In the 1980s and 1990s, traditional breathing, gymnastic and meditation techniques were highly popular in China, in what was described by media chroniclers as ‘Qigong fever’ (Qigong re, see crazes). At its peak, the Qigong or ‘breath...

A significant characteristic of the post-Mao Qigong boom is the resurgence of Qigong masters. Until the Republican era, Qigong masters had been labelled as a ‘low class’ or ‘superstitious’ profession. But in the 1950s, Qigong...

Qigong refers to Chinese mental and physical exercises that cultivate qi (ch'i). Daoist in origin and often associated with healing, longevity, and enlightenment, these practices increase suppleness, develop relaxation, and improve circulation...

Qigong or chi kung is an aspect of traditional Chinese medicine involving the coordination of different breathing patterns with various physical postures and motions of the body. Qigong is mostly taught for health maintenance purposes, but there are...

Just off Beijing's main shopping street, Wangfujing, patients with every imaginable malady line up to see qigong doctors in the Hall of the Tranquil Mind clinic. Director Zhang Xiaotong first became a believer in the spiritual art after he was immobilized by three...

Qigong (pronounced Chee Gung) has been said to be one of the most powerful healing traditions ever developed in human history. It is China's 3000-4000 year-old system of self-healing, which integrates simple focused movements or Qigong allows one to cultivate this energy for...

IRVINE The professor in the necktie sinks into a crouch, then slashes the air with his hands.He is unsmiling. He is proficient. He’s kind of scary.“Yeah, damn well I can fight,” said Shin Lin, who is highly skilled in Chinese martial arts, particularly tai chi,...