The qi theory in Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon（ 黄帝内经） is one of the basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine（ TCM）. Its formation and development are deeply influenced by ancient Chinese philosophy and it is widely used to explain the origin of the universe and life

composition

change and relationships of the nature and human being

as well as various aspects of human health and diseases. The holistic concept of TCM is Original Holistic Concept rather than Combination Holistic Concept

in which Original is the chaos with whole primitive elements. Then this whole generates pieces. The monism taking qi as the center believes the world and everything come from the chaos which is original qi and qi separates into yin and yang

yin and yang generates all. TCM was nurtured and developed under the influence of this concept

so the monism which takes qi as the center has been in Yellow Emperor’ s Inner Canon（ 黄帝内经） through the whole book. Therefore

only by making clear of qi’ s concept

classification and evolution in Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon（ 黄帝内经）

can one truly understand TCM’s holistic concept.