Qigong Boom

''Qigong'' fever (, ''Qìgōng rè''), also known as the ''qigong'' boom, was a social phenomenon in the People's Republic of China during the 1980s and 1990s, in which the practice of ''qigong'' rose to extraordinary popularity, with mass daily practice. At its peak, it is estimated that the number of ''qigong'' practitioners reached between 60 and 200 million, developing a flourishing subculture.

History

The Chinese term ''Qìgōng rè'' (), referred to in English as "the ''qigong'' boom" or "''qigong ''fever", was a social phenomenon in which mass practice of ''qigong'' became extraordinarily popular in the People's Republic of China during the 1980s and 1990s, with more than 2,000 ''qigong'' organizations and between 60 and 200 million practitioners. The movement is characterized by initial government sanction of ''qigong'', with emphasis on health benefits, traditional medicine and martial arts applications, and a scientific perspective; revival of interest in traditional philosophy, spiritual attainment, and folklore; rise to power of "grandmasters" (e.g. Zhang Baosheng) as cultural and political leaders; and opposing efforts to legitimize ''qigong'' based on science versus de-legitimize ''qigong'' as pseudoscience. In 1999, the Chinese government instituted a systematic crackdown on ''qigong'' organizations that were perceived to challenge state control, including prohibiting mass ''qigong'' practice, shutdown of ''qigong'' clinics and hospitals, and banning groups such as Zhong Gong and Falun Gong.

See also

* Heterodox teachings (Chinese law)

References

Further reading

*

{{Qigong

Qigong
History of the People's Republic of China