正気＆狂気 KI part 2 - sanity and insanity

In my previous article, I wrote about how Japanese expressions are rich in using the character 気 (ki). Ki is an expression that we use and share so often. My understanding of the basic meaning of ki is "life-energy", but I consider it is an idea that is too familiar to define, and also is interesting to explore.

With non-Japanese speaking readers in mind, I would like to write in my future articles on expressions that contain "ki". The first one is about sanity and insanity.

正気 (sho-ki) means "sanity".
The first character 正 means "right, proper, true"

狂気 (kyo-ki) means "insanity".
The first character 狂 means "crazy, abnormal, bonkers"

Common in two words is that the first characters explain the state of ki.

So, in sanity, the life-energy is "true and proper", and in insanity, the life-energy is "abnormal and has gone bonkers".

If your life-energy is true and circulates around the body properly, your mind and actions function with no great problem, and your conduct would be accepted by others.

However, imagine your life-energy circulating wild, slowly, stiff, jerkily, not smoothly. I imagine the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland (and Johnny Depp's from 2010 movie is just so ideal!). It would certainly affect how you walk, talk, look and relate to others, and others would see madness in you. The life-energy which is in you, in effect, can be seen by others with what it does to your actions.

Life-energy ki is in you and around you.