The question gets frequently asked: What’s the difference between qigong and tai chi? This, like so many things, is a bigger question than it might at first seem.
Firstly, consider the fact that “tai chi” has come to be something of a brand name. People see slow, meditative movements and say, “Oh, that’s tai chi.” Well, it might be, or it might not. In much the same way that people say Xerox when they mean photocopy, or Band Aid when they mean sticking plaster, tai chi has come to be a catch-all term. This is the root of a lot of confusion. Terminology and etymology can be confusing with Chinese.
Qigong, or hei gung in Cantonese (in traditional Chinese 氣功 ), refers to the combination of gentle movement, conscious breathing and mindfulness to help us re-establish and restore the yin-yang balance of the human body.
Qi, broadly speaking, is the vital life force that runs through all living things. Quite literally, it is also breath. Qi can be managed by controlled breathing, posture and mindfulness. The effective regulation of Qi is vital to one’s well being. Gong is the physical actions of the musculoskeletal system that follow the intention of Qi and thought to relax and stretch.
Qigong involves moving and breathing to achieve a state of meditation and to enhance the body’s physical, mental and energetic functions, and is deeply tied to an understanding of Chinese medicine, including acupressure points and meridians. Tai chi can do this too and, in that sense, all tai chi practiced this way is qigong. But not all qigong is tai chi.
Tai chi is a more complicated term in the modern age. “Tai chi” has become the most common English spelling (in traditional Chinese: 太極拳; lit. ‘Taiji boxing’). The Chinese name was originally written in English using the Wade-Giles system as “tʻai chi chʻüan”, which became abbreviated to “tʻai chi” and eventually “tai chi”. Since the late twentieth century, pinyin has been officially adopted in China and replaced Wade-Giles as the most popular system for romanising Chinese. In pinyin, tai chi is spelled tàijíquán, but tai chi is still the most common English spelling. By definition, 太極 tʻai chi or tàijí is the cosmological relationship of Yin and Yang and 拳 chʻüan or quán is fist, or boxing.
Tai chi boxing is a Chinese martial art originally developed for combat and self-defence. Some places still teach this aspect, but for many, tai chi has become a form of exercise using gentle, low-impact, flowing motions while focusing on deep, slow breathing, which aims to achieve much the same benefits as qigong mentioned above. But it’s root is in the martial arts and it often doesn’t include the depth of internal and medical knowledge that a lot of qigong styles do.
Both qigong and (non-martial) tai chi are often referred to as “meditation in motion”. However, a complete qigong system will recognise the medical, emotional, energetic and physical aspects within all of its practice. Also, many complete systems will have within them a tai chi component, reflecting the martial aspects.
Our particular style of qigong is Lohan Qigong 羅漢氣功 and is part of the bigger Chan Family Choy Lee Fut system of kung fu, qigong, lion dance, and more. Within Lohan Qigong is a tai chi form (usually referred to by the Cantonese pronunciation of tai chi chuan which is tai gik kyun) that draws on the martial aspects of our style. The influence of kung fu is apparent in the tai gik kyun form, but Lohan Qigong has many other forms and exercises as well, outside of the martial influence.
So, in short, not all moving meditation is tai chi, but both qigong and non-martial tai chi aim to cultivate many of the same things. However, qigong tends to be a more holistic system while tai chi tends to focus more on its martial art roots.
In the end, it all comes down to finding a style and, more importantly, a teacher you connect with, and therefore a practice that gives you what you’re seeking.
(c) Alan Baxter 2025