Saskatoon Nine Dragon Baguazhang
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Saskatoon, SK
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Common Questions on Qi, Yi, and Xin
By Dr. John P. Painter (© IAM Co. and The Gompa 2001)
(Edited from a discussion found on the Jiulong Yahoo Group.)
A common question students often have is:Â When opening a door doesn't the mind think first and then "lead" the arm and hand to the door?
Yes that is correct; fasten your seat belts this will be a bumpy ride for some.
Another, somewhat related question is:Â Doesn't qi follow as required naturally? If so, then when defending/attacking doesn't the qi flow naturally? And then why is practice with focus on directing qi required?
First you have to define what Qi (Ch'i) you are talking about. There are many types of Qi in the human body. This also brings up a situation in which one has to ask what is Qi? The Chinese do not discuss Qi by what it is they define it by what it does. It is not a thing! It is a word used to describe numerous types of feeling generated by numerous types of reactions in the body and also in other material objects and phenomena of nature. When a person says or thinks they feel "the Qi" what exactly is that? People experience it in different ways. Some feel tingling, some feel movement, others feel warmth. Who is right? Why so many different ways to experience these things?
Remember:
The Mind commands, the Body moves and the Qi follows
That is the original saying from Wei Boyang who started all of this Qi in the body for the Daoists in the first place. People spend way too much time searching, feeling and trying to "focus or move the Qi" for martial arts purposes without even knowing why they are doing it. For what purpose do we want to focus Qi to accomplish what goal?
Mr. Li said, "...First build the vessel, then you can fill it with the liquid." He was talking about not putting the cart before the horse. I find people all the time at our workshops who talk the Daobabble of Qi and Li and Jin and Jing and so on and so on and it is apparent that most of them haven't a clue what all this really means. Most of them cannot even hold a posture correctly, breath correctly or walk correctly to have a proper vessel to fill with the liquid of Qi. Most of them are more like cups made of wire. DO I SOUND A BIT ANNOYED? Well, not really, just wishing people would wake up and stop looking for magic until they have learned to understand what these things really are.
What is Xin in Jiulong?
In our practice, the true meaning of Xin in Jiulong is easy to explain but difficult to accomplish.
Xin is translated by some as mind by other as heart - What is meant by the heart mind is an image that produces a reaction internally. This refers to a visceral type of feeling that elicits a biochemical response in the body. Simply put this means that the Xin which is related to the element fire creates an internal energy that will allow more energy / power to be generated.
Example: When you hear a song that was shared by a loved one your feel the presence of that loved one. You may even smell them or see them in your mind’s eye very clearly. This is Xin at work.
If you stop and get quiet and imagine the smell and texture of fresh baked bread in your mouth, the mouth begins to water and you may even actually smell and taste this in your mouth. This is Xin at work.
Point is, the mind affects the body and the body affects the mind. When we imagine these things it is not just in our head. There are actual chemical changes that take place in the body. This is the basis of all mental healing practices. If I tell my self I am puny and weak often enough the unconscious that controls these processes will attempt to get my body to feel and even become puny and weak. The reverse is also true. I can become stronger and healthier by simply imagining that my body is strong and vigorous, but only if I can conjure up an image a picture in my mind that is clear and real to me personally. Words alone do not work. It has to be a clear image that elicits the internal chemical responses. This is Xin.
Of course Xin without Yi is not going to go very far. What is Yi? Some call it mind; also the best definition, for me, is intention. The desire to do a thing that motivates movement actual physical movement. When this is married to Xin the energy potential is magnified many times. By the way, Yi is associated with flow and water, and in the original Yijing, it was the combined
symbols of fire and water wrapped in a circle that were used to indicate the formation of .... You guessed it Qi
This also was used in conjunction during ancient times to the concept or human Qi in balance except it was not called Qi it was called Wuho (nothing too much burning) referring to a balanced state of emotions and energy in the body. In our day we might say Wuho was "getting your act together" in other words getting the mind and body in harmony.
How is this applied in Jiulong?
Everything in Jiulong Baguazhang is founded on these main principles. Each Posture (palm) is based on one of the eight primary Gua of the Yijing. These are symbols, sign posts depicting forms of energy. The outer shape is only the shell the cup that holds the energy. The energy is created by forming the Yi and Xin into a vital force. This is done by finding your image that resonates in you and produces the desired effect with that particular palm. I know that some want to call it Qi. I do not go that far. For most basic students I call in Jin (energy / force)
Can changing your Xin in practice affect who you are?
We all change over time to some degree. We all get new images but we also keep many of the old. We are creatures of conditioning. Finding new images will help you to change your basic habit patterns to some degree. We tend to become what we focus on and think about. Some are angry and focus on violence, some are frightened and focus on hiding or being only safe, some are in need of protection or affection and focus on sensuality and touch. Your images will, if held long enough, make changes in your personality. That is one reason the eight are so fantastic because we can explore many facets of each. In fact each has more than one nature that can become violent or peaceful or balanced.
Hope this is clarifies Qi, Yi and Xin, to some degree.
Dr. Painter