Summary of the July 3, 2025 Large-Scale Crackdown on Lifechanyuan

jiejing

Summary of the July 3, 2025 Large-Scale Crackdown

on Lifechanyuan Members by the Chinese Government

Jiaoe Celestial

July 5, 2025

I. Overview of the Incident
On the morning of July 3, 2025, the Chinese government launched a surprise large-scale crackdown on the group known as Lifechanyuan. According to reports from multiple “Chanyuan Celestial” members, the operation was centrally coordinated by the Ministry of Public Security, characterized by a wide geographical scope, tight scheduling, and strict organization.

II. Main Methods and Characteristics
1. Detainment and Interrogation of Individuals:
Many members were taken from their homes, workplaces, or rental apartments and brought to local police stations or district offices for questioning. Several were detained in the early morning hours without the presentation of proper legal documents. Phones and computers were confiscated, and in some cases, individuals were handcuffed or had their freedom restricted for several hours to an entire day.

2. Forced Ideological Examination:
Public security authorities demanded that most individuals sign the following documents:
Guarantee Letter: A pledge to cease all involvement with Lifechanyuan activities.
Confession Letter: An admission of having participated in “wrongful behavior.”
Criticism Letter: A written statement aligning with the state’s position, denouncing Lifechanyuan as an “illegal/evil cult organization.”

3. Intimidation and Threats:
Those who refused to sign were warned that it could affect their children’s educational opportunities or family members' employment. They were threatened with legal consequences as members of an “illegal organization” and explicitly told to cease all online or offline Lifechanyuan-related activities.

4. Online Suppression and Control:
Authorities demanded that members withdraw from Lifechanyuan's intranet and delete their accounts. Individuals were asked to hand over passwords to relevant platforms, and the dissemination of related content was blocked. Members were also instructed to delete any content on WeChat or TikTok (Douyin) that included keywords such as “Lifechanyuan” or “Xuefeng.”

III. Selected Case Excerpts

Huibao Celestial: In a state of emotional distress, she self-harmed. She was restrained by several people and taken away, slapped in the face, and had her phone confiscated.

Ruling Celestial: Taken from home by police at 5 a.m. and placed under constant surveillance—followed even to the restroom.

Dingnan Celestial: Handcuffed and interrogated for an entire day. Questioning involved sensitive topics such as the internal structure of Lifechanyuan, F Coins, and nude photographs.

Jianyue Celestial: Home was searched by police. He challenged the legality of the search and engaged in intense confrontation with the officers.

Zhixiu Celestial: Refused to sign documents labeling Lifechanyuan as an "evil cult." Despite refusing to sign, she was still subjected to threats.

On July 3, 2025, Chenxi Celestial and Zhengxin Celestial were arrested in Shenzhen by police from Henan Province. Chenxi Celestial has since been transported and detained in Henan. Zhengxin Celestial remains missing to this day.

On the same day, Zhehui Celestial, the Director-General, along with all the brothers and sisters from Huaguoshan, were also taken away by police. Their whereabouts remain unknown, and their safety or survival status is currently uncertain.

IV. Affected Individuals – Summary Statistics
Number of members detained or formally summoned by police: At least 80 Celestials.
Number of individuals required to sign documents, leave fingerprints, or submit written statements: Over 100 people.
Known cases of confiscated electronic devices (phones/computers): At least 15 individuals.
Involved police and administrative departments: Ministry of Public Security, local police stations, village committees, district offices, street administration offices, etc.
Special circumstances: Children or uninvolved family members of Celestials were also impacted in some cases. In many regions, phone tracking and geolocation were used to enforce semi-lockdown style investigations.

