Extraordinary Human Functions (EHF)
Qigong Fever swept across China in the late 1970s and 1980s, becoming one of the most unusual mass movements in modern Chinese history. At its height, an estimated tens of millions people practiced it across the country. For many, it represented a utopian blend of tradition, science, healing, and human potential. China had just emerged from the Cultural Revolution, and people were eager for meaning, connection, and recovery. In this climate, anything promising inner strength or expanded human ability caught fire. Reports of extraordinary human functions, from healing abilities to psychic perception, spread quickly and captured public imagination.
Extraordinary Human Functions (EHF) was the term used in China during the late 1970s and 1980s to describe abilities such as clairvoyance, psychokinesis, extraocular vision, and other forms of perception or influence beyond known senses. The spark that ignited the movement came in early 1979, when newspapers began reporting on an eleven‑year‑old boy named Tang Yu in Sichuan Province. According to the story, he sensed a pack of cigarettes hidden in a friend’s pocket during a wrestling match. Soon after, he was reported to read characters placed against his ear, triggering national fascination. Research groups at institutions such as Yunnan Teachers’ College and the Institute of High Energy Physics soon began testing similar claims, adding academic structure to what had begun as scattered local reports. More children with similar claimed abilities appeared throughout the country. Institutions in multiple provinces performed tests, some claiming high success rates for “extraocular” skills like reading with the skin or identifying objects in sealed containers.
Books published later suggested thousands of children were evaluated during these years. Yet despite the early fame, none of these children can easily be traced into adulthood. No interviews, memoirs, or public reappearances have ever been verified, and their names were too common to follow through records. The disappearance of these children remains a genuine mystery. No archive, interview, or publication has ever tracked their adult lives. Whether their abilities were overstated, whether the children were quietly removed from further study, whether political caution played a role, or whether the events simply reflected a fleeting cultural moment remains unclear, including whether their disappearance from public view was intentional or simply the result of shifting cultural and political conditions.
As the excitement grew, international curiosity also began to rise. One of the clearest snapshots of this period appears in the CIA-translated advance copy of an article prepared for Omni magazine, which summarized the Chinese reports on psychic children and extraordinary human functions. The document described tests where children were said to read through sealed envelopes, sense objects without vision, or manipulate small items through intention.
It highlighted the enthusiasm of Chinese researchers at the time, the lack of consistent scientific controls, and the growing divide between hopeful breakthroughs and skeptical investigators. Importantly, even that early report noted that despite dramatic claims, the individuals involved could not be tracked beyond the early 1980s, and there was no long-term evidence that these abilities persisted or that the children continued to participate in research as adults.
A second layer of context becomes clear when considering why the CIA paid attention to these reports in the first place. During the Cold War, intelligence agencies monitored any foreign scientific or cultural developments that suggested possible unconventional capabilities. Chinese claims about psychic children, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, and extraordinary human functions triggered interest not necessarily because the CIA dismissed or disbelieved the possibility outright, but because the United States and the Soviet Union were already exploring similar topics through their own parapsychology and remote‑viewing research programs. If China appeared to be investing in the same domain, intelligence analysts needed to understand the extent of the research and whether it held any strategic value. There was also concern about mass mobilization and social influence—qigong gatherings attracted millions of participants, and charismatic masters held significant sway over public belief. From an intelligence perspective, any movement capable of mobilizing large populations or shaping cultural attitudes at scale was worth monitoring. The CIA therefore collected and circulated documents like the Omni draft, but as part of standard Cold War vigilance, evaluating whether China was pursuing unconventional fields that could affect military, scientific, or psychological domains.
As the excitement grew, charismatic adult qigong masters rose to prominence and helped transform the landscape. Figures like Yan Xin filled stadiums with followers who believed his emitted qi could heal illnesses or influence physical environments. Zhang Baosheng became another widely discussed figure, famous for demonstrations where he appeared to pass objects through sealed bottles or perform psychokinetic feats. For a short period, he worked with elite officials and was even connected to internal research programs. These masters shifted the focus from child prodigies to adult practitioners who claimed to wield powerful forms of qi.
Government interest in the phenomenon was strong in the early years. Research institutes and military departments conducted experiments hoping to document or apply extraordinary human functions. The People’s Liberation Army, which some reports described as having observed limited demonstrations though the extent of involvement remains uncertain, explored whether such abilities might be used for intelligence or medical purposes. Scientific conferences debated whether these abilities hinted at new biological or physical principles.
The decline of the movement accelerated in the 1990s. The government grew concerned about mass gatherings, ideological influence, and the possibility of rival authority structures. In 1999, the state banned Falun Gong, which had grown rapidly as a qigong‑based movement with moral and esoteric teachings. This marked the decisive turning point. After the crackdown, all unsanctioned qigong groups were shut down or heavily restricted. The state redefined qigong as a health exercise only, forbidding supernatural claims, spiritual messaging, or mass organizational structures.
Today, qigong remains widely practiced across China, but only in its health‑oriented form. It is used for breath control, gentle movement, stress management, emotional regulation, and longevity. Tens of millions still practice it in parks, community centers, and wellness settings, but no paranormal associations survive in the public sphere. The extraordinary claims of the 1980s are now considered pseudoscientific and politically dangerous.
The qigong instructor explains qigong through the symbolism of nature, describing qi as the subtle vitality that supports life and connects all things. He emphasizes that qigong today is built on three pillars: physical alignment, breathing, and mental intention. He also explains the idea of refinement—gradually deepening sensitivity, awareness, and emotional stability through consistent practice. In his teaching, qi is not portrayed as magical or supernatural but as something accessible through calmness and patient cultivation.
This modern presentation contrasts sharply with the Qigong Fever era. The contrast makes clear how qigong transitioned from a movement with extraordinary claims to one centered on personal wellbeing. As the supernatural dimension faded, unanswered questions from the fever years—especially the fate of the early psychic children—continue to linger. The instructor focuses on grounding, emotional control, and self‑awareness rather than displays of psychic power. His explanations reflect how the meaning of qigong has changed. Once connected to visions of superhuman potential, national transformation, and scientific breakthroughs, qigong is now treated as a gentle method for health and balance.
