1 Qigong (chee-gung) refers to the cultivation of qi energy in the human body through breathing exercises and meditation to promote health or cure illness. The regulation of qi is the basis of traditional Chinese medicine. Richard Madsen, Understanding Falun Gong, 99 Current History 243, 243–44 (2000).Google Scholar

2 The name Falun Gong means ‘Practice of the Wheel of the Law'. Falun Gong is also commonly known by its practitioners as Falun Dafa or ‘Great Method of the Wheel of Law'. Benjamin Penny, The Falun Gong, Buddhism, and “Buddhist qigong”, 29 Asian Stud. Rev. 35, 35 (2005). In this paper, I will use Falun Gong when referring to the group and Falun Dafa when referring to the practice.Google Scholar

3 Using the term “Falun Gong” to search the headlines of “Major Newspapers” in the Lexis-Nexis Academic database retrieves over 1,000 results.Google Scholar

4 During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) the PRC attempted to eradicate religion by closing all temples, mosques, monasteries, and all other venues for religious activity. See e.g. God and Caesar in China: Policy Implications of Church-State Relations (Jason Kindopp & Carol Lee Harmin eds., Brookings Institution Press 2004).Google Scholar

5 The PRC was quite taken with the idea of qigong as a specifically “Chinese science” and hoped its widespread practice might improve the overall health of the general population. David Ownby, A History for Falun Gong: Popular Religion and the Chinese State since the Ming Dynasty, 6 Nova Religio 223, 233–34 (2003).Google Scholar

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7 Li Hongzhi received the “Advancing Marginal Sciences Award” at the 1993 Oriental Health Expos in Beijing. Also in 1993, “The Foundation for Encouraging People to Fight with Criminals” which is connected to the police ministry, wrote a letter of support for Li Hongzhi to the CQSRA. Lu Yunfeng, Entrepreneurial Logics and the Evolution of Falun Gong, 44(2) J. for Sci. Stud. Religion 173, 175 (2005).Google Scholar

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10 The details of Li Hongzhi's early life and his qigong training vary dramatically, depending on the source of information. Compare, Research Office of the Ministry of Public Security, Li Hongzhi: The Man and His Deeds, 32(5) Chinese L. & Govt. 56–64 (1999)(a PRC biography), with, Brief Biography of Li Hongzhi, 32(6) Chinese L. & Govt. 14–23 (1999)(issued by the Falun Gong).Google Scholar

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12 Li Hongzhi, Zhuan Falun 8 (Third Translation ed., Universe Publg. Co. 2000) (available at http://www.falundafa.org/eng/books.htm) (last updated 08/04/03).Google Scholar

13 Id. at 1.Google Scholar

14 Id. at 48; Jonathan S. Landreth & J.S. Greenburg, The Way We Live Now: Questions for Li Hongzhi; Eye of the Storm, N. Y. Times Mag. 19 (Aug. 8, 1999).Google Scholar

15 There are five official religions recognized by the PRC: Daoism, Buddhism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism. God and Caesar in China, supra n. 4, at 2.Google Scholar

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27 Id.Google Scholar

28 Id.Google Scholar

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