On December 9, 2023, the Liberty Square of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in the heart of Taiwan’s bustling capital, Taipei, was transformed into a living canvas of beauty and spirituality. 5,200 Falun Dafa practitioners gathered there for their annual image and character formation event.
The significance of the image and character formation
The annual event was a mesmerizing display of the dedication and unity of the Falun Gong community. The image and traditional Chinese characters formed at the event hold profound significance, as they feature the Falun emblem and represent the spiritual principles and teachings that guide Falun Gong practitioners on their path to inner peace and enlightenment.
Through the annual image and character formation event, practitioners aim to share the magnificence of this spiritual discipline with the world while raising awareness of the persecution of Falun Dafa in China.
The patterns of the formation
The patterns of the formation this year included the theme image of the Falun (Law Wheel) emblem (法輪圖形) along with 12 traditional Chinese characters on the top and the two sides.
The pattern of the Falun emblem is composed of a prominent Buddhist “srivatsa” symbol surrounded by four small “srivatsas” and four Taoist “taiji” symbols alternatively. The four characters on top are “旋法至極,” which translates as “The Rotating Falun Reaches All Extreme Points.” The four characters on the left are “佛法無邊,” which means “Buddha Law is Boundless.” As to the four characters on the right, “法輪常轉” they denote “Falun Rotates Constantly.”
At Liberty Square, the image of Falun was formed by 2,000 Falun Gong practitioners who dressed in yellow, white, blue, red, and black, respectively. The remaining 3,200 Falun Gong followers created the 12 traditional Chinese characters.
Participants in the image and character formation
In addition to local Falun Gong practitioners, this captivating event was attended by some Falun Gong followers from the United States, France, Poland, Argentina, Australia, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Israel, etc., some of whom are studying or working in Taiwan.
Among the foreign participants was a practitioner from Israel who has worked in Taiwan for eight years. After attending the event, she shared that such a scene is unique and unparalleled. She said it would leave an indelible mark on her memory, perhaps forever. She explained: “The beauty of the colors, the precision of the movements, the peaceful atmosphere, and the unity of the thousands of participants are mesmerizing.”
“Personally, I’ve learned a lot from this experience,” she added. “It inspires me to do better, to consider others in all I do, and to pay attention to the small details for a perfect overall picture.”
Falun Gong exercises demonstration
After the image and character formation were completed, about 5,000 participants stood in lines at the plaza to demonstrate the five sets of peaceful and gentle exercises, including standing meditation, sitting meditation, and another three sets of slow-moving exercises.
Marching band performance
Before the end of the event, the Tian Guo Marching Band, comprised of about 200 Falun Gong practitioners from all walks of life, performed 10 uplifting and inspiring songs in front of the arched gate of Liberty Square. Their magnificent performance deeply impressed many visitors.
Falun Gong
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice based on the principles of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance.” Rooted in the Buddhist tradition, this spiritual practice consists of two main components: self-improvement through studying the teachings and practicing the five sets of gentle exercises, including meditation.
Since its introduction to the public by its founder Li Hongzhi in China in 1992, the practice has surged in popularity, with an estimated 70 million to 100 million adherents in the country in a short span of about 10 years.
However, it was outlawed by the Chinese Communist regime in 1999 due to its massive popularity and rapid growth, outnumbering CCP members. Since then, thousands of practitioners have been tortured to death or killed from organ harvesting, and tens of thousands of others have been detained without due process in prisons and labor camps.
Despite the adversity, Falun Gong practitioners have peacefully advocated for their spiritual freedom and human rights through events like the annual image and character formation.
The visual spectacle, coupled with the demonstration of the Falun Gong exercises and the enchanting performances by the Tian Guo Marching Band, creates an atmosphere of peace and celebration. As Falun Gong followers continue to face challenges, this event is a resilient expression of their commitment to spiritual principles, artistic expression, and the pursuit of peace.
