气功，是中国人特有的一种身心锻炼方法，在古代它常被称为吐纳、导引、修道等。20世纪50年代，“气功”被正式用做这种锻炼方法的名称。

Qigong is a unique way of exercising the body and mind for Chinese people. It used to be called “inhaling and exhaling exercises”, “breathing exercises” or “ascetic practice”. Not until the 50s of the 20th century had “qigong” been adopted as the formal name of this way of exercise.

　　气功的主要方法大概可以分为调心、调息和调身。调心是控制心理活动，调息是控制呼吸运动，调身是控制身体的姿势和动作。通过身心的多种调节，气功可以在一定程度上起到强壮身体、预防疾病、开发潜能的作用。

The major functions of qigong include regulation of heart, regulation of breath and regulation of body. Regulation of heart is to control psychological activities; regulation of breath to manipulate breathing movement; regulation of body to manage postures and actions. Through various regulations of the body and mind, qigong helps to some extent strengthen the physique, prevent illness and tap the potentialities of the body.

　　气功的种类很多，大致可以区分为静功和动功。动功以身体的活动为主，强调身体动作与意识、气息相协调，比如我们常见的太极拳；静功的身体不动，通过调节气息和意识来进行修炼，比如少林功夫中的参禅、打坐。

There are various types of qigong. Generally it can be divided into static qigong and dynamic qigong. Dynamic qigong stresses body movements and highlights the coordination of body movements with consciousness and breath. Taiji boxing is a typical example of this dynamic qigong. Static qigong calls for stillness of body and cultivation through regulation of breath and consciousness. “Sitting in a meditation” and “sitting in deep meditation” in Shaolin kung fu are examples of this type of qigong.

　　气功与中医有着非常密切的关系。气功本身就是以中医为理论基础的，中医学中的整体观念、辨证论治、阴阳五行等思想在气功中也得到了充分的体现。所以，中国历代的中医学家对气功都非常重视。

Qigong is closely related with and theoretically based on Chinese medicine. The holistic concept, the dialectical treatment, as well as ying/yang and the five elements of Chinese medical science have also found full expression in qigong. As a result, many generations of practitioners of Chinese medicine have attached great importance to qigong.

　　中国功夫与气功的关系也非常密切。几乎所有功夫都强调内外兼顾，除了练习技击技能，更重视练“气”，练气本质上与气功的锻炼方法相似。

Chinese kung fu and qigong are also closely related. Almost all types of kung fu give prominence to the coordinated exercise of internal organs with muscles and bones, and, beside improving the act of attack and defense, also improve the cultivation of “qi”, which is akin to qigong exercise.