Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 183
The Chemistry of a Conflict: The Chinese Government and
the Falun Gong
Patsy Rahn
Indiana University
Abstract
This article examines elements shaping the conflict between the Chinese
government and the Falun Gong movement. It explores the historical
relationship between China‘s rulers and sects, the qigong boom in
contemporary China, the Chinese government‘s style of conflict management,
and the development of the Falun Gong teachings since the group was
banned. It discusses the extreme language both sides use to define
themselves and their opponent as part of a media-campaign to legitimate
their respective causes. It also examines the intensification of the millennial
message in the Falun Gong teachings and the potential justification for
violence even though the teachings continue to condemn the use of violence.
It concludes with reflections on the future of the Falun Gong and the Chinese
government.
A Brief Background
In 1992 Li Hongzhi founded a qigong movement in China called Falun Gong (FLG). Qigong is
a general term designating a system for improving and maintaining good health based on
ideas found in traditional Chinese medicine and culture. It involves a wide range of physical,
mental and breathing exercises. Qi can be translated as vital energy, and gong as skill, so
qigong is the skill of developing vital energy so as to obtain good health. The name Falun
Gong is translated on the FLG website as ‗Law Wheel Qigong‘. Fa means law, lun means
wheel, so it implies gaining achievement through work with the Wheel of the Law.
The ‗law‘ in FLG refers to the law of the universe which is stated as ‗Truthfulness,
Benevolence and Forbearance‘. In 1992, the group was legally registered with the national
qigong association called the Chinese Qigong Scientific Research Organization. Li traveled
for several years throughout China teaching under the auspices of the association. In 1995
his teachings began to come under criticism for being superstition, and in 1996 he withdrew
the group from the qigong association, thereby removing its official registration. Li then left
China to travel and teach in the United States and Europe and in 1998 he immigrated to the
United States. From 1996–98 Falun Gong members in China, at the request of Li, tried
unsuccessfully to re-register the group with different organizations.1
In 1998 New York City became the headquarters for the group and the Falun Gong website
was established. In April 1999 there was a peaceful gathering of 10,000 Falun Gong
practitioners outside government buildings in Beijing to request official recognition and
complain of mistreatment. The large gathering surprised officials. The government
requested a panel to study the group and three months later in July 1999 it was banned.
The government has since waged an intense campaign to discredit the group and suppress
it through re-education and intimidation. It has jailed several hundred leaders of the group,
banned and burned its books, detained tens of thousands, sent thousands through re-
education labor camps and denied claims of death or torture of members in detention. The
Falun Gong has become its own social movement of protest, waging a campaign of words
and press relations, calling on members of the US government, human rights groups and
the United Nations to help it.
The Chemistry of a Conflict: The Chinese Government and
the Falun Gong
Patsy Rahn
Indiana University
Abstract
This article examines elements shaping the conflict between the Chinese
government and the Falun Gong movement. It explores the historical
relationship between China‘s rulers and sects, the qigong boom in
contemporary China, the Chinese government‘s style of conflict management,
and the development of the Falun Gong teachings since the group was
banned. It discusses the extreme language both sides use to define
themselves and their opponent as part of a media-campaign to legitimate
their respective causes. It also examines the intensification of the millennial
message in the Falun Gong teachings and the potential justification for
violence even though the teachings continue to condemn the use of violence.
It concludes with reflections on the future of the Falun Gong and the Chinese
government.
A Brief Background
In 1992 Li Hongzhi founded a qigong movement in China called Falun Gong (FLG). Qigong is
a general term designating a system for improving and maintaining good health based on
ideas found in traditional Chinese medicine and culture. It involves a wide range of physical,
mental and breathing exercises. Qi can be translated as vital energy, and gong as skill, so
qigong is the skill of developing vital energy so as to obtain good health. The name Falun
Gong is translated on the FLG website as ‗Law Wheel Qigong‘. Fa means law, lun means
wheel, so it implies gaining achievement through work with the Wheel of the Law.
The ‗law‘ in FLG refers to the law of the universe which is stated as ‗Truthfulness,
Benevolence and Forbearance‘. In 1992, the group was legally registered with the national
qigong association called the Chinese Qigong Scientific Research Organization. Li traveled
for several years throughout China teaching under the auspices of the association. In 1995
his teachings began to come under criticism for being superstition, and in 1996 he withdrew
the group from the qigong association, thereby removing its official registration. Li then left
China to travel and teach in the United States and Europe and in 1998 he immigrated to the
United States. From 1996–98 Falun Gong members in China, at the request of Li, tried
unsuccessfully to re-register the group with different organizations.1
In 1998 New York City became the headquarters for the group and the Falun Gong website
was established. In April 1999 there was a peaceful gathering of 10,000 Falun Gong
practitioners outside government buildings in Beijing to request official recognition and
complain of mistreatment. The large gathering surprised officials. The government
requested a panel to study the group and three months later in July 1999 it was banned.
The government has since waged an intense campaign to discredit the group and suppress
it through re-education and intimidation. It has jailed several hundred leaders of the group,
banned and burned its books, detained tens of thousands, sent thousands through re-
education labor camps and denied claims of death or torture of members in detention. The
Falun Gong has become its own social movement of protest, waging a campaign of words
and press relations, calling on members of the US government, human rights groups and
the United Nations to help it.
