Ki

Ki is a term in East Asian thought referring to a life force or vital energy that is believed to flow through living beings and the environment. The concept is closely related to qi in Chinese philosophy and is rendered ki in Japanese; variants such as gi in Korean are also used. In common usage, ki is associated with breath, mood, and the health of the body.

Historical and philosophical roots: In Chinese traditions, qi is central to Daoist and Confucian thought and a key element in traditional Chinese medicine. Texts like the Huangdi Neijing describe qi as circulating through pathways called meridians, influencing function and disease. In Japan, ki is integrated into martial arts, medicine, and religious practices such as Shinto and Zen, often connected with the breath, posture, and intention.

Practices: In Chinese medicine and qigong, practitioners aim to regulate and balance qi through acupuncture, herbal therapies, breathing exercises, and movement. In martial arts, training often emphasizes developing, guiding, and releasing ki for strength, balance, and coordination. In modern contexts, ki is also used in popular culture and wellness rhetoric, sometimes as a metaphor for energy flow or personal vitality.

Scientific perspective and cultural role: Ki is a traditional philosophical and cultural concept rather than a scientifically established energy. Some researchers view it as a set of psychosomatic processes related to respiration, circulation, and nervous activity, while others treat it as a cultural metaphor. Popular depictions in anime, gaming, and literature have popularized ki as a visible or controllable force.

Related terms include qi, ki, chi, qi gong, traditional Chinese medicine, and reiki.