| Zhong Gong | |||||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 中华养生益智功 | ||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 中華養生益智功 | ||||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||
| Chinese | 中功 | ||||||||
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Zhong Gong (中功) is a spiritual movement based on qigong founded in 1987 by Zhang Hongbao.[1] The full name (中华养生益智功) translates to "China Health Care and Wisdom Enhancement Practice." The system distinguished itself from other forms of qigong by its strong emphasis on commercialisation, and a targeted strategy that aimed to build a national commercial organisation in China in the 1990s.[2]
Zhong Gong achieved national prominence during the 'qigong fever' that gripped China during the Deng Xiaoping era. The denomination included a nationwide network of schools and healing centres based on Zhang's form of qigong before being outlawed by Chinese authorities in 1999, and Zhang's flight from China to evade multiple charges of rape from his subordinates. Zhang Hongbao claimed in 2003 to have about 38 million followers, and even Jiang Zemin allegedly believed in the curative power of Zhong Gong's message.[3]
After China declared Zhong Gong an illegal organisation, all its assets and those of the 3,000 entitles constituting the Unicorn Group were confiscated, its 600 principals arrested.[4] Zhong Gong wilted away thanks to once the organisation was no longer able to transmit the material and social benefits which were motivational drivers for its followers.[5] After a warrant for the arrest of leader Zhang Hongbao was issued, he fled to the United States and applied for political asylum—he gained Protective resident status in U.S. on 13 June 2001. Zhang died in a car accident in July 2006.
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