Falun Gong presents itself as a modern spiritual path that draws on Buddhism, Taoism, and qigong, yet reconfigures them into a distinct framework. At its heart are the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance (Zhen, Shan, Ren), understood as the highest law of the universe and the core of moral cultivation. This emphasis on a concise triad of virtues, articulated primarily through the writings and lectures of its founder, Li Hongzhi, sets it apart from the extensive scriptural canons and diverse schools of classical traditions. Rather than relying on ancient sutras or Taoist classics, Falun Gong’s doctrine is almost entirely grounded in these modern texts, which provide both ethical guidance and a comprehensive cosmological outlook.

When set alongside Buddhism, the differences become particularly clear. Buddhism is structured around teachings such as the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, and it has developed monastic institutions, formal ordination, and a hierarchical sangha over centuries. Falun Gong, by contrast, has no clergy, temples, or formal membership; its practice is largely non-institutional, centered on individual study of Li Hongzhi’s writings and the performance of specific exercises. While Buddhism often highlights non-self and the cessation of suffering as the goal, Falun Gong speaks instead of cultivating “gong,” transforming karma, and elevating moral character, with the aim of spiritual elevation within a layered universe of multiple realms and beings.

In relation to Taoism, Falun Gong shares a vocabulary of cultivation and references to harmony with the universe, yet it orients that language toward a more explicit and standardized moral law. Taoism traditionally emphasizes alignment with the Dao, naturalness, and non-action (wu wei), often allowing for a flexible, adaptive approach to life and practice, including ritual, internal alchemy, and a pantheon of deities and immortals. Falun Gong does not incorporate such ritual systems, talismans, or deity worship, and it does not present itself through the same fluid, open-ended philosophical style. Instead, it offers a more prescriptive body of teachings, portraying Zhen–Shan–Ren as the central expression of the cosmic law and elaborating a detailed narrative of cosmic history and the rectification of the Fa.

Compared with the broader field of qigong, Falun Gong again occupies a distinctive position. Many qigong systems are primarily concerned with health, relaxation, and the regulation of qi, often remaining relatively technical and limited in scope, with exercises and breathing methods presented as wellness practices. Falun Gong does include five standardized exercises—four standing and one seated meditation—but it consistently frames these as secondary to inner moral transformation. The practice is meant to work on multiple levels of existence, offering not just physical or energetic benefits but a path of spiritual cultivation supported by a comprehensive worldview. Reading the core texts and refining one’s character are thus treated as inseparable from the physical discipline, giving Falun Gong a breadth and unity that go beyond what is typically found in ordinary qigong schools.