WHO InternatIOnal Standard termInOlOgIeS On tradItIOnal medIcIne

18Basic Theories - Essence, Spirit, Qi, Blood, Fluid and HumorCode Term Chinese Definition/Description1.2.8 essence-spirit 精 神state of mind or mood, reflection of the strength ofessence, also called spirit or mind1.2.9 ethereal soul 魂 the moral and spiritual part of the human being1.2.10 corporeal soul 魄 the animating part of one’s mind1.2.11 ideation 意 act or power of thinking and forming ideas1.2.12 will 志1.2.13 life gate 命 門mental power by which a person can direct histhoughts and actions(1) the place where qi transformation of the humanbody originates, serving as the root of life; (2) rightkidney; (3) acupuncture point (GV4)1.2.14 life gate fire命 門 之 火 ;先 天 之 火innate fire from the life gate, a synonym of kidneyyang1.2.15 sovereign fire 君 火1.2.16 ministerial fire 相 火1.2.17 qi 氣1.2.18 innate qi 先 天 之 氣1.2.19 acquired qi 後 天 之 氣1.2.20 healthy qi 正 氣another name for heart fire, in contrast to theministerial firea kind of physiological fire originating in the kidney andattached to the liver, gallbladder and triple energizer,which, in cooperation with the sovereign fire from theheart, warms the viscera and promotes their activities.If this fire is hyperactive, it is also harmful to the bodythe basic element that constitutes the cosmos and,through its movements, changes and transformations,produces everything in the world, including the humanbody and life activities. In the field of medicine, qirefers both to the refined nutritive substance that flowswithin the human body as well as to its functionalactivitiesthe qi that exists from birth and is stored in the kidney,also the same as prenatal qithe qi that is acquired after birth and is formed fromthe food in combination with the fresh air inhaled inthe lung, also the same as post-natal qia collective designation for all normal functions ofthe human body and the abilities to maintain health,including the abilities of self-regulation, adaptation