Dantian are the "qi focus flow centers", important focal points for meditative and exercise techniques such as qigong, martial arts such as tai chi, and in traditional Chinese medicine.

[3] Historically the first detailed description of the lower Dantian is in the Laozi zhongjing from the 3rd century CE, which refers to the elixir-of-life field where "essence" and "spirit" are stored; it is related to regeneration and sexual energy, menstruation and semen.

"[2] In speaking of the lower of the three energy centers, the term dantian is often used interchangeably with the Japanese word hara (腹; Chinese: fù) which means simply "belly."

In the Ancient Texts of the Book of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi Neijing ), the lower Dan Tian is referred to as both the seat of Jing (精) and the source of Yuan qi (元氣).

The area is associated to the tantric swadhisthana chakra In yoga philosophy, it is thought to be the seat of prana (compare with yuan qi) that radiates outwards to the entire body.