Jing 精
Your health is regulated and maintained by your jing,
but what is it and how do you look after it?
Chinese medical terms doesn't always translate easily into English, as we don't have the equivalent concepts. As a result, translations are often confusing. The key is to understand what is meant, rather than simply translating the terms.
What is jing & why are they important?
Jing 精 is one of your 3 treasures (sānbǎo 三寶) and along with your shen 神 and your qi 氣, helps shape and determine the strength of your physical, mental & emotional life.
In brief, jing relates to the physical structure of your body, shen to the part of you that is conscious of life within & around you and qi to the active processes created by the balance of these two aspects.
| Treasure | Broad Function |
|---|---|
| Jing (Essence) | The physical potential within life |
| Qi (Vitality) | The movement and function created by life |
| Shen (Spirit/Mind) | Emotional presence & conscious awareness of life |
Its Chinese character, is a composite of 2 characters. On the left is mǐ 米, the character for a grain of rice with something bursting out of it. The implication is a release of something as a result of an active process. On the right of the character is qīng 青, the character for the colour of lush young, vibrant, growth:
Jing refers to the potential of life, stored within nature, and describes the structures created and supported by it.
It closely translates as 'essence' and describes the substances that have been refined by the physiological processes of the body - governed by the internal organs - for the proper construction and maintenance of the body - to build, repair and fuel.
There are two distinct aspects to your jing. Each strongly influences your life:
Pre-natal jing
Inherited from your parents - modern practitioners sometimes draw parallels between pre-natal jing and genetics because both relate to inherited characteristics and constitutional strength, although they are not identical.
In Chinese medicine, we are not so much "biology in space" as "ancestral energy moving through time". We are the latest expression of a long line of ancestors, and pre-natal jing is what we inherit from them. It determines our basic constitution, strength, and vitality, and is fixed in quantity at birth. It cannot be increased, only conserved or depleted more slowly—much like a battery. Late nights, overwork, poor diet, and excessive sexual activity are all said to consume pre-natal jing more rapidly.
Conversely, conserving pre-natal jing is a theme found throughout classical Chinese medicine. The practices of yangsheng (養生) 'nourishing life' - such as dietary harmony, breathing & meditation exercises, mindful movement - such as tàijí (太極), and qìgōng (氣功), together with living a balanced life, are all considered ways of preserving it. Nurturing this aspect is mostly common sense - engaging in things that nourish us, such as a seasonal balanced diet, gentle exercise, plenty of rest, a balanced emotional world and moderation in things that deplete it.
Post-natal jing
After birth - we begin eating, drinking and breathing independently. Our bodies extract and refine nourishment from the food, drink and air we consume, combining them to support all physiological processes.
Post-natal jing is the complex of essences derived from food, drink and air. When well nourished, the demands of daily life draw less heavily on our pre-natal jing reserves, helping preserve vitality for longer. For a long and healthy life, post-natal jing should be carefully nurtured.
The post-natal process begins with the transformation (huà 化) of food and drink within the digestive system. These refined substances combine with the oxygen obtained from the air we breathe and are then transported (yùn 運) throughout the body, where they can be stored and used as needed.
In summary, pre-natal jing is inherited, determines your constitution and is influenced by your parents health at the time of your conception. It cannot be altered but can be influenced with attention to your post-natal jing. The more you nurture post-natal jing, the longer your pre-natal jing will last and the longer, and more healthily, you will live.
What are signs that these essences may be deficient?
In Chinese medicine, symptoms associated with deficient jing may include:
-
-
- Reduced vitality and energy
- Premature ageing
- Weak knees or lower back
- Fertility difficulties
- Poor recovery from illness
- Hearing problems or tinnitus
- Memory and concentration difficulties
- Developmental delays in children
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These symptoms are not proof of jing deficiency on their own, but may form part of a broader diagnostic picture.
Classical Chinese medicine views childhood growth, puberty, fertility, menopause and ageing
as expressions of your jing throughout your life. As jing naturally declines with age, changes in strength, fertility, hearing, memory and recovery become more apparent.
Are there things I should do more?
- Make sure digestion is working well
- Eat good quality food and drink to supplement post-natal qi
- Breathe
- Taiji, qigong & meditation
- Resolve psychological & emotional issues
- Acupuncture & herbal medicine
Some foods are especially beneficial for supporting jing - eggs (poultry and roe); organ meats; bone broth; bee pollen; kidney beans; sea vegetables; royal jelly; black rice; and seeds (basically the jing of animals & plants...), to name a few.
Are there things I should do less?
- Lack of sleep & staying up late
- Poor diet
- Chronic stress
- Drugs & alcohol abuse
- Men - excessive ejaculation
- Women - excessive sexual activity
Further reading/ related articles:
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- Healthy eating / digestion article
- Fertility acupuncture pages
- Sleep-related pages
- Anxiety/stress pages
- General acupuncture page
