This article was first published in November 2011.

(Minghui.org) Shortly after the persecution of Falun Gong began in July 1999, the Chinese Communist Party under the direction of then-head Jiang Zemin, blasted China's state-run media with a litany of propaganda. Among the most damaging pieces to Falun Gong's reputation was the so-called “1,400 death cases”-- a claim that the practice of Falun Gong had led to the death of 1,400 people. A close look at the evidence not only reveals how bogus the charge was, but some of the CCP's own statistics actually support Falun Gong's incredible health benefits. This article is a collection of different points that exposes this lie by the CCP.

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Introduction

Falun Gong is a high-level Buddha Law cultivation practice introduced to the public in May 1992, by its founder Mr. Li Hongzhi. Mr. Li taught the exercises and principles of Falun Gong throughout China, teaching people to adhere to the principles of Zhen-Shan-Ren (Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance). The number of practitioners increased rapidly all over China as word spread about Falun Gong's effects on healing illness and keeping fit. In 1998, the State Sports Bureau conducted five health surveys that were given to around 35,000 Falun Gong practitioners in the cities of Beijing, Wuhan, Dalian and in Guangdong province. The results showed that over 98% of the people practicing Falun Gong gained benefits to their health from the practice. The group concluded “Falun Gong has hundreds of benefits for the Chinese people and nation, and does not a bit of harm. ”

The following “Falun Gong Health Effect in Beijing 10,000 Cases Survey Report,” showed the change in people's health before and after practicing Falun Gong:

There were many positive media reports about Falun Gong before 1999. Medicine and Health published an article entitled “To Cure Illness and Keep Fit, Falun Gong is the Best” on December 24, 1997. After the State Sports Bureau survey was done in Changchun City on May 15, 1998, CCTV reported how people practicing Falun Gong were very healthy. The China Economy Times newspaper reported on Xie Xiufen, a housewife, from Handan City, Hebei Province on July 19, 1998. She regained the ability to walk after being paralyzed for 16 years. The article was titled “I Stood Up!”

During the opening ceremony of the Chinese Traditional Health Activity Week at the Asia Sports Festival held in Shenyang City, on August 28, 1998, China Youth newspaper reported that many Falun Gong practitioners had been cured of severe diseases. Yangcheng Evening News (in Guangzhou City) published “Old and Young Practicing Falun Gong” on November 10, 1998. The Shenxing Times (in Shenzhen City) published “Brief Introduction to Falun Gong”, and supplementary articles occupied an entire page on December 31, 1998. The titles of these articles were “Falun Gong Is Hot in Shenzhen, with Three Thousand Devoted Practitioners”, “Group Practice Site on Campus, Professors and Students Take Initiative to Do Exercises”, and “Falun Gong Very Effective in Curing Illnesses and Keeping Fit, Benefiting Countless Patients.” Seven photos accompanied the articles.

China Youth newspaper, August 28, 1998

Medicine and Health newspaper, December 4, 1997

Once the persecution started in July 1999, the state-controlled media aired photos of bloody corpses, blamed Falun Gong for causing over 1,400 deaths, and people throughout the nation were horrified. Many citizens who did not know the truth became hostile toward Falun Gong practitioners. Why was there not a single death case before the persecution started? Why were there no other death cases reported from other countries where Falun Gong was practiced?

The following are some of the cases that were included as part of the “1,400 deaths”, which clearly expose the propaganda of the CCP.

I. Mental Patients Used to Slander Falun Gong

Based on the 1998 statistical data from the China Public Health Ministry, 5% of the population of China was mental patients, totaling around 65,000,000 people. 70% of these mental patients were severely disabled. Around 400,000 severely disabled patients could not take care of themselves. It is well-known that mental patients can have a relapse of their mental disorder. Many of the “1,400 death cases” were mental patients. However, the Falun Gong teachings clearly state that people who are severely ill, and mental patients, are not allowed to practice Falun Gong. The practice also clearly states that killing, including suicide, is sinful.

