The practice of Qimen Dunjia, a traditional form of astrology, has been banned in Xinjiang, according to a report by Han Delun. The Public Security Bureau of Urumqi recently announced that six practitioners had been arrested in 2020 and sentenced to jail terms of one to two years. Qimen Dunjia is a popular system of astrological divination in the Sinosphere, and practitioners use astrological charts to get answers to all sorts of questions.

The practice is complex and requires years of practice to be used according to tradition. The crackdown in Xinjiang appears to be linked to the CCP’s crackdown on “illegal” religions in the region, and the authorities have been using Article 224-1 of the Chinese Criminal Code to target spiritual practices, including divination and healing, which are offered for a fee.

Interestingly, Qimen Dunjia has been practiced in China for centuries and is considered a part of the country’s rich cultural heritage. Practitioners believe that the system of astrology dates back at least to the 4th century CE and that it is as old as China itself. Qimen Dunjia is also mentioned in “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” one of the most famous novels of Chinese literature.

Despite its long history and popularity, Qimen Dunjia is now largely tolerated throughout China. However, there was another crackdown on the practice in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in 2018 and 2019, at the same time when the Christian house church Early Rain was persecuted. It seems that when the CCP is nervous about “illegal” religions, even forms of spirituality that have been traditionally left alone are no longer tolerated.

The crackdown on Qimen Dunjia in Xinjiang raises questions about the CCP’s commitment to preserving China’s cultural heritage. Some practitioners have pointed out that Qimen Dunjia is a quintessentially Chinese practice and that it has been practiced by great emperors and sages throughout history. They argue that the practice should be considered a part of the excellent Chinese culture that the CCP claims to uphold.

In conclusion, the ban on Qimen Dunjia in Xinjiang represents another example of the CCP’s tightening grip on religion and spirituality in the region. While the practice is still largely tolerated throughout China, practitioners must be careful not to attract too much attention from the authorities, as they may be accused of promoting “feudal superstitions” or engaging in unethical commercial practices.

Remarks – According to Dougles Chan, who is an international Qimen Teacher had mentioned that Qi Men Dun Jia is neither religious or spiritual, he also mentioned that those who are learning Qimen should be careful when learning, many of the Qimen Courses available out there are linked with spiritual and religious.