Factoid:
A peaceful demonstration in April 1999 by 10,000 students of Qigong master Li Hongzhi was the largest civilian demonstration seen in China since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.
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Chinese Government Worried About Huge 'Cult'
Millions of Chinese citizens practice the ancient health regimen called Qigong, but Chinese officials fear that some Qigong teachers may have too much political power.
Start Date: 5/10/99
Hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens practice various forms of an ancient health regimen called Qigong (chee-gung). According to practitioners, Qigong combines elements of meditation, martial arts, Buddhist and Taoist philosophy and dietary rules to produce good health and peace of mind. Advanced adepts are believed to possess unusual mental and physical powers.
The Chinese government has relaxed former restrictions on the practice of Qigong and has seen interest in the practice explode in recent years. For the most part, this is fine with communist officials, because most forms of Qigong preach morality and good citizenship. Qigong is also recognized as good preventive medicine and is thought to save the government millions of dollars in health services each year.
But two things about Qigong are troubling to Chinese officials. Some versions of Qigong promote "superstition" -- belief in paranormal powers, for example. More troubling is the fact that some Qigong masters attract enormous followings and inspire deep devotion among their students.
According to the Associated Press, one Qigong master who has attracted special attention is Li Hongzhi, a native Chinese who now lives in New York City. Since founding his school of Qigong, called Falun Gong, in 1992, master Li has amassed an estimated 70 million students in China, plus 30 million more in other countries. This huge and loyal following poses a major dilemma for the Chinese government.
A modest show of Falun Gong's force was displayed on April 25, 1999 in Beijing, when 10,000 of Li's followers quietly protested all day long just outside the walled compound of the central government. All they wanted was assurance that they would be allowed to continue practicing their brand of Qigong. But theirs was the biggest demonstration in Beijing since the Tiananmen Square protests of 10 years ago. And a hundred times more protesters might show up if master Li asked them to -- or so Chinese officials fear.
Li Hongzhi insists he is not a cult leader and does not aspire to political power. But one man who commands so many followers, and preaches such unusual beliefs, is something that makes the Chinese government very uneasy.
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