● Case #1: Wang Anshou

Wang Anshou, a worker from the Taishan Machinery Factory in Xingtai City, Shandong Province killed his parents with a spade when he experienced a relapse of a mental disorder. The Xingtai City People's Court civil case verdict given November 10, 1999 states, "It is the court's observation that the defendant suffered from a mental disorder before he got married and had tried to hide the fact. After getting married, the defendant had recurrences of mental illness many times and he had problems for a long time trying to cure his mental disorder. The defendant killed his parents with a spade when his mental illness relapsed..." “The defendant's wife's firm request for a divorce is supported by the court.” The CCP blamed Wang's killing spree on his practicing Falun Gong, despite the fact that the court verdict says nothing about him practicing Falun Gong, and that he had a mental disorder since 1988.

Full report: “Why Did Wang Anshou Kill His Parents? Court Ruling Contradicts Jiang Group's Attempt to Blame Falun Gong”: http://clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2004/4/24/47354.html

● Case #2: Wu Honghui

Wu Honghui used to be an employee at the Shuangcheng City Public Health and Disease Prevention Station in Heilongjiang Province. He went insane more than 20 years ago when he was forced by his parents to break up with his girlfriend. He was unable to continue working when his condition worsened. He came in contact with Falun Gong, but his friends and family confirmed that he was not a practitioner due to his mental problem. He jumped off a building in 1996 and committed suicide. His wife pointed out that he had a history of mental illness. She wrote to the Shuangcheng City government to clarify that the reason he committed suicide was due to a relapse of his mental illness.

Full report (Chinese only): http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2001/8/31/15695.html

● Case #3: Wang Chengxiang

Wang Chengxiang, in his 60s, was a retired employee of the Handian Town Grain Storage in Shuangcheng. His family had a history of mental illness-- his mother jumped into a well and his uncle hung himself. Thirteen people in his family died abnormally. In 1998, Wang's son landed an apartment on the sixth floor of the family housing at the Grain Storage facility. The son tried to persuade Mr. Wang to move in with his family. Mr. Wang thought that the sixth floor was too high, and he preferred his three-year-old brick house and was reluctant to sell it. He told his son, “I won't move to your apartment, I might jump off that building.” Later he did moved in with his son, but he was never happy there. He was experiencing mental problems and tried to commit suicide.

His family was very worried about him. His wife tried to get him to practice Falun Gong in hopes that it would reduce his stress. He never read any Falun Gong books; and only did some of the exercises. On the second day after Chinese New Year in 1999 (February 17, 1999), he committed suicide by jumping off the building. The employees at the Grain Storage said that they knew his suicide wasn't from practicing Falun Gong, as CCP media had stated.

Full report (Chinese only): http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2001/8/31/15695.html

● Case #4: Yu Suzhao

During the Cultural Revolution [a communist political movement from 1966-1976 which denounced traditional values and culture], Yu Suzhao was hospitalized at Fangcun Mental Hospital in Guangzhou for several months due to mental illness. In 1995, she hid her illness history from Falun Gong practitioners and began to practice Falun Gong. In early 1998, Yu Suzhao's mental illness recurred, and her family took her to the mental hospital. At the time, practitioners suggested that she stop practicing. She agreed and returned all her Falun Gong books and tapes, and no longer practiced Falun Gong. Later she was released from the mental hospital, and six months later she relapsed, and fell from a building and died. The CCP claimed that Falun Gong caused her death, despite the fact that she had had mental illness for over 20 years.

● Case #5: Long Gang

Long Gang lived in Shuangshi Town, Yongchuan District, Chongqing City. He committed suicide by jumping into a river. After he died, a journalist named Du interviewed his wife. She was paid 200 yuan to read a slanderous statement saying that Falun Gong had caused his death. His parents wrote to the Minghui website, “As the parents, we would clearly know whether or not our son had a mental problem, and he did have a mental problem. Our son was having a psychotic episode the day he jumped into the river, and it had nothing to do with Falun Gong. As his parents, we must reveal the truth, and cannot go against our consciences.”

