The Qigong Fever: Masters and Madness in Modern China

During the 1980s "Qigong Fever" in China, Yan Xin became a household name by claiming the ability to cure terminal diseases and even remotely intercept nuclear weapons. He achieved massive political influence and commercial success, conducting large-scale "power-transmission" lectures where thousands of followers believed they were being healed by his external energy. As the government began to target pseudo-scientific practices, Yan relocated to the United States in the mid-1990s, successfully preserving his reputation and continuing to be honored by his followers as a modern sage.