Under bright sunshine and temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, more than 4,600 Falun Gong practitioners from Taiwan and overseas assembled at Taipei’s Liberty Square on the morning of Oct. 17 to form an impressive display. The giant blooming lotus and the characters “Dafa” stood out in the sunlight.
The large-scale formation activity was held on the eve of Taiwan’s Falun Dafa cultivation experience-sharing conference. This year’s theme was “Dafa Spreads Far and Wide; the Lotus Blossoms in Fulfillment,” reflecting practitioners’ commitment to their beliefs while facing difficult trials.
Tourists from different countries stopped to watch. Some expressed admiration for the impressive sight of thousands of people arranged in precise formation, while others said the event prompted them to learn more about Falun Gong and the persecution its practitioners face in mainland China.
Hsiao Sung-shan: Peacefully and rationally clarifying the facts to defend freedom of belief
Professor Hsiao Sung-shan, president of the Taiwan Falun Dafa Association, said Falun Dafa was introduced to the public in 1992 and has spread around the world over the past 34 years. The large-scale formation events held each year not only demonstrate practitioners’ firm belief in the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, but also aim to help more people learn about Falun Dafa.
He said the CCP began its persecution of Falun Gong in 1999 and has continued it to this day. In recent years, the campaign has also expanded overseas, with the CCP launching transnational public-opinion and legal campaigns targeting Falun Gong and the Shen Yun Performing Arts company. In the face of persecution, practitioners have consistently sought to clarify the facts through peaceful and rational means.
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Hsiao said that of Taiwan’s 22 county- and city-level councils, 17 have passed related motions supporting the screening of State Organs and the safety of Shen Yun performances, while urging the government to strengthen the legal framework against transnational repression.
He expressed hope that peaceful activities such as the formation event, along with continued efforts to clarify the facts, would help more people understand Falun Gong and encourage society to pay greater attention to freedom of belief and fundamental human rights.
Giant formation conveys a message of unwavering faith
Wu Ching-hsiang, who was responsible for designing this year’s formation, said it featured the Chinese characters “Dafa” in clerical script, a lotus flower, and 38 rays of light. He explained that the lotus, which “emerges from the mud unstained,” symbolizes practitioners’ resolve to uphold their faith and persevere in their cultivation amid hardships and trials. The phrase “The Fruit Is Perfected and the Lotus Blooms” comes from a poem in Hong Yin II by Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi.
Liberty Square, formerly known as Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Square, is a public plaza within the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall complex in Taipei’s Zhongzheng District. It includes a large event plaza and an arts and cultural performance center. Covering approximately 250,000 square meters, the complex features Zhongzheng Park, a ceremonial gate, a memorial avenue, and the National Theater and Concert Hall. The name Liberty Square derives from the inscription on its main gate.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall commemorates Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975), whose courtesy name was Chieh-shih. In December 2007, the Chen Shui-bian administration implemented its de-Chiang campaign, renaming the gate bearing the inscription “Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness” as “Liberty Square” and changing the name of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to “National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall.”
The four characters in “Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness” convey the ideas of breadth, impartiality, the highest degree, and justice or orthodoxy. Their philosophical roots can be traced to the I Ching (Book of Changes).
Whether the venue is referred to by its former name, “Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness,” or its current name, “Liberty Square,” holding large-scale events there offers an opportunity to showcase Falun Gong practitioners and highlight the stark contrast between the attitudes toward this Buddhist cultivation practice in Taiwan and mainland China. It also provides a platform to speak out on behalf of Falun Gong practitioners in mainland China who face persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Careful planning and seamless coordination ensure smooth formation by more than 4,000 practitioners
Organizing more than 4,000 practitioners to form a complete image within a limited time requires not only careful design but also advance planning, on-site measurements and coordination. Huang Chun-mei, vice chairwoman of the Taiwan Falun Dafa Association, has been responsible for planning the formations and directing activities on site for many years.
She said this year’s entry process and formation arrangements went more smoothly than in previous years. Taiwan’s annual formation events are regarded by practitioners as sacred and extraordinary occasions, offering the public a glimpse of the peaceful yet steadfast spirit of Falun Gong practitioners.
Foreign tourist impressed by Falun Gong practitioners’ perseverance
Eduardo, a marketing professional from Mexico, was traveling in Asia. He had arrived in Taiwan from Japan just a few days earlier. On his first day in Taiwan, Falun Gong practitioners handed him a flyer and told him about the large-scale formation event scheduled to take place at Liberty Square that day. After visiting Shifen to release sky lanterns and Jiufen to enjoy the scenery, Eduardo made a special trip to watch the event before leaving Taiwan.
He was amazed by the formation. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. So many people coming together to form this image, and these colors are so vivid. It’s truly astonishing,” he said.
After learning about the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong, Eduardo said he was saddened. He expressed admiration for practitioners who continued their spiritual practice despite the persecution.
“They should keep their will strong and carry on. I believe what they’re showing here is something wonderful, because it’s not easy to do this, and it’s beautiful,” he said.
Taiwanese residents: Falun Dafa is a righteous spiritual practice
Mr. Hsiao, who is from Changhua, has accompanied his wife to the annual formation event each year because she has practiced Falun Gong for more than a decade. He also records the spectacular scenes. Seeing thousands of practitioners form a lotus flower and the characters for “Dafa” under the scorching sun, he said he was deeply moved.
Mr. Hsiao said he agreed with his wife’s cultivation of Falun Gong according to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. He considers Falun Dafa a righteous spiritual practice and strongly supports his wife’s decision to practice. He believes people should have faith in the divine, hold spiritual beliefs and strive to be good people.
He also noted the contrast between practitioners’ ability to hold large-scale formation events every year in free and democratic Taiwan and the Chinese Communist Party’s suppression and persecution of this peaceful group across the Taiwan Strait. He believes that evil cannot prevail over righteousness and that time will prove the truth.
A police officer surnamed Lin, who was dressed in plain clothes, was also moved by the atmosphere. He said the practitioners endured the scorching sun and worked hard to complete the formation, yet the entire event remained peaceful and uplifting. This left him with an impression of Falun Gong as an upright and peaceful practice.
Reflecting on the persecution, which has continued for 27 years, Lin said bluntly, “The persecution has gone on for far too long. It makes no sense!” He also expressed admiration for practitioners who have remained steadfast in their faith. He believes people should have faith because it provides a moral foundation and helps them exercise self-restraint, ultimately benefiting society.
Mr. Chen, a mechanical engineer from Guishan District in Taoyuan, visited Liberty Square to attend a training program. He said it was the first time he had seen so many Falun Gong practitioners taking part in a formation event and that he was curious about it.
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