Zhang Baosheng
Zhang Baosheng (simplified Chinese: 张宝胜; traditional Chinese: 張寶勝) (born 1958) was one of the most famous qigong Grandmasters during the period of qigong's immense popularity (so called "qigong fever") in the People's Republic of China.[1] Along with Yan Xin,[2] he played a key role in bringing the body technologies of qigong practice, and the supernatural abilities that can be putatively developed through it, into the Chinese public consciousness.
A miner from Benxi, Liaoning, Zhang was 'discovered' as being able to read with his nose, able to see through people's bodies, and to be able to place objects in closed containers without touching them.[3]
Drawing on Chinese media reports, Palmer writes that Zhang was called on by the local police to solve criminal cases, and one hospital even hired him as a living X-ray machine.[4]
Some high-ranking Communist Party leaders in Beijing grew curious at reports of Zhang's alleged powers, and Zhang was one of the "Healers with Extraordinary Powers" invited into the Zhongnanhai leadership compound to treat the daughter-in-law of General Chen Geng.[5]
On 18 May 1982, Zhu Runlong, editor-in-chief of Ziran magazine, introduced Zhang to Marshal Ye Jianying, who had masterminded the overthrow of the Gang of Four after the death of Mao. Zhang is reported to have correctly 'smelled' the contents of messages written by Ye on folded slips of paper. From his wheelchair, Ye was reported to have "exclaimed his amazement and his support for Extraordinary Powers research."[6]