Qigong fever (气功热, ), 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
(气功热), 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)
Further reading
