The Three Interpretations

Unlike our compartmentalized view—which certainly has a power of its own, along with a danger—the Chinese view embraced a more “holographic” approach. Chinese medicine was coupled with Feng Shui and Zi Wei, or some other form, of astrology. Everything was placement, pattern and path. Qigong might be described as the Feng Shui of your own body. The analogy is apt because one of the first metaphors for proper qi movement offered the idea of rivers and lakes, or qi maintenance as a kind of irrigation enhancement, a non-intrusive land management scheme. Qigong stands somewhat apart from the other three in that it is expressly designed for self-reflection. It might be better if those engaged in “qigong diagnosis” had a few more years of self-directed analysis before suggesting remedies.