguistics] masculine, ⑧ south side of a hill, ⑨ north bank of a river The compound yinyang 陰陽 means "yin and yang; opposites; ancient Chinese astronomy; occult arts; astrologer; geomancer; etc." The sinologist Rolf Stein etymologically translates Chinese yin 陰 "shady side (of a mountain)" and yang 陽 "sunny side (of

5986-549: The supernatural, pseudoscience explanations to build credibility, a mental condition labeled qigong deviation , formation of cults, and exaggeration of claims by masters for personal benefit. In 1999, in response to widespread revival of old traditions of spirituality, morality, and mysticism, and perceived challenges to State control, the Chinese government took measures to enforce control of public qigong practice, including shutting down qigong clinics and hospitals, and banning groups such as Zhong Gong and Falun Gong . Since

6068-469: The trials included in this review are likely to be at high risk of bias, so we have very low confidence in the validity of the results. Many claims have been made that qigong can benefit or ameliorate mental health conditions, including improved mood, decreased stress reaction, and decreased anxiety and depression. Most medical studies have only examined psychological factors as secondary goals, although various studies have shown decreases in cortisol levels,

6150-433: The two cosmic forces; freq. attrib., esp. as yin-yang symbol , a circle divided by an S-shaped line into a dark and a light segment, representing respectively yin and yang , each containing a 'seed' of the other. yang (jæŋ) Also Yang . [Chinese yáng yang, sun, positive, male genitals.] a. In Chinese philosophy, the masculine or positive principle (characterized by light, warmth, dryness, activity, etc.) of

6232-423: The two major aspects may manifest more strongly in a particular object, depending on the criterion of the observation. The yin and yang symbol (or taijitu ) shows a balance between two opposites with a portion of the opposite element in each section. In Taoist metaphysics, distinctions between good and bad, along with other dichotomous moral judgments, are perceptual, not real; so, the duality of yin and yang

6314-488: The two opposing cosmic forces into which creative energy divides and whose fusion in physical matter brings the phenomenal world into being. Also attrib. or as adj. Cf. yin . b. Comb. : yang-yin = yin-yang s.v. yin b. For the earliest recorded "yin and yang" usages, the OED cites 1671 for yin and yang , 1850 for yin-yang , and 1959 for yang-yin . In English, yang-yin (like ying-yang ) occasionally occurs as

6396-458: The working masses. Starting in the late 1940s and the 1950s, the mainland Chinese government tried to integrate disparate qigong approaches into one coherent system, with the intention of establishing a firm scientific basis for qigong practice. In 1949, Liu Guizhen established the name "qigong" to refer to the system of life-preserving practices that he and his associates developed, based on daoyin and other philosophical traditions. This attempt

6478-696: Was established to regulate the nation's qigong denominations and activities of Qigong Masters. With the backing of prominent figures including several senior ranking party officials and most notably the atomic scientist Qian Xuesen , research into the paranormal aspects of Qigong gained traction within the Chinese scientific community during the 1980s. Qian advocated for the creation of " somatic science" (人体科学, renti kexue) which would address supernatural powers in its research of latent human body potentials that can be cultivated via Qigong practice. Along with popularity and state sanction came controversy and problems: claims of extraordinary abilities bordering on

6560-407: Was originally used to strengthen the body and promote health and longevity. Over time, it evolved into a method for treating diseases. The practice involves mastering specific postures and breathing techniques, focusing on restoring the body’s natural physiological functions without relying on medication or surgery. Maintaining a calm state and focusing on breath control are essential during therapy. In

6642-408: Was promoted in the late 1940s through the 1950s to refer to a broad range of Chinese self-cultivation exercises, and to emphasize health and scientific approaches, while de-emphasizing spiritual practices , mysticism , and elite lineages. In the 1957 first edition of “Qigong Therapy Practice” by Liu Guizhen - the first published and publicly available book on Qigong, it was described that Qigong

6724-581: Was well-established since the Sui dynasty . Administratively, the area forms Hanyang District of the modern Wuhan city, with an area of 108 square kilometers (42 sq mi) and a population of 510,000. The Hanyang Arsenal is known for its production of the so-called " Hanyang rifle " - an indigenous Asian copy of the German Model 1888 Commission Rifle , which was heavily used in World War II , as well as in

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