Full Statement by Long Gang's Mother: “Exposing the Truth of the "1,400 Death Cases": My Son's Death Has Nothing To Do With Falun Gong”: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/1/20/17934.html

● Case #6: Zhu Changjiu

Zhu Changjiu lived in Zhanggezhuang Village, Qingda Township, Renqiu City, Hebei Province. He was declared insane in 1997. His wife, Bian Lixin, said he was often muddleheaded and his behavior was erratic. His condition improved at the beginning of 1999. After the persecution started in July 1999, his father burned all his Falun Gong books. Village administrators and local police talked to him daily, putting him under a lot of mental pressure. His mental disorder recurred. On November 25, 1999, he was seen naked, laughing, and having gone insane. He killed his parents the next morning with a hammer. CCP media blamed it on Falun Gong, and concealed the fact that he had been suffering from mental disorder for years.

Full report (Chinese only): http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2000/6/22/1714.html

● Case #7: Ma Jianmin

Ma Jianmin was an employee of Huabei Oilfield in Renqiu City, Hebei Province. Ma, and others in his family, had a history of mental disorder. He practiced many kinds of qigong. When Falun Gong was introduced to people at Huabei Oilfield, he also tried out the Falun Gong exercises.

One day, Ma Jianmin was home alone. His family found him dead in the bathroom with his belly cut open, and called the police. Later, CCTV (CCP state-run media) came to do a news report in his home. One of Ma Jianmin's sons repeatedly declared that Ma Jianmin's death had nothing to do with Falun Gong, and he refused to have anything to do with the report. CCTV, however, ignored the fact that he had mental disorder and produced the fraudulent story, "Belly cut open to look for a law wheel."

Among the "1,400 deaths”, this particular case incited a lot of hatred towards Falun Gong, because the public was misled in believing that Falun Gong practitioners would "cut open one's own stomach to look for the Falun".

Related article: “How the Chinese Communist Party Spreads Lies in Order to Persecute Falun Gong”: http://clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2005/4/21/59903.html

● Case #8: Liu Pinqing

On the afternoon of July 22, 1999, CCTV broadcast the CCP's order to ban Falun Gong. The program featured a man named Liu Pinqing, who used to be the head of a farm machinery business in Gushan Town, Donggang City, Liaoning Province. The announcer said during the program that Liu Pinqing committed suicide by throwing himself into a well after he "practiced" Falun Gong. According to people in the know in his local area, Liu Pinqing had lost more than 100,000 yuan in his business. In addition, he and his wife had been on very bad terms and as a result had been separated for a long time. Under such circumstances, Liu suffered severe mental torment. At that time someone introduced Falun Gong to him. He read the book, but he never took up the practice. According to the local people who knew him well, he was not a Falun Gong practitioner at all. Mr. Liu developed a mental disorder because of the extremely adverse circumstances his family suffered, and that was the real reason he committed suicide.

II. Natural Deaths used to Slander Falun Gong

According to the China Statistical Yearbook, the average death rate in 1998 was 0.0065% or 65 deaths out of 10,000 people. Many of the cases included in the “1,400 deaths” were natural deaths. Some of the people may have practiced Falun Gong, but the true cause of death was illness. The following is what the families had to say about the death of their family members.

● Case #1: Ma Jinxiu

According to Ma's daughter, “Before she began practicing Falun Gong, my mom was critically ill. As far back as when I was in high school, she had begged relatives to take care of my two sisters and me in case she died. She had suffered from advanced diabetes for over 10 years and had suffered a major stroke in 1994, and another one in 1995. In 1996, she began to practice Falun Gong on her own, and her health greatly improved. She no longer needed to take any medication. As she continued to practice the Falun Gong exercises, read the Falun Gong books, and tried to improve her moral character, she began to feel better than she had for years. Her deformed face actually returned to its normal state!

“In the middle of 1997, my mom began to experience discomfort in her body and so we took her to the hospital that same day. They told us she was critically ill and might die soon. She remained hospitalized and died several months later. Her doctors said she died from a brain aneurysm.

“Later on I heard that Jiang and the "610 Office" had come up with “1,400 death cases” where people had supposedly died from practicing Falun Gong, in which my mom's case was included. My mom had clearly died from a brain aneurysm. While she was hospitalized, she received a great deal of medical attention and she took all the medications that her doctors prescribed and she also received many injections, but unfortunately she still passed away. So why didn't they say that she died as a result of the treatment that she underwent in the hospital? How could the authorities say that my mom died from practicing Falun Gong just because she had practiced Falun Gong at one time?

Related article: “1,400 Deaths or Party Propaganda?”: http://clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2011/10/1/128695.html

● Case #2: Li Fengxiang

Li Fengxiang lived in Wuchang City, Heilongjiang Province, and was an employee at the Life Stock Medicine Factory. She was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer in the spring of 1998, when the tumor began to fester. Her younger sister had practiced Falun Gong since 1996, and all her sicknesses disappeared. She went to persuade Ms. Li Fengxiang to also practice Falun Gong. Ms. Li Fengxiang started to practice, and her condition improved, but she died in June 1999. Her husband made a false statement while under a great amount of pressure. Her sister wrote to the Minghui website and stated “if she had not practice Falun Gong, her sister might not have lived until through 1998.”

Full report (Chinese only): http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2004/10/3/85686.html

● Case #3: Chen Yuping

Chen Yuping, was a thirty-four-year-old teacher from the Huangzhou District Dongmen School, Huanggang City, Hubei Province. In March 1998, doctors diagnosed him with liver cancer three times, and he was told that he didn't have much time left to live. He had never practiced Falun Gong before his illness. His wife urged him to practice Falun Gong, without considering that seriously ill people should not attend Falun Gong lectures. Chen Yuping joined a practice group for the sole purpose of having his illness healed. He died three months later, as the doctors had expected.

Full article: “See The Truth behind One of the So-Called 1,400 Death Cases: The Story of Chen Yuping”: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2001/4/27/9094.html

● Case #4: Wang Ku

Wang Ku, a government employee, once had type B hepatitis. It was diagnosed in 1984, and he died in 1998 due to cirrhosis of the liver. Apparently, there was nothing unusual about this case; however, the CCP listed him as one of the “1,400 deaths”. His wife stated, “The death of my husband was published in the newspaper to attack Falun Gong. My husband died of liver disease, and it had nothing to do with Falun Gong because he never practiced it.”

Full article: “My Husband Never Practiced Falun Gong, but He Was Listed As One of the 1,400 Examples”: http://clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2001/6/19/11552.html

III. Forcing People to Slander Falun Gong

Once Jiang's regime assigned the task of persecuting and slandering Falun Gong to high-level CCP officials, many of them tried very hard to fabricate news in order to advance their position in the CCP's political climate. Suddenly, police promised to reduce prison terms if detained criminals slandered Falun Gong. Hospital authorities promised to reduce medical fees if patients slandered Falun Gong. Some people even posed as practitioners to make an unfavorable impression on TV or for the news media.

● Murderer Blames Falun Gong, Escapes the Death Penalty

In 2000, the Panjin City TV Station in Liaoning Province reported about "a murdered mother, Wei." The report said that this elderly lady had made a living through picking up scraps from refuse heaps. Her unemployed daughter spent her time idling about playing Mahjong in Haicheng City. Whenever the daughter was broke she would ask her mother for money. One night, when the lady had no money to give her daughter, the daughter killed her.

Later, people from the Public Security Bureau told the daughter, "You should say that you practice Falun Gong -- if you blame everything on Falun Gong we will waive the death penalty." The local residents knew that she didn't practice Falun Gong, but the authorities intimidated them into silence.

● “Hunchback” Zhang Haiqing Promised 50 Percent Off His Medical Bill by CCTV

Zhang Haiqing, a disabled man who suffered from a hunchback, led a very difficult life. He had a seal-engraving shop in Panjin City, Liaoning Province, and lived in the countryside. One day, Zhang went to Beijing's Xiehe Hospital seeking treatment for his inflamed vertebrae. His wife tells the following story:

When the couple arrived at the hospital, there was a very long line at the registration window. While they were waiting, a reporter from CCTV walked in and told the people there, “Anyone who is willing to appear on CCTV to slander Falun Gong will get to register first and will also receive a 50% discount on their medical fees.” Since Zhang Haiqing was very anxious to get an appointment, he repeated the TV reporter's words slandering Falun Gong, and claimed that practicing Falun Gong made him become a hunchback. He did get to register first, but he never received the discount that the CCTV promised. His wife said that CCTV had lied, and the local people all know that Zhang had never practiced Falun Gong.

Related article: “Officials Fabricate Charges Against Falun Gong Practitioners in Panjin City, Liaoning Province”: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/12/4/29349.html

● Li Shuxian Puts on an Act before Her Death

This incident happened in Cuijiatun Village, Xinhua Township of the Acheng District, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province. Li Shuxian, a female farmer, moved to Daling Township in Acheng District after she married. In July 1999, she was taken to the No .4 Hospital of Harbin City to have her gastric ulcer treated. At that time, Ms. Li's family was very poor and couldn't pay her medical bills. The head of the hospital told the family that if they said Li Shuxian got the disease from practicing Falun Gong, the hospital would not charge them for her medical treatment and would also take good care of her while she was in the hospital. Lured by the offer, they agreed to the deal.

Soon, a reporter from Harbin's New Evening Press arrived at the hospital to interview Li Shuxian's husband. The reporter coached him, and told him to repeatedly practice saying the pre-written story; “My wife got the disease from practicing Falun Gong. She became so thin because she refused to eat when practicing 'Bigu' (fasting). Now she has developed a gastric ulcer, and we don't have money to pay the medical bill.”

These were all lies: Li Shuxian had never practiced Falun Gong and Falun Gong does not practice “Bigu.” When the reporter was satisfied with Li's husband's performance, he conducted a video interview. Thus, a story was created to frame Falun Gong and deceive people.

Before July 30, 1999, the Harbin New Evening Press published this story accompanied by a photo of Li's mother holding her. The title of the report was, “Becoming a Living Skeleton through Practicing Falun Gong.” In the article, Li Shuxian said, “It's the communist party that saved me. It's the news reporter who saved me.” Authorities in Xinhua Township and the Acheng District government read the article in the newspaper and started to investigate the case. Li Shuxian's sixth aunt, Zhang Xiuli, was taken to the township police station and interrogated by a local policeman, Hou Guofu. Hou asked, “Did you teach Li Shuxian to practice Falun Gong?” Zhang Xiuli said, “No, I never taught her any Falun Gong.” She also submitted a written statement. Further investigation proved that Li Shuxian never practiced Falun Gong.

However, after the hospital's “special treatment,” Li Shuxian's disease became worse, and she went into convulsions many times. At last, the hospital forcibly kicked her out and she had to go home. Li Shuxian died shortly after; however, the fabricated story was widely reported by news media, such as Harbin TV, Heilongjiang TV, and CCTV's “Millions of Families” program. Later she was listed as one of the “1,400 death cases” In a brainwashing center run by the Acheng District, they tried to play the video clip to Falun Gong practitioners. The practitioners told them, “This happened locally, and we all know that it's a lie to deceive people. You know this too. Don't bother to show us!” Soon the staff stopped playing the tape.

Full article: “Perspectives on the “1400 Fabricated Death Cases”-- Li Shuxian Put on an Act before Her Death” http://www.clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2011/9/24/128309.html

● How CCTV Used the Death of a Mentally Ill Woman to Slander Falun Dafa

Du Weiping, 22, was a former resident of Dadianzi Town, Tieling City, and suffered from mental illness. Although Du went to see many doctors, including shamans, her mental afflictions remained. Her parents also took her to a Christian church, hoping that her condition would improve; however, that also did not provide any relief. After all other possible remedies failed to cure Du's psychosis; her parents encouraged Du to learn Falun Gong. Du practiced Falun Gong for about two months, and her condition improved significantly.

Du stopped practicing even before she had learned all of the exercises. Less than one year after she stopped practicing, her mental illness reoccurred. Du's parents again took her to see many alternative healers, but her situation continued to worsen. The last healer they found asked to be alone with Du in a room for three days. The healer requested that nobody be allowed to approach them. Unexpectedly, before the three days had passed, Du died in August 1999.

When the local police learned about Du's death, along with a TV reporting team, they rushed over to Du's house. Li Weimin, the deputy chief of the police station in Tieling City, and Cui Daxin, the director of the Tieling TV station, talked to Du's family. They threatened and cajoled Du's parents to lie. They were coerced to say that Du died from practicing Falun Gong. Du's parents were promised that if they lied during the televised interview, they would be rewarded with 5,000 yuan. Later on, Du's parents went to the Tieling TV station to ask for their payment. However, their request was denied. A Tieling TV manager refused to pay the money, arguing, "You were on TV. I haven't charged you, and yet you come to ask for money?"

Full article: “How CCTV Used the Death of a Mentally Ill Woman to Slander Falun Dafa” http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/9/17/26610.html

● Father Brutally Beaten into Blaming Falun Gong for His Daughter's Death

Mr. Shi Zengshan lives in Taoxu Town, Mengyin County, Shandong Province. His daughter died of illness. From a young age, she suffered from various diseases. Once was in a coma for over two hours at the age of two. She contracted rheumatic arthritis in 1995. In the winter of 1996, she started to practice Falun Gong with other members of her family, and her health at once became much better. In the spring of 1999, she stopped practicing Falun Gong. After that, her previous conditions recurred and she was in the hospital several times. Doctors determined that she died of kidney blood vessel poisoning, and that her death had nothing to do the Falun Gong.

The Mengyin County CCP Propaganda Office compiled a statement stating that she practiced Falun Gong and was not allowed to take medicine, and died. They requested Mr. Shi cooperate and read this statement on TV. At first, Shi refused because he did not want to betray his conscience. But the town government gathered a group of thugs together and he was cruelly beaten. Mr. Shi was forced to give in and lied on TV, something he has since regretted.

Full article: “Who is Evil After All?” http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2001/3/26/5579.html

● Police Told Zhang Qinghe, Slander Falun Gong and Avoid Sentencing

Zhang Qinghe is a worker in Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province. He had many diseases and needed an eight-month supply of herbal medicine. When he could not pay for the medicine, he tried to buy the ingredients himself according to the doctor's prescription. He added two kinds of medicinal herbs himself, which cause him to become muddle headed and he could not control himself. He tried to commit suicide one day and was found by his sister and mother, who tried to stop him. He killed one and injured the other. Officers at the Aimin District Police Department repeatedly forced him to say that he practiced Falun Gong, and that this incident was the result of practicing Falun Gong. They told him if he said this, he could avoid being tried.

Full article (Chinese only): http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2000/3/9/3736.html

● “Man Hangs Himself on a Derrick,” Dies after Market Administration Bullied Him

Another example included in the “1,400 death cases” was "Man hangs himself on a derrick." CCP media stated that he hung himself due to practicing Falun Gong. Actually he was a farmer from a suburb of Jilin City, Jilin Province, and made a living by repairing bicycles. He did not do the paperwork for his small business, and his tools were taken away by the market administration. He could not bear the pressures in his life, and hung himself. All of the neighbors knew that he had never practiced Falun Gong. His family planned to sue the market administration for the pressure they caused, but in order to defame Falun Gong, the local government agreed to give them compensation if it could be claimed that he was a Falun Gong practitioner. The police deliberately displayed a photo of the founder of Falun Gong and two bottles of liquor near the corpse when they took pictures for evidence. Because they did not know that a genuine Falun Gong practitioner does not drink alcohol, the lie collapsed on itself.

Related article: “Corrupt Officials from the North China Oil Field Defame Falun Gong and Persecute Practitioners”: http://clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2005/1/28/56974.html