The Fall of a Master

The Fall of a Master explores the rise and dramatic decline of Wang Lin, a controversial figure from China's late twentieth-century qigong movement, examining his claimed supernatural abilities, social influence, and the subsequent scandal that led to legal investigations and his death. Drawing from a variety of sources, the book investigates whether his feats were genuine, performances, or products of charisma and social context, while reflecting on broader questions about power, belief, and mastery. It offers a nuanced look at how spiritual authority can be intertwined with performance, wealth, and reputation, ultimately revealing the complex forces that brought down Wang Lin’s empire of illusion.