On Wed, 24 Sep 1997 luche@adl.auslink.net wrote:

On Tue, 23 Sep 1997 MadamHydra@aol.com wrote:

Can anyone tell me the difference between the terms "chi" and "ki"?  Is it
just a difference in spelling or do they actually mean different things?

This is in reference to martial arts in Ranma 1/2.  ^_^

Right.. Well.. concentrating purely on the linguistic apsects, here is what
I know. Chi means blood. Ki means feeling, heart. Chi, however, is not used
in the field of medicine, instead it is substituted with 'ketsueki'.
Ketsueki contains the kanji for chi, but generally chi conveys a feeling of
something more than just physical matter (more like 'the source of life' or
something similar). Ki and chi are related, but their meanings differ
distinctly. As for chi being the Chinese pronounciation, that's bollocks..
:P Why would the Japanese have to alter the pronounciation anyway, if their
syllabry allows for it? :P ..nm.. ^-^ :)

Actually, "chi" *IS* the Chinese spelling for what is commonly referred to
as "life force," with "ki" being the Japanese equivalent. The "actual"
spelling of it is "qi," such as in the technique "Qi Gong" (pronounced
Chi-kung.) IIRC, the kanji is the same in both languages.

As a side note, "chi" is related to the three "basic" types of inner
energy in the human body, as it originates from the Tao. The first type is
the Ching, based on the Yin (as in Yin-Yang) and whose pressure point is
located at the base of the spinal column. The second is the Chi itself,
and is related to the dantien (sp?) area of the lower belly. The third and
highest is the Shen, based on the Yang and with a pressure point located
at the top of the skull.

Chi is the energy of breath, and its flow through the body. Chi-kung's
purpose is to teach you how to breathe properly and channel this energy
all through the organism. Tai-chi, as a martial art, also depends on how
people make chi flow around themselves in such a way that "when you strike
a Tai-chi master, it's as if you were striking a mountain. When a Tai-chi
master strikes you, it's as if you received a blow from a mountain." (BTW,
don't confuse the "chi" in Tai-chi --whose real spelling is Taiji-- with
the "chi" of "life-force." Taiji(quan) means Grand Ultimate Fist.) So,
considering this, imagine the "chi-blasts" of series like Ranma 1/2. In
the manga it's more "accurate" to show them as bursts of energy, because,
since chi *is* basically air, it's invisible. Moukotakabishya and
Shishihokoudan are really akin to large balls of solid air, flung forward
(or upwards) with such force they literally blast away anything that is in
front of them. Chi-blades like the ones Herb uses are probably similar: as
he slashes the air with his hands, he creates a small barrier of chi that
extends from his fingers and continues onward. The "battle aura" that
Happosai uses is also based on the chi-as-solid-air concept, with a
psychological effect thrown in for greater damage.

When you channel this energy properly, you can avoid many illnesses and/or
cure others (as it has been scientifically proved). You can also perform
small "healing" feats on other people. With proper training, you can even
develop what is known as the "Golden Bell" technique which acts as a
*real*, solid shield around your body --just this Saturday, at a Taijiquan
tournament, a Chinese Qi Gong master showed us this technique when three
of his assistants pushed a spear (with full force) towards his neck --the
master *bent* the spear in half just by walking forward. So, in a way,
"aura shields" and chi-barriers are more or less real --to a certain
degree, of course.

Hope this helped, and maybe it will serve for future 'fics! ^_^


The Zephyr
al709382@campus.ccm.itesm.mx
terbril@hotmail.com