tidbit

[ironymaiden]

"The Chinese concept of qi presents a problem in English because it is neither matter nor energy but rather both. Several distinctions that are rooted in Western philosophy and Western languages, such as the distinction between matter and energy or between body and mind, are far less concrete in traditional Chinese thought and language. In a sense it is the same problem that faces modern scientists who must describe light as both particles and waves."

- Brian Kennedy, from Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals A Historical Survey

Comments

[mimerki.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. I'm familiar w/ Brian Kennedy's work on EJMAS and think he's keen:
Chinese Boxing Classics in Translation: Problems and Perils (http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_kennedy_0202.htm)
Chi, the "X" Factor (http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_kennedy_0201.htm).
Must look into this book...

[textualdeviance.livejournal.com]

such as the distinction between matter and energy or between body and mind

Is this even true, though? It may be true in Western religion, but I'd been hoping we were getting away from that, and understanding that what we concieve of as the mind doesn't actually exist; that there is no consciousness without the physical body.

[mrdorbin.livejournal.com]

That's kind of funny; I remember having to get over that hurdle to properly understand electrostatics.