Zouhuorumo

Qing-dynasty illustration of the Baduanjin qigong exercise Separate Heaven and Earth

Zouhuorumo (Chinese: 走火入魔; pinyin: zǒuhuǒrùmó, meaning "obsession; spirit, possession, obsessing mind) refers to psychosomatic issues that can arise from excessive practice of self-cultivation techniques In Chinese culture, this concept traditionally signifies a disturbance or problem that occurs during spiritual or martial arts training. Within the qigong and traditional Chinese medical communities, zouhuorumo describes a physiological or psychological disorder believed to stem from the combination of a underlying predisposition and improper practice of these techniques. The term gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s during the widespread popularity of qigong in China, called qigong fever. In Buddhist and Daoist circles, zouhuorumo is also used to describe individuals who engage in esoteric teachings, techniques, or meditations without possessing good character, established discipline, or proper guidance from a teacher.