Is Shen Yun a Falun Gong Show? Explained Simply

Is Shen Yun religious? Is it a Falun Gong show? We break it down clearly and simply.

Has it ever been the case that you were walking through the city, probably getting coffee or catching up with mates, when something in your periphery caught your eye?

A vibrant-looking poster in a window, which had also appeared in your mailbox as a flyer? Or maybe you just so happen to be chatting to a man or woman on the street at a Falun Gong stall. They all mention the same thing. “Shen Yun performing arts.”

But what exactly is it? And why is it promoted by a meditation community?

These are questions that people like you and me would still have—even right before the curtain opens.

A Heavenly Scene Appears

The grounding vibration of a gong I could feel beneath my feet, resonant trumpets, and the grand accompaniment of a live orchestra greeted us first, followed by one of the most dazzling scenes I have ever seen. Literally dazzling, bright colours formed a screen filled with diverse figures populating what looked like a grand paradise.

The only thing that comes to mind to compare it to is the Sistine Chapel, but the people on the screen physically moved, and, in reaction to the scene in front of them, the audience was emotionally moved. I could see many wiping away their tears.

And then there was the stage itself.

The clouds from the paradise on the screen appeared to pour onto the stage as artificial clouds gently floated across it, and ladies garbed in vibrant colours danced amidst the clouds with a fluidity and finesse I didn’t think people could pull off.

And that was just the first piece out of ten or more, each showcasing a part of traditional China — from the graceful court dancers of the Tang dynasty, to the robust and powerful riders of Mongolia, and the quaint charm of the Hmong, just to name a few.

Epic, but… that didn’t answer the question, did it?

Shen Yun advertisements for the 2024 show

What’s the Relationship Between Falun Gong and Shen Yun?

What is its relationship with to meditating folks?

What I found was that the troupe was founded by classical Chinese dancers who went to the United States — but they didn’t leave their motherland in one piece… They were also Falun Gong practitioners, those same meditating folks. Back home, they were heavily persecuted in 1999 after the practice surged in popularity. [read: Is Falun Gong political? My thoughts on the topic]

So they fled. But as artists tend to do, they wanted to tell a story — the story of ancient China, the history of Chinese dance, the enduring values and principles, along with the countless historical and mythical classics spanning 5000 years and some of the biggest dynasties the world has seen.

And also a story of tragedy — where a tyrannical regime aimed to crush its own national identity and foundation, spinning heroes as villains and villains as heroes.

The communist regime in China didn’t stop at mutating the arts and history, but even sought to reshape their own people’s minds. They led the Cultural Revolution, which proceeded to systematically destroy countless historical artifacts, books by great thinkers, and anything else that could suggest a government should hold to value-driven responsibilities.

Even Falun Gong was no exception to this threat. The community only ever espoused meditation and compassion towards your fellows, had many regime members among its practitioners, and was completely apolitical—but its popularity convinced the chairman at the time that it had to be gotten rid of.

“Ruin their reputations, bankrupt them financially, and destroy them physically” is what Jiang Zemin, the former leader of the CCP, said. [read: Why Did China Persecute These Seemingly Peaceful Falun Gong Meditators?]

Theatre-goers pose in front of a Shen Yun advertisement

How do Shen Yun tell their story?

Through none other than what they know best — dance and theatre.

And so Falun Gong practitioners who hailed from China founded Shen Yun, which roughly means “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” as it depicts in Chinese (someone had to tell me that — I don’t know Mandarin…).

So Allen, after the history lesson, is it a Falun Gong show?

Almost all of it is a showcase of an old art form (super boosted by a live orchestra and digital screen that didn’t exist back in the good old days), with a brief depiction of why it’s such a rare form nowadays — and a tragedy that’s still ongoing today.

But you may be asking: “I heard that it tries to shove an ideology down our throat?”

Personally, I’ve seen it many times, and all the pieces depict a story or song. I never felt attacked or lectured (as almost all pieces were physical performances). Many well-known artists have said that art has the potential to impart complex ideas, challenge rigid ideals, and evoke strong emotions in its audience. So what would Shen Yun be if it didn’t challenge the tyrannical view held by the CCP while presenting a culture that many Chinese people would be proud to show to the world?

All up, I definitely got my money’s worth each time, and I bet almost everyone who watched it would feel the same.

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We hope you enjoyed reading this post.

‘Learn Falun Gong—Australia’ is a website run by Australian Falun Dafa volunteers for the benefit of the general public. Falun Dafa is always taught free of charge.

Views expressed in this article represent the author’s own opinions or understandings.