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Falun Gong (China)

by Antonio Martins

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China

Falun Gong

Here's an image from a news photo of a pro Falun Gong (the new Chinese cult who has given the Chinese Government a few headaches) demonstration, where a demonstrator was carrying this flag vertically. I thought it had a nice vexillogical spin, and, without trying to make a political statement, here it goes.

Some basic info (VERY basic indeed) from falundafa.org:

"Terminology

Falun Gong, (pronounced fah-luhn goong), literally means "the Practice of the Wheel of the Dharma." Falun Gong refers to five sets of exercises. Falun Dafa is the spiritual movement that practices Falun Gong.
Increasingly, the movement itself is being called Falun Gong.
Falun means law wheel;
Gong means the cultivation of energy and capabilities.
Dafa means Great Law or universal principles.
Dharma was originally a Sanskrit word. It is commonly used by Buddhists. It can refer to:
"...the impermanent and interdependent nature of all life."
The teachings of the Buddha.
The workings of natural law -- the way that life works.
The term "Cultivation" here is an Eastern concept. It involves the development and transformation of one's entire being -- body, mind and spirit. "One literally 'cultivates' their qualities like a garden, planting seeds of goodness and not letting that goodness be damaged by circumstances or events."

Guillermo Aveledo, 04 August 2000

Falun Gong has combined Buddhist and Taoist beliefs, a fact which is reflected on its emblem. It is a swavastika (that is, a reverse swastika, a Buddhist symbol) surrounded by four taeguks ('Tai Chi' as Chinese calls them, the Taoist 'Yin-Yang' symbol). Followers of Falun Gong call its emblem the 'Falun', which means chakra. The chakra is a symbol peculiar to Buddhism, always shown as a wheel (as on the former flag of Sikkim and on some flags of Thailand).
Miles Li, 30 October 2000