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Zhong Gong (中功) is a spiritual movement based on ''qigong'' founded in 1987 by Zhang Hongbao.〔 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 targeted strategy that aimed to build a national commercial organisation in China in the 1990s.〔Palmer (2007), p. 208〕 Zhong Gong achieved national prominence during the 'qigong fever' that gripped China during the Deng 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. Zhang Hongbao claimed in 2003 to have about 38 million followers, and even Jiang Zemin allegedly believed in the curative power of Zhong Gong massage.〔Jensen, Lionel. Entry on "Falun Gong" in the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture, Edward L. Davis (ed.) Routledge 2004, pp. 252–263〕 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.〔 Zhong Gong wilted away once the organisation was no longer able to transmit the material and social benefits which were motivational drivers for its followers.〔 After a warrant for the arrest of leader Zhang Hongbao was issued, he fled to 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. == History and development == In the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations, Zhang Hongbao retreated to a remote base area in Sichuan, where he reorganised his followers as employees of a web of private enterprises owned by a parent firm, the Qilin Group.〔Thornton (2003), p. 143〕 During the early 1990s, Zhong Gong became the most popular of the various ''qigong'' schools, but rumours concerning Zhong Gong started to surface.〔Smith, Craig S. "(Asylum Plea by Chinese Sect's Leader Perplexes the U.S. )," New York Times, 31 July 2000〕 As controversy about Zhong Gong increased, Falun Gong group gained in popularity, eventually superseding Zhong Gong as the largest movement of its kind.〔 Its commercial activities were incorporated in China as the Unicorn Group (麒麟集团), a collectively ownership enterprise. In Mainland China, it had numerous operations, branches, and staff. There were six subordinate divisions, including Qigong training, healthy living, travel, education, medical. Political scientist Patricia M. Thornton at the University of Oxford lists Zhong Gong as an example of a cybersect, due to the group's reliance internet for text distribution, recruitment and information-sharing among adherents.〔Thornton, Patricia M. "The New Cybersects: Resistance and Repression in the Reform era" in Elizabeth Perry and Mark Selden, eds., ''Chinese Society: Change, Conflict and Resistance'' (second edition) (London and New York: Routledge, 2003), pp. 149–50.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Zhong Gong」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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