節節貫穿 (Jie Jie Guan Chuan) is a classic phrase in Tai Chi practice. “Jie Jie” means “section by section,” and “Guan Chuan” refers to energy or Qi flowing through thoroughly and continuously.
When a practitioner performs a form correctly, they may feel energy rooted in the feet, initiated in the legs, traveling upward through the body’s command center (the core), flowing through the torso and arms, and reaching the fingertips—section by section. Once this occurs, the Da Zhou Tian (Grand Circulation of Qi) is complete.
So, you may ask: what’s the big deal about it?
In the white paper “The Science of Tai Chi and Qigong as Whole Person Health”, published for the Science of Tai Chi & Qigong as Whole Person Health Conference, an important topic is highlighted: connective tissue and its holistic influence on the human mind and body.
According to Wikipedia, connective tissue—first introduced by a German scientist in the 18th century—is one of the four primary types of animal tissue. It includes a rich network of bones, ligaments, tendons, fascia, and interstitium (also referred to in Chinese medicine as San Jiao or Triple Warmer). Connective tissue links multiple body systems, including the musculoskeletal, nervous, and immune systems.
In recent years, studies have increasingly focused on connective tissue and the interstitium. Both ex vivo and in vivo research has shown that connective tissue is highly responsive to mechanical forces—such as those created by the loading and shearing actions of Tai Chi and Qigong movements. Furthermore, ex vivo studies indicate that stretching movements like those in Tai Chi can trigger molecular changes, including gene regulation and metabolic shifts related to inflammation. In vivo studies suggest that stretching connective tissue can cause dynamic changes in immune markers, support wound healing, and even positively affect cancer tumors. Additional research has linked chronic low back pain to abnormalities at the tissue level.
Tai Chi and East Asian medicine emphasize the deep connection between mind and body. Recent scientific findings now implicate connective tissues and the interstitium as possible anatomical bases for meridians and acupoints.
Scientists also reference another Tai Chi classic phrase—“flow like water”—as evidence that Tai Chi facilitates cross-system integration during movement. Research on Tai Chi and Qigong shows that all systems associated with connective tissue are positively influenced by the practice. These include, but are not limited to, inflammatory processes (e.g., cancer), musculoskeletal pain (e.g., back pain and arthritis), kinesiophobia (the excessive fear of movement), rumination (e.g., in depression), mobility, and overall physical function.
As a long-time Tai Chi and Qigong practitioner, I am deeply grateful that Harvard Medical School and the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine hosted the first science conference in Fall 2023. It helped explain why this healing art is so powerful—and reinforced why I must adhere to foundational Tai Chi principles, such as Jie Jie Guan Chuan, to maximize its benefits.
I am also excited that the second science conference will be held April 30–May 1, 2026, in Boston, MA—another opportunity for us all to deepen our understanding of the science behind this remarkable healing art and its profound impact on whole-person health.
Note: With the kind permission of Sifu Bill Donnelly, the article photo illustrates how Qi flows section by section.