Jing (TCM)
Jing is the Chinese word for "essence", more specifically the kidney essence. According to traditional Chinese medicine, Jing is stored in the Kidneys and is the most dense physical matter within the body (as opposed to the Shen which is the most volatile). It is said to be the material basis for the physical body and is Yin in nature, which means it nourishes, fuels, and cools the body. Jing is also the carrier of our heritage (e.g. DNA); in the man the sperm and in the woman the menstrual blood are believed to be part of Jing. Jing is consumed continuously in life, either naturally by aging, or unnaturally by illness, substance abuse, sexual intemperance etc.
