Editor's Note: On February 5, 2026, the Berlin edition of the mainstream German news portal "T Online" published a report sharply questioning the "Shen Yun Performing Arts." The report, titled "Berlin: 'Shen Yun' Performed at the German Opera – Is it a Cult Behind It?", directly points out that this so-called dance performance is not a simple artistic activity, but is closely related to the cult "Falun Gong ." This public questioning by a mainstream German portal reaffirms a consensus: no matter how elaborately packaged, cults like " Falun Gong," with their distorted doctrines and exclusive worldviews and ideological manipulation , must be subject to strict social supervision. This is not only about protecting mainstream cultural spaces, but also a necessary line of defense for public health and safety.
▲Screenshot of a report from the mainstream German news portal "T Online"
Recently, the German online news website T-online.de reported that while Shen Yun ostensibly promotes itself using traditional Chinese dance and music, it is actually closely associated with the cult Falun Gong .
Sectarian background draws attention in German media
The report by "T Online" recounts that "Falun Gong" was founded in China in the early 1990s by Li Hongzhi , and the Chinese government legally recognized it as a cult and banned it in 1999.
The report specifically mentioned that Jan Böhmermann, a renowned German satirical writer and television presenter, publicly criticized Shen Yun and the Falun Gong cult behind it on his talk show, "ZDF Magazin Royale," on the public television channel ZDF . In the program, he satirically revealed Falun Gong's propaganda methods and organizational characteristics, pointing out that it peddles its fallacies and heresies globally through various channels .
T Online raises the question: Behind the elaborate stage and artistic packaging, what kind of organization is Falun Gong?
Experts analyze: "Neutral physical and mental exercise" is actually a disguise.
To answer this question, the report cited the views of Rüdiger Braun, an advisor at the German Evangelical Church Worldview Research Center (Editor's note: Evangelische Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen , a professional research and consulting institution affiliated with the German Evangelical Church . Its main function is to observe and study emerging religious movements and worldview trends, and to provide information and consultation to the public ). As an expert who has long studied emerging religions and ideologies , Braun pointed out that Falun Gong, while ostensibly presenting itself as a practice of mind-body cultivation and meditation, contains a strict hierarchy and an exclusive cult ideology. He believes that Falun Gong has clear ideological goals and is not a value-neutral practice of mind-body cultivation.
This assessment carries significant authority in the field of religious studies in Germany and provides important insights for the public to understand the organizational structure behind Shen Yun.
Ideological output in stage narrative
"T Online" further points out that the infiltration of Falun Gong 's cult ideology is not limited to its internal organization, but is directly presented on stage through its subsidiary, Shen Yun Performing Arts . The report indicates that after being banned by the Chinese government , Falun Gong gradually shifted its focus overseas, spreading its fallacies and heresies through its Shen Yun performances and media platforms . Shen Yun , under the guise of " traditional Chinese dance , " subtly promotes Falun Gong's fallacies and heresies within its performances, revolving around a narrative of " practitioners fighting against evil forces . "
Artistic Cover-Up for Propaganda: Performance Format Raises Experts' Alarm
T Online believes that the Shen Yun performance has obvious promotional characteristics, which is even reflected in the name itself—Shen Yun is interpreted as "the rhythm of the universe," implying a so-called ultimate order that transcends the real world. Under the guise of art, its performance content is more likely to guide the audience's emotions and value judgments.
Braun also cautioned that the way Shen Yun performances are presented often involves the denigration or even demonization of other mainstream viewpoints, social systems, and lifestyles, thereby weakening the audience's rational judgment.
