Use the Force, Luke!

[Guest guest]

Roni,

You wrote:

> Qi is the energy. Qi Gong is the exercise, which is supposed to be good for

the heart among other things.

Sort of. Qi or Chi originally meant " breath. " As you explained to , it has

come to mean a vital force, something similar to prana or mana (in Hawaii).

Gong is something on the order of " result " or " achievement. " Together the

implication is something like energy control or vital energy effect.

We owe the government of the People's Republic of China for most of the impetus

behind spreading this pseudoscience. After decades of attempting to suppress the

cultic aspects of Qi Gong, around 1970, in a new era of openness and tolerance,

they decided it would be easier to join 'em than continue to try to beat 'em.

So, the government funded research to measure and demonstrate Qi and then

standardize Qi Gong scope and practice.

The handful of conflicting experimental results involving electromagnetism were

widely criticized by scientist within and outside of China, but that never

stopped a good pseudoscience. The government publicized and widely supported

training in the practices until groups started forming based on claims of

paranormal effects and Confusion morality. Marxist materialism could not

tolerate either, so they went back into suppression mode and banned any teaching

or practice of Qi Gong that was not a form of exercise or dietary supplements

aimed at improving health. This is the main form that has been popularized in

the West over the last two decades, although the suppressed cults in China just

went underground and are apparently still influential. Today about 20% of the

PRC population uses some practice connected to Qi Gong.

I had an office neighbor in the 80s, who was a mainland Chinese scientist and

true believer in Qi Gong. He had participated in the famous Chinese earthquake

study that resulted in the evacuation of millions just before a giant earthquake

hit based on animal behavior. They had not been able to repeat that

demonstration in several decades, so they abandoned trying to read animal

warnings. He similarly was convinced that Qi Gong herbs were going to relieve

his sister's cervical cancer without the benefit of either surgery or

chemotherapy. She died while he was visiting.

Chuck