Qi, Ki, and Affective Attunement: Towards a Cross-Cultural Dialogue of Phenomenology of Care

This chapter aims to enrich our understanding of care by linking the notions of qi (氣) and ki (気) to “care” and “receptivity” in Anglophone care ethics. Analyzing these terms in (ancient) Chinese and Japanese suggests that they had already historically referred to care before the English terminology even emerged. By examining qi / ki from a phenomenological perspective alongside the concepts “ yin and yang ,” I seek to demonstrate the significance of reflecting on the tacit dimension of affective attunement. Notably, the Japanese term ki encompasses air, breath, moods, and atmospherics, but also vague feelings, perceptions, sensations, and attention and care. By focusing on the various aspects of qi / ki , I illustrate how our experiences of atmospheres, moods, and emotions are interconnected with the relationality of care, exploring its implications for the current research field of care ethics.