Understanding Jing (Essence, ), Qi (internal energy, ), and Shen (spirit, ) is one of the most important requirements for effective Qigong training. They are the root of your life and therefore also the root of Qigong practice. Jing, Qi, and Shen are called “San Bao” (), which means “The Three Treasures,” “San Yuan” (), which means “The Three Origins,” or “San Ben” (), which means “The Three Foundations.” In Qigong training, a practitioner learns how to “firm his Jing” (Gu Jing; , Gu means to firm, solidify, retain, and conserve) and how to convert it into Qi. This is called “Lian Jing Hua Qi” (), which means “to refine the Jing and convert it into Qi.” Then he learns how to lead the Qi to the head to convert it into Shen (also called nourishing Shen). This is called “Lian Qi Hua Shen” (), which means “to refine the Qi and convert it into (nourish) the Shen” Finally, the practitioner learns to use his energized Shen to govern the emotional part of his personality. This is called “Lian Shen Liao Xing” (), or “to refine the Shen to end human (emotional) nature.”
These conversion processes are what enable you to gain health and longevity. As a Qigong practitioner, you must pay a great deal of attention to these three elements during the course of your training. If you keep these three elements strong and healthy, you will live a long and healthy life. If you neglect or abuse them, you will be sick frequently and will age fast. Each one of these three elements or treasures has its own root. You must know the roots so that you can strengthen and protect your three treasures.
Jing
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The Chinese word Jing means a number of things depending on where, when, and how it is used. Jing can be used as a verb, an adjective, or a noun. When it is used as a verb, it means “to refine.” For example, to refine or purify a liquid to a high quality is called “Jing Lian” (). When it is used as an adjective, it is used to describe or signify something which is “refined,” “polished” and “pure without mixture.” For example, when a piece of art work is well done, people say “Jing Xi” (), which means “delicate and painstaking” (literally, “pure and fine”), or “Jing Liang” (), which means “excellent quality” (literally “pure and good”). When Jing is used to apply to personal wisdom or personality, it means “keen” and “sharp.” For example, when someone is smart or wise, they are called “Jing Ming” (), which means “keen and clever.” When Jing is applied to a thought, it means “profound” or “astute,” and indicates that the idea or plan was well and carefully considered. When used as a noun for an object, Jing means “the essence” or “the essentials.” When it is used for the energy side of a being, it means “spirit” or “ghost.” Since Chinese people believe that the male sperm or semen is the refined and the most essential product of a man, Jing also means sperm or semen.
When Jing is used as “essence,” it exists in everything. Jing may be considered the primal substance or original source from which a thing is made, and which exhibits the true nature of that thing. When Jing is used in reference to animals or humans, it means the very original and essential source of life and growth. This Jing is the origin of the Shen (spirit) which makes an animal different from a tree. In humans, Jing is passed down from the parents. Sperm is called “Jing Zi” (), which means “the sons of essence.” When this essence is mixed with the mother’s Jing (egg), a new life is generated which is, in certain fundamental respects, an intertwining of the Jings of both parents. The child is formed, the Qi circulates, and the Shen grows. The Jing which has been carried over from the parents is called “Yuan Jing” (), which means “Original Essence.”
Once you are born, Original Jing is the fountainhead and root of your life. It is what enables you to grow stronger and bigger. After your birth you start to absorb the Jing of food and air, converting these Jings into the Qi which supplies your body’s needs. You should understand that when Jing is mentioned in Qigong society, it refers usually to Yuan Jing (Original Jing, ). Qigong practitioners believe that Original Jing is the most important part of you, because it is the root of your body’s Qi and Shen. The amount and quality of Original Jing is different from person to person, and it is affected significantly by your parents’ health and living habits while they were creating you. Generally speaking, it does not matter how much Original Jing you have carried over from your parents. If you know how to conserve it, you will have more than enough for your lifetime. According to Chinese medicine, you probably cannot increase the amount of Jing you have. It is believed, however, that Qigong training can improve its quality.
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In Qigong training, knowing how to conserve and firm your Original Jing is of primary importance. To conserve means to refrain from abusing your Original Jing through overuse. For example, if you overindulge in sexual activity, you will lose Original Jing faster than other people and your body will degenerate faster. To firm your Jing means to keep and protect it. For example, you should know how to keep your kidneys strong. Kidneys are thought of as the residence of Original Jing. When your kidneys are strong, the Original Jing will be kept firm and will not be lost without reason. The firming of your Original Jing is called “Gu Jing” (), which is translated “to make solid, to firm the essence.” Only after you know how to retain (meaning to conserve and firm) your Original Jing can you start seeking ways to improve its quality. Therefore, conserving and firming your Jing is the first step in training. In order to know how to conserve and firm your Jing, you must first know: the root of your Jing, where the Original Jing resides, and how Original Jing is converted into Qi.
The root of your Original Jing before your birth is in your parents. After birth, this Original Jing stays in its residence, the kidneys, which are now also its root. When you keep this root strong, you will have plenty of Original Jing to supply to your body.
If you look carefully at how you were formed, you can gain interesting insights into life. You started as one sperm which, because it managed to reach and penetrate the egg before any of the other millions of sperm could, was one of the strongest and luckiest sperm alive. Once this sperm entered the egg, one human cell
this chapter we will discuss the major terms which are directly related to Qigong training. Other terms will be discussed in Appendix.
