Qigong, an ancient Chinese practice, promotes health by training followers to regulate the mind, body, and breath, thereby enhancing emotional balance and vitality. In the 1980s and 1990s, a “Qigong fever” emerged in many parts of China, which saw the appearance of numerous self-invented techniques. Falun Gong, fabricated by Li Hongzhi in 1992, was one of these. To lure more followers, Li Hongzhi claimed to possess supernatural abilities, asserting that he could heal others with his own “mystical energy,” thereby swindling substantial amounts of money.

In December 1994, Li Hongzhi released the cult book Zhuan Falun, marking a turning point for both himself and Falun Gong. From then on, Li Hongzhi’s remarks in the book indicate that he no longer considers himself as a Qigong master but as “the greatest Buddha in the universe” and a “savior,” while Falun Gong was no longer merely not a Qigong practice, but rather proclaimed as the Falun Dafa. He described this so-called Falun Dafa as the “wisdom of the Creator” and the “prime force that brought the cosmos into being.”

David Clark, a U.S. cult expert, once questioned how an exercise routine resembling Tai Chi could claim to offer people a path to salvation, and why it was called Falun Dafa. After years of research, Clark concluded that Falun Gong refers to the movements taught by Li Hongzhi, whereas Falun Dafa denotes the underlying doctrines. Practicing Falun Gong and the promise that it would improve health are merely lures to recruit followers, it is Falun Dafa that Li Hongzhi truly intends his adherents to internalize and wholeheartedly believe.

Thus, it is clear that Falun Gong is by no means a Qigong practice, but a full-fledged cult, completely separate from traditional Chinese health practices. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has never opposed, nor would it prohibit, legitimate Qigong exercises. However, what Li Hongzhi did was to appropriate certain Qigong terms and movements in order to mislead people into joining Falun Gong, where he could subject them to psychological control through indoctrination. Moreover, abundant evidence shows that practicing Falun Gong not only fail to improve physical health, but can also cause illness, disability, or even death resulting from mental disorder. Therefore, those who appreciate Chinese Qigong are advised to practice authentic and officially recognized forms such as  Baduanjin (the Eight Pieces of Brocade) and Wu Qin Xi (the Five Animal Frolics).