Lately, I’ve been getting spammed with Shen Yun ads on YouTube. If you haven’t heard of it, Shen Yun is a traditional Chinese dance show that tours the world. So, I decided to check out their website, and the first thing I see is “China without communism.” That got me curious, so I dug deeper and found out that the show is actually put on by a movement called Falun Gong.
Falun Gong started in 1992, right after the Tiananmen Square massacre, and it quickly gained millions of followers worldwide. But the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wasn’t a fan and started cracking down on them in 1999. Now, this is where things get interesting: Falun Gong believes in some pretty out-there things. They don’t believe in evolution, think that modern medicine is part of a plan to control people, and they believe sickness is tied to karma. They also think that in heaven, races will be separated and that God plans to eliminate all gay people.
They’re super anti-CCP, which is one reason why Shen Yun is banned in China. The CCP even persecutes Falun Gong members to this day, with reports of imprisonment and violence. But Falun Gong isn’t just about the religious side—it also has a strong political message. They’re vehemently against the current Chinese government, which is why their newspaper, The Epoch Times, and the Shen Yun show often feature anti-communist content.
If you’ve seen the show or heard about it, you probably know that one of the scenes is about organ harvesting, which the CCP has been accused of. It’s a pretty shocking and dark part of the show, but it’s not surprising considering the movement’s focus on exposing the CCP’s actions.
The whole Shen Yun experience is like a mix of traditional Chinese culture, stunning dancing, and intense political propaganda. The performances are beautiful, with all the bright colours and intricate choreography.
Should I go to one of their shows to experience it for myself?
Falun Gong started in 1992, right after the Tiananmen Square massacre, and it quickly gained millions of followers worldwide. But the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wasn’t a fan and started cracking down on them in 1999. Now, this is where things get interesting: Falun Gong believes in some pretty out-there things. They don’t believe in evolution, think that modern medicine is part of a plan to control people, and they believe sickness is tied to karma. They also think that in heaven, races will be separated and that God plans to eliminate all gay people.
They’re super anti-CCP, which is one reason why Shen Yun is banned in China. The CCP even persecutes Falun Gong members to this day, with reports of imprisonment and violence. But Falun Gong isn’t just about the religious side—it also has a strong political message. They’re vehemently against the current Chinese government, which is why their newspaper, The Epoch Times, and the Shen Yun show often feature anti-communist content.
If you’ve seen the show or heard about it, you probably know that one of the scenes is about organ harvesting, which the CCP has been accused of. It’s a pretty shocking and dark part of the show, but it’s not surprising considering the movement’s focus on exposing the CCP’s actions.
The whole Shen Yun experience is like a mix of traditional Chinese culture, stunning dancing, and intense political propaganda. The performances are beautiful, with all the bright colours and intricate choreography.
Should I go to one of their shows to experience it for myself?