One of the most important components, and most puzzling component, of Chinese martial arts and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is Qigong (气功). The Chinese word Qi in Qigong is the same as the Chinese word air (气). In practicing Qigong, usually breathing is very important; that may be why this word was chosen. However, Qi in Qigong means much more than air. Qi is some sort of bioelectric energy, or life force, that gets circulated and stored in the body. There are channels for circulation of Qi; these channels are called meridians. There are reservoirs for storage of Qi; these reservoirs are called vessels. The health of a person is related to the ability of Qi to flow through these channels. Illness is usually associated with some blockage of Qi. The Chinese word Gong means skill or attaining skill through practice or work. Therefore, Qigong can be interpreted to mean the skill of regulating Qi through practice.
Qigong in some form or another has been practiced in China for several thousands of years. It has been practiced by many, many people in China as well as in other parts of Asia. Today, there are literally millions of people practicing Qigong. Because of the large span of time and space where Qigong has been practiced, there are many, many different types of Qigong. The number of varieties of Qigong is much more than the many different varieties of Taiji and Chinese martial arts.
Heroic and Critical Battles in Yunnan During WWII
(How Chinese, Americans, and Overseas Chinese Joined Forces to Regain Control of the Critical Supply Route to China)
For more than two and a half years during WWII, fierce, deadly, and heroic battles took place in the western Yunnan Province (in the region called Dianxi, 滇西) in China. Besides helping to turn the tide against the Japanese Imperial Army in the Asian warfront, the events that occurred during this period are of great historical significance for two reasons. One is that by studying what happened in Dianxi, one can learn about all four major types of atrocities committed by the Japanese in Asia during WWII: (1) Massacre, (2) sex slaves, (3) germ warfare, and (4) slave labor. The other is how the Chinese, Americans, and Overseas Chinese joined forces to fight successfully to drive out the invading Japanese army.
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