"There are three treasures in the sky: the Sun, the Moon and the Stars.
Man also has three treasures: Jing, Qi and Shen."
- Taoist Proverb
These three treasures (Jing, Qi, and Shen) are directly at the foundation of the Chinese energy system. They are widely used in Taoism and related works to refer to the processes that govern spiritual and physical health.
- Jing (精) essence,
- Qi (氣) breath energy
- Shen (神) means divine or human spirit.
A candle allegory is used to describe Jing Qi Shen.
Accordingly;
Jing is the material part of the candle, or essence.
Qi is the flame of the candle, that is, energy.
Shen is the light, or spirit, produced by the candle.
They are often referred to as the “Three Treasures” or “Three Jewels.” The “Jing Qi Shen” are the theoretical cornerstones of traditional Chinese medicine. These three terms appear in the seminal ancient Chinese medical text, the Huangdi Neijing, said to have been written during the reign of the Yellow Emperor, dated to the first or second century BC.
Jing Qi Shen is considered one of the classics of Tai Chi, along with Neidan, a set of esoteric doctrines and physical, mental and spiritual practices that aim to prolong life and create an immortal spiritual body, and Qigong, a practice that encompasses all the energy in the universe and harmonizes the energy in the body.
What are the Three Treasures in Chinese Medicine?
These 3 Treasures are the fundamental energies that sustain human life. In nature, the process of condensation of energy allows us to manifest from potential by transforming Shen into Qi and Qi into Jing. Conversely, Jing can be transformed into Qi and Qi into Shen. The 3 Treasures can be viewed as 3 levels of condensation, 3 different vibrational frequencies. None of these can exist without the other two, and all three are in equal balance.
Jing - Essence
Jing is the material basis of the physical body. It is the energy of the body in its densest, most tangible form (as opposed to Qi and Shen, which are progressively more subtle), but it has no "material form."
Jing is the primordial energy transmitted by the parents at conception (prenatal Jing). Stored in the kidneys in the lower Dantian, it manifests energetically in the cells and tissues of the body. This energy governs the body's growth processes, such as bone and tooth development, hair, normal mental processes, and sexual maturity (if not affected by environmental factors).
After puberty, Jing controls reproductive function and fertility, as well as clarity of mind. Jing moves the human body through the different stages of life: birth, childhood, adolescence, motherhood, maturity, and old age; it is associated with the body's ability to adapt to change. Jing is a vital force necessary for life.
As the body ages, the Jing inherited at birth gradually burns away. This loss of Jing is accelerated by stress and overwork, emotional excesses, disorganization, drug, tobacco and alcohol abuse, illness, injuries, malnutrition, and sexual excess. And the loss of Jing leads to physical and mental degeneration. Conversely, a strong Jing promotes a long and intense life.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Jing is therefore considered crucial to longevity. Many disciplines aim to restore "lost" Jing by restoring postnatal Jing or acquired Jing. Jing can be maintained and even strengthened through good nutrition, adequate rest, meditation, Qi Gong practice, herbal tonics, and acupuncture treatments.
To protect Jing, it is also important to cultivate gratitude, generosity, and positive emotions.
The movements of Tai Chi are related to Jing. All major muscle groups are used when performing the forms and exercises. This means that it helps to develop strength, muscle density and strengthen bones. Since the movements are performed at a slow pace, it is suitable for people of all ages and also improves balance, agility, flexibility and endurance. This also helps to restore Jing.
Qi - Vitality, Energy
Qi, the second of the Three Treasures, is the invisible, intangible life energy within everyone that enables the body to think and move. Qi gives life to the body. It manifests energetically through the body's heat, noise, and electromagnetic fields.
Qi is related to the middle Dantian, which is related to the heart and lungs. It is both spiritual (we can't see it) and material (we can measure it). When Jing is strong, Qi automatically arises and circulates through the meridians to nourish and protect the internal fluids, tissues, and organs.
When the energy flow in the meridians is blocked, discomfort is felt in certain organs. These imbalances can be corrected by using herbal medicines, special diets, physical practices such as Qi Gong, Tai Chi and other internal and external martial arts such as Tai Chi Chuan, and various therapeutic techniques such as moxibustion, by adjusting the flow of Qi, that is, the flow of energy in the body.
Deep breathing exercises are essential for helping the flow of Chi as they remove stale air and toxins from the body. They also help with blood circulation to the brain, helping to increase lung capacity, promote relaxation, reduce stress, and increase mental awareness.
Shen – Spirit
Shen is a manifestation of the higher nature of man. It is the spiritual, immaterial energy related to the higher Dantian. Shen leads to emotions such as global awareness or virtues such as wisdom, love, compassion, kindness, generosity, acceptance, forgiveness, and tolerance.
It is developed through the interaction of Shen, Jing and Qi energies. Therefore, body and mind are One, or in other words, the unity of body and mind is evident as stated by quantum physics.
These three energies, inherited from the mother and father at the moment of conception, unite in the developing fetus. Jing is the constituent material of the organism and is responsible for the nourishment of the tissues. Qi emerges from the circulation of Jing circulating in the tissues, supporting the body's metabolism. Shen governs the body, energizes the Qi and creates a strong vibrational energy connection.
Tai Chi practice nourishes Shen, as well as helping to increase concentration, relax, reduce stress, and lower heart rate and blood pressure.