Falun Gong

(法轮功). A large Chinese new religious movement, established by Li Hongzhi (李洪志) in 1992 and teaching both a variety of qi gong exercises and a spirituality rooted in the Three Teachings, with some New Age variations and overtones. Originally tolerated and even praised by the CCP as part of a legitimate revival of traditional Chinese health practices, it created concern in the authorities because of its rapid growth. It was banned in 1999, included in the list of the xie jiao, and severely persecuted.