Kiko Volume 2;

Kiko Volume 2;

Further Thoughts and Info on Tai Chi vs. Chi Gong;

I pulled this info. from sections of Articles and Class outlines I found online. I am posting them to further Illustrate the subtle Differences if any between Tai Chi and Chi Gong, though personally We find these systems to really be one and the same with Different Kata’s being the main distinction. They are both Kiko Traditions after all.

What is Qigong?

The word Qigong (pronounced "chee gong") is a combination of two ideas: "Qi" means air, breath of life, or vital energy of the body, and "gong" means the self-discipline skill of working, cultivating, and balancing Qi. The art of Qigong consists primarily of the use of intention, meditation, relaxation, physical movement or posture, mind-body integration, and breathing exercises. Practitioners of Qigong develop an awareness of qi sensations (energy) in their body and use their mind to guide the Qi for improving their health, all of which can easily be learned by almost anyone. Medical Qigong has been extensively studied scientifically more than any other alternative therapy and it has been shown to be a cost-effective therapy. Ultimately, Qigong is not about pursuit of excellence in form; rather, it involves experience through practice.
Although the term "Qigong" was coined around 1948, Qigong is a self-initiated health practice that has its roots in pre-historic China. Ancient dao yin, nei gong, and yangsheng practices combined with other Taoist exercises to form the basis of Qigong. Qigong is a pre-cursor to, but considered part of Traditional Chinese Medicine; along with herbal medicine, acupuncture, and acupressure. Qigong can be considered acupuncture without the needles because both practices involve manipulation and balancing of the body's energy. Qigong differs from acupuncture in that Qigong additionally includes cultivation and balancing over time of the body's energy through self-initiated practices.

I see Taijiquan and Qigong spelled many different ways. What are the differences?

There are two translation systems of Chinese: Pin Yin and Wade Giles. And, then there are general omissions and errors that Westerners make to create a sense of familiarity that does not exist in the Chinese language, even when translated into our alphabet. We use Tai Chi and Qigong because they seem to be the most popular in our culture right now.

Here are the common spellings of Taijiquan and Qigong that all mean the same: Taijiquan, T’ai Ch’i Ch’uan, Taiji, Tai Chi Qigong, Ch’i Kung, Chi Kung, Chi Gung, Chi Gong, Qi, Ch’i, Chi, Ki (Japanese)

The names are pronounced: Tie Chee “Chewon” and Chee Kung (the K is swallowed a bit, almost like a “guh”) When pronounced in Chinese Mandarin or Cantonese, the pronunciations have tones but this is beyond our scope here. 

How do Tai Chi and Qigong work?

Tai Chi and Qigong work through relaxation, concentration and alignment. The movements, breathing, and focus found within both systems are designed to give the body and the mind tools by which these three goals may be accomplished. Undoubtedly the key process of all is relaxation. If we are tense it is difficult to concentrate and even more difficult to align our bodies with what we want to do. Think of a hose that is kinked up. When you turn on the faucet, there is a build up above the bend and nothing below the bend; an obvious imbalance that effects not only the flow of water within the hose but the output of water to the garden. The intent of watering the garden cannot be accomplished leading to further imbalances. With Tai Chi and Qigong practice we do learn to mentally and physically dissolve tension and enjoy relaxed movement. This learned skill helps us to sharpen our focus and attune our body alignment. The purpose of Tai Chi and Qigong is for our qi (energy) and our blood to flow more clearly into all parts of our body. The outcome is a calming, stabilizing, nourishing and healing for all parts of the body, mind and emotions. Think again of the hose analogy. All you have to do is find, untangle and release the kink and the water flows evenly to the garden!

What is the difference between Qigong and Tai Chi?

Dating back approximately 5000 years, Qigong is the process of intentionally gathering, moving and releasing energy. This is accomplished through mental focus, deep breathing and physical movement. Qigong is considered a branch of Chinese Medicine along with Acupuncture, Massage and Herbs. There are many different forms of Qigong and the choreography of each varies widely. Some are very athletic, some completely still. Additionally, Qigong has recently adopted classifications such as Buddhist, Taoist, Martial, Medical and Confucian, yet its roots are undifferentiated. No matter which Qigong you practice each will heal and strengthen your body and your mind leading to greater overall vitality. 

Tai Chi dates back to the 1600’s and is rooted in the internal martial arts. (Internal Martial Arts are defined as those who are non-aggressive and use principals of energy flow and softness vs. strength and hardness). The movements of Tai Chi originate from 5 key Family lineages each who had an idea of efficient and powerful movement. Each style has a meditative, fluid quality and choreography that is likened to “shadow boxing.” It should be noted that even though Tai Chi comes to us from the martial arts, most modern Tai Chi has evolved into more of a health and philosophical framework than a martial framework.

In the end, Qigong and Tai Chi are more similar than they are different. They move energy, strengthen the body and clear the mind. Whereas their choreography and feeling may differ, each is equally beneficial.

What is the difference between Yoga and Tai Chi/Qigong?

The most obvious difference between the two systems is how the physical forms look. Generally speaking (and there are always exceptions) one will see more stretching in Yoga, holding postures for a time and in most cases breaks in-between the postures. Tai Chi and most Qigong’s are linked choreography where one movement flows into the next. The terminology is different in each because they originated in different parts of the world. (Yoga-India), (Tai Chi, Qigong –China). One will hear much more about “prana” in Yoga and “qi” in Tai Chi/Qigong. The inner energetics of each system however is extremely similar. Qigong and Yoga are probably the most aligned in terms of their intent. The roots of each of these systems are very old and each developed as methods to make the body a stronger place for meditation and spiritual development. Tai Chi is a newer practice and whereas it is also a practice for strength and development, it has its roots in the martial arts.


Link To Volume 1 of this post;
Volume 1 Kiko The Reiki Dance