The Magic of Yuanfen

Photographer Stefanie Schweiger (*1979) and author Phoebe Hui (*1983) set out in search of ancient wisdom, hidden worlds, alternative medicine, and faith, in China. In words and images, they tell stories about their encounters with Chinese masters of healing and lore. Their paths lead them to Buddhist secret societies, shamans, hermits, Taoists, herbalists, Tibetan doctors, bimos, feng shui experts, and monks. They explore if the wisdom passed down for thousands of years can be reconciled with contemporary Chinese life. The book lays out a nuanced panorama of China’s diverse beliefs, many of which are virtually unknown in the West.