Chinese xingqi (行氣, "circulating qi / breath") is a group of breath-control techniques that have been developed and practiced from the Warring States period (c. 475-221 BCE) to the present. Examples include Traditional Chinese medicine, Daoist meditation, daoyin breathing calisthenics, taixi embryonic breathing, neidan internal alchemy, neigong internal exercises, qigong deep-breathing exercises, and taijiquan slow-motion martial art. Since the polysemous keyword qi can mean natural "breath; air" and/or alleged supernatural "vital breath; life force", xingqi signifies "circulating breath" in meditational contexts or "activating vital breath" in medical contexts. Terminology Xíngqì (行氣) is a linguistic compound of two Chinese words: Xíng (行) has English translation equivalents of: to march in order, as soldiers; walk forward ... to move, proceed, act; perform(ance); actor, agent; follower ... to engage in; to conduct; to effect, put into practice, implement ... pre-verbal indicator of future action, "is going to [verb]." temporary, transient ... to leave, depart from. ... (Kroll 2017: 509–510; condensed) In Standard Chinese phonology, this character 行 is usually pronounced as rising second tone xíng above, but also can be pronounced as falling fourth tone xìng (行) meaning "actions, conduct, behavior, custom(ary); [Buddhism] conditioned states, conditioned things [translation of Sanskrit Saṅkhāra]" or second tone háng (行) "walkway, road; column, line, row, e.g., of soldiers, serried mountains, written text". Qì (氣) has equivalents of: effluvium, vapor(ous); fumes; exhalation, breath(e). vital breath, pneuma, energizing breath, lifeforce, material force. ... vitality, energy; zest, spirit; zeal, gusto; inspiration; aspiration. power, strength; impelling force. air, aura, atmosphere; climate, weather. ... flavor; smell, scent. disposition, mood, spirit; temper(ament); mettle, fortitude. ... (Kroll 2017: 358; condensed) In terms of Chinese character classification, xíng (行) was originally a pictograph of "crossroads", and qì (氣) is a compound ideograph with qì (气, "air; gas; vapor") and mǐ (米, "rice"), "气 steam rising from 米 rice as it cooks" (Bishop 2016). Qi has an uncommon variant character (炁) that is especially used in "magical" Daoist talismans, charms, and petitions. The unabridged Hanyu Da Cidian ("Comprehensive Chinese Word Dictionary"), which is lexicographically comparable to the Oxford English Dictionary, defines xingqi in three meanings: 道教语. 指呼吸吐纳等养生方法的内修功夫. [Daoist term. Refers to internal practices of breathing, exhaling, inhaling, and other methods of nourishing life.] 中医指输送精气. [Traditional Chinese medicine. Refers to conveying essence and qi.] 指使气血畅通. [Refers to making qi and blood flow unobstructed.] (Luo 1994 3: 905) There is no standard English translation of Chinese xingqi, as