Falun Gong facts for kids
Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) is a spiritual practice from China. It combines gentle exercises with a way of life. Li Hongzhi started it in 1992. People who follow Falun Gong do five special exercises. They also read books written by Li Hongzhi.
Followers of Falun Gong believe in "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance." They also believe that the Falun Gong exercises can help them stay healthy. They feel these practices can also help them become better people.
Falun Gong in China
In 1999, many Falun Gong followers gathered peacefully. They were in front of a Chinese government building. After this, the Communist Party of China said Falun Gong was "illegal." This meant people could no longer practice it openly.
The police then started arresting Falun Gong followers. Human rights groups have reported that many people were jailed. They also reported that some people died while in custody. The Chinese government said Falun Gong spread old superstitions. Others have suggested that Falun Gong's popularity was seen as a challenge to the government. Many people and groups outside China have asked the Chinese government to stop jailing Falun Gong followers.
It is not fully known how many people practice Falun Gong. The Chinese government said there were 70 million followers in China in 1998. A Falun Gong website claims there are 100 million followers. They say these followers live in more than 80 countries around the world.
Images for kids
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Falun Gong founder and leader Li Hongzhi
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Falun Gong followers practice the fifth exercise, a meditation, in Manhattan
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The five exercises of Falun Gong
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Falun Gong followers practice the third exercise in Toronto
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Morning Falun Dafa exercises in Guangzhou
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The 610 Office was a special group in China
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Ethan Gutmann (left) with Edward McMillan-Scott at a press conference
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Falun Gong practitioners outside China hold events like this group exercise in Los Angeles
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See also
In Spanish: Falun Gong para niños
