Peking Hotel with Liu He China’s Spiritual Revival and the Rise (and Fall) of Falun Gong — with Ian Johnson
Feb 20, 2025
Ian Johnson, an award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner, discusses the complexities surrounding Falun Gong and its portrayal by the Chinese government. He highlights the spiritual revival in post-Mao China, revealing how disillusionment led to a surge in religious movements. Johnson shares personal anecdotes from his reporting journey and reflects on the challenges journalists face in addressing the controversial narrative of Falun Gong, calling for a nuanced understanding of cultural issues in the media.
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Post-Mao Spiritual Revival
- The Mao era's failure and the Party's subsequent shift to capitalism left many feeling disillusioned.
- This void in ideology and the hardships of economic reform fueled a spiritual revival in China.
Falun Gong as Folk Religion
- Falun Gong, like many folk religions, blends elements of existing faiths with folk beliefs.
- The government's labeling of Falun Gong as a cult is a mischaracterization based on a derogatory term.
China's Religious Revival
- Ian Johnson's initial impression of religious life in China was that of a museum of dead religions.
- He later realized a spiritual revival, aided by the government's document 19, was already underway, marked by temple rebuilding and Qigong's rise.
