Origins & Early Life

Li Hongzhi (Chinese: 李洪志; born 1951 or 1952) is a Chinese religious leader. He is the founder and leader of Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa, a United States–based new religious movement. Li began his public teachings of Falun Gong on 13 May 1992 in Changchun and subsequently gave lectures and taught Falun Gong exercises across China. Li's first public demonstration was at the 1992 Oriental Health Expo in Beijing.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Reportedly, Li "apparently" helped a paralysed and wheelchair-bound man to walk again, as well as having cured "difficult and complex illnesses of all kinds". The fair's director subsequently announced Falun Gong as being the "star cultivation system". The event helped cement Li's popularity, while journalistic reports of Falun Gong's healing capabilities grew. The movement had gained significant popularity in the 1990s, including in certain government and qigong circles during the qigong fever. However from the early 1990s, qigong as a science became increasingly a target of criticism by both authorities and media for failing to provide replicable conclusive proof for its paranormal claims.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

As the Chinese authorities' attitude toward the broader qigong movement changed, Li moved...

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