Qigong—a regimen of body; breath; and mental training exercises—was one of the most widespread cultural and religious movements of late-twentieth-century urban China. The practice was promoted by senior Communist Party leaders as a uniquely Chinese healing tradition and as a harbinger of a new scientific revolution; yet the movement's mass popularity and the almost religious devotion of its followers led to its ruthless suppression. In this absorbing and revealing book; David A. Palmer relies on a combination of historical; anthropological; and sociological perspectives to describe the spread of the qigong craze and its reflection of key trends that have shaped China since 1949; including the search for a national identity and an emphasis on the absolute authority of science. Qigong offered the promise of an all-powerful technology of the body rooted in the mysteries of Chinese culture. However; after 1995 the scientific underpinnings of qigong came under attack; its leaders were denounced as charlatans; and its networks of followers; notably Falungong; were suppressed as "evil cults."According to Palmer; the success of the movement proves that a hugely important religious dimension not only survived under the CCP but was actively fostered; if not created; by high-ranking party members. Tracing the complex relationships among the masters; officials; scientists; practitioners; and ideologues involved in qigong; Palmer opens a fascinating window on the transformation of Chinese tradition as it evolved along with the Chinese state. As he brilliantly demonstrates; the rise and collapse of the qigong movement is key to understanding the politics and culture of post-Mao society.
#1960332 in Books 2003-08-15Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .67 x 6.00l; .89 #File Name: 0231125836320 pages
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