San Cai – Three powers (三才)
From Taoist thinking there are three forms of energy, these are referred to heaven (天), earth (地), and man or humanity (人);
Heaven – energy that falls upon us (Universe – Sun, Moon and Stars)
Earth – energy that rises up from the earth (Environment – Earth, Wind and Water)
Man (Human) – energy that resides within us (Humanity – Essence, Energy, Spirit)
These represent the natural forces and energetic factors that affect the human body (Physical, Emotional, Mental and Spiritual wellbeing). In simple terms think about us being stuck between the enormous energy fields created by the earth and the energy fields being created in space.
In Chinese medicine these are known as San Bao – Three treasures (三宝), these being;
Jing (精) – Nutritive essence, essence; refined, perfected; extract; spirit, sperm, seed
Qi (氣) – Vitality, energy, force; air, vapor; breath; spirit, vigour; attitude
Shen (神) – Spirit; soul, mind; god, deity; supernatural being
The three treasures can be expressed through;
Refining essence into breath
Refining breath into spirit
Refining spirit and reverting it into emptiness
or put simply “essence produces energy and energy cultivates spirit”.
The Japanese name for this is “Ten Chi Jin” or simply Heaven, Earth and Man.