V. Partial List of Celestials Subjected to the Crackdown on July 3, 2025

1. Lexian Celestial
2. Zhaocang Celestial
3. Dantong Celestial
4. Qianmo Celestial
5. Huafan Celestial
6. Zhuohui Celestial
7. Jiaohong Celestial
8. Baojuan Celestial
9. Shenxian Celestial
10. Yajun Celestial
11. Zixia Celestial
12. Canghai Celestial
13. Beina Celestial
14. Renzu Celestial
15. Ruling Celestial
16. Huiguang Celestial
17. Hengde Celestial
18. Shengong Celestial
19. Qionghuang Celestial
20. Cien Celestial
21. Miaoyin Celestial
22. Shengzhi Celestial
23. Tianxian Celestial
24. Kaisheng (taken from Zhejiang back to Linzhou)
25. Guobao Celestial
26. Xizhuo Celestial (asked to return home by police phone at the train station)
27. Jinshi Celestial
28. Zhixiu Celestial
29. Rusheng Celestial
30. Yuanzhou Celestial
31. Huibao Celestial
32. Jianyue Celestial
33. Lianxin Celestial
34. Wangu Celestial
35. Cangmang Celestial
36. Danrui Celestial
37. Shuyou Celestial
38. Haiyun Celestial
39. Jiazhao Celestial
40. Yiling Celestial
41. Dingnan Celestial
42. Jiaoxian Celestial
43. Gushi Celestial
44. Yuyue Celestial
45. Yuanhang Celestial
46. Nanshan Celestial
47. Yuanzhi Celestial
48. Fujun Celestial
49. Tianxin Celestial
50. Runhe Celestial
51. Shanbao Celestial
52. Zhentai Celestial
53. Youchang Celestial
54. Taiqing Celestial
55. Anxiang Celestial
56. Biyao Celestial
57. Shizhen Celestial
58. Mala Celestial
59. Lingji Celestial
60. Tianjiao Celestial
61. Dalun Celestial
62. Chanding Celestial
63. Youran Celestial
64. Diyang Celestial
65. Yijing Celestial
66. Fulin Celestial
67. Ziyue Celestial
68. Yaliang Celestial
69. Peiqin Celestial
70. Wanqu Celestial
71. Daoji Celestial
72. Caiwei Celestial
73. Zhenyuan Celestial
74. Yaochi Celestial
75. Masa Celestial
76. Xiuman Celestial
77. Wuru Celestial
78. Chirou Celestial
79. Liuyu Celestial
80. Jiliu Celestial
81. Chenxi Celestial
82. All members of Huaguoshan family

VI. Feedback from Some Celestials

Dingnan Celestial:
At 6 a.m. yesterday, four police officers from Linzhou came and took me to the police station. I was handcuffed and interrogated all day. The main questions involved the organization’s structure, ideology, sexual freedom, nude photos, the disaster on July 5, F Coins, videos posted, donation money (later the transaction records were printed out), and so on. Finally, they took me to the local police station and asked my family to come for “education” and supervision, to ensure I no longer accessed the Lifechanyuan's intranet. They also took the password for the website. My computer was confiscated. Then they let me go home for now. I don’t know what will happen next. I leave everything to the Tao’s arrangement and have nothing to worry about.

Jianyue Celestial:

Yesterday:

Scene 1: The police entered my home and the first thing they did was seize my phone and demand the password. I said: “Put yourself in my shoes. Nowadays, the phone is the most personal and valuable possession. If I asked you for your password, would you give it? This should be basic common sense and a bottom line.” They are the glorious, great, and righteous People's Police—do they really have the right to seize citizens' phones? They had no choice but to give up.

Scene 2: They kept taking photos and videos. When a tall man started photographing them, they stopped. I asked, “If you are lawful and upright, why won’t you leave behind your glorious and legal image? What are you afraid of?” They had no answer. Breaking into a private residence so early in the morning!

Scene 3: First, they asked me to sign a search notification, but I saw the word “crime.” I refused to sign. They said they would search anyway. I said, “Fine! Search to your heart’s content. If you find criminal evidence, I will definitely sign.” I let them search and pulled all the books out of my bookcase—a huge pile for them to check. Most were English books. They were excited to find two books: the Party’s 100-year history and the Tunxi Centennial Chronicle. Only a few pages contained handwritten notes on the jury system. They tore those pages out.

Scene 4: The police kept changing their demands. I said, “This courtyard is so spacious, with sunlight, blue sky, and white clouds. Set up tables and chairs and put up a tent. We can drink tea and chat while exposing the ‘criminal suspects’ to the sun and light. Wouldn’t that be great?” Then I noticed two cigarette butts they had just tossed on the ground. I encouraged them to throw more—it’s a rare trip for them. It would be a shame if they didn’t leave behind their glorious heroic image.

Scene 5: After printing the interrogation record, I revised some answers line by line. I made clear that how to ask questions is the questioner's freedom; how to answer is the respondent’s freedom. We must treat each other equally and sincerely. They kept urging me several times, and I asked, “Why are you in such a hurry? You came to me; since you are here, settle down calmly.” A person with integrity does not fear suspicion. Whoever digs a pit to trap me will bear the consequences. They mumbled, “Who is questioning whom anyway?”

Huibao Celestial:
Around 5 a.m. yesterday, about 20 to 30 police officers and state security personnel came to the massage parlor. They immediately took Hengde away, then went to the courtyard and took Shengong and Qionghuang. Later, Cien was taken, and other members were taken by township leaders. They took Hengde’s phone from me. In the end, I was the only one left at the massage parlor. There was a small fruit knife on the table; I grabbed it and pressed it to my neck because they said I should leave. I said, “Where should I go? This is my home. I won’t leave. Give me my phone back.” Everyone has their turn — whether 20 or 30 people or old age or death — it doesn’t matter. Later, after some discussion and calls, after 30 to 40 minutes, they returned my phone. While giving it back, more than ten people grabbed me and tried to take the knife. The chief slapped me three times and forcibly took the knife, scratching my hand a bit, but it’s okay. They took me away, sealed the massage parlor and the courtