Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party

I came across this DVD set, The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, in the public library. Anonymous distributor, no credits, no information about the production except the titles of the 9 episodes included in the set.

I watched the first episode of the series. At first, it looked like one of those legitimate mainland Chinese TV program. Within minutes, it was very clear where the program was going. I then had doubt that it was an official documentary. It expained why there were no contact information on the DVDs.

My curious mind urged me to find out more on this title. I did my research, and discovered these videos are tied to Epoch Times. And Epoch Times is linked to the notorious Falun Gong. Furthermore, Nine commentaries was originally published as a book and was translated into many languages.

Mainland Chinese government declared Falun Gong illegal in 1999. I didn't see how a set of slow meditative exercises could be theatening the society at that time. There were a series of arrest, crackdown and human vaporization followed. The TV program radically criticized the ruling of the Chinese government. There were only negative analysis. I questioned the neutrality and integrity of the contents. It accused the communist government as an evil cult, made me wonder if it was just a revenge on what the government declared Falun Gong previously.

It was unclear on the true intention of original Falun Gong society, but it is definitely against the ruling of the Chinese communist party now.

Li Hongzhi, the founder of the Falun Gong religious movement, liked any other cult leader, was a mystery (or a question mark ?). Reading interview articles on him was like watching Rashomon. His speech was not consistent, not to say convincing. Maybe I only have regular persons intelligent and cannot really look up to specially gifted person, I was alienated by his literally alien talks.

In 2005, someone tapped into the Jinan public TV channels and boardcast the Nine Commentaries for over 10 minutes! Sounded like one of the scenes from V for Vendetta.

Time Asia interview
BBC
The nine commentaries site
Jinan
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