「氣」在中國傳統醫學中,乃具關鍵性的辭語之一。近代從事科技的學人探討其實質者,幾已蔚成風氣。惟絕少檢查現存最原始的文獻,而迄無定論。 中醫所論機體內在、外在諸氣的第一手界說性文獻載在內經。於今採用考證方法整理,以求肯定其定義。 整理、考察的結果: (一)內經全書所載機體內在,外在諸氣的種類,共計四百四十一項之多。 (二)機體外在的諸氣,叫做天氣及地氣;機體內在的諸氣,叫做人氣。 (三)人氣,就內經決氣篇而論,有廣義、狹義之分: 1.狹義氣,是衛氣(淋巴液)的簡稱。 2.廣義氣,包括衛氣之氣、血、精(精液)、津(汗)及液(腦脊髓液、關節囊液……)等。 上述精、津、液、血及衛氣之氣的文獻,見內經專論人氣定義的決氣篇,因知氣是包括體液的名辭,簡稱爲氣。
”Qi” is one of the most important concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Because of this, it has recently become a popular subject of study among scientists and is being researched using modern scientific methods in order to determine its true nature. However, very few people have examined the original literatures of Chinese medicine such as the Nei-Jing, hence it has not yet been possible to properly define ”Qi”. The first reference to internal and external ”Qo” can be found in the Nei-Jing (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine). We have studied the information provided in the Nei-Jing and made a comparative study with contemporary Western concepts of medicine. After analysing the two, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1. Every living organism has ”Qi”. There are 441 different forms of ”Qi”, existing as internal or external manifestations of ”Qi”. 2. The external ”Qi” is divided into Heavenly ”Qi” and Earthly ”Qi”. The Qi that exists inside the organism is known as Life-Qi. 3. From Nei-Jing Lingshu chapter 30, the meanings of Life-Qi are divided into narrow and wide senses, i.e., (1) The narrow sense of Life-Qi is Wei-Qi (lymphatic fluid). (2) The wide sense of Life-Qi includes Wei-Qi, blood, Jing (semen), Jin (sweat), Ye (cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, ……), etc.. We have mentioned Jing, un, Ye, blood, Wei Qi etc.. These concepts are all described in the Nei-Jing Lingshu chapter 30(決氣篇). This chapter leads us to conclude that the Qi concept represents the various body fluids.