Qigong (气功)
is a centuries-old system of coordinated body-posture and movement,
breathing, and meditation used for the purposes of health, spirituality,
and martial-arts training.
Qigong comprises 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:
- dynamic
or active qigong (dong gong), with slow flowing movement;
- meditative
or passive qigong (jing gong), with still positions and inner movement of
the breath.
From a therapeutic perspective, qigong can be classified into two
systems:
- internal
qigong, which focuses on self-care and self-cultivation,
- external
qigong, which involves treatment by a therapist who directs or transmits
qi.