Romanization and meanings of chi, ji and qi

[robin]

On the different Romanization systems:

If tai chi = taiji
And
wu chi = wuji

Then why does
chi kung = qigong – instead of jigong?

I'm wondering if this is just a random spelling variation, or are there different meanings of the words qi, chi, and ji?

I read in Dr. Yang's "The Theory of Taijiquan" that taiji means "grand ultimate" and wuji means "no extremity" ... and that taiji can also be translated as "grand extremity."

With this in mind, how is "qi" defined in "qigong?" Is "qi" different from "chi" or "ji"?

Thanks!
Robin.

[adamfuray]

the defenition of chinese words depends on their context. in Taiji/Tai Chi, Ji and Chi are interchangable and when combined with Tai mean supreme ultimate. in Qigong/Chikung, chi is not interchangable with ji. in this context chi translates to energy and kung to work. the "chi" in taichi and the "chi" in chikung are not related. i think spelling these words, "Taiji" and "Qigong", helps to clarify the difference. hearing someone properly say these words is also evidence in the difference. each word in mandarin has four variations and each one means something completely different.

[maartenm]

There are different transcription systems. Pinyin is the official one (used by China, the UN, universities). You also have older systems like Wade-Giles and Yale, they were once (before 1950's) used everywhere so a lot of people recognize words in these systems easier. That's why you still see Peking instead of Beijing or t'ai chi ch'uan instead of taijiquan.
It isn't really 'interchangable'. In Mandarin there is a big difference between q and j (Pinyin q and j) and that might not mean much for a non-Chinese (or even be discernable to a non-Chinese) but qi and ji are two really different sounds and words.
j, q and x are also a pain in the *** to pronounce correctly

http://www.sinosplice.com/lang/pronunciation/04/
http://www.wfu.edu/~sinclair/pinyinwg.htm
http://www.pinyin.info/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_Eatin ... _Stone_Den
http://www.chinesepod.com/

[scramasax57]

the main problem is that most people have no idea that there is more than one form of romanization of chinese, and just spell things however they feel like it.

[robin]

Thanks for the clarification everyone. I appreciate your help with this!
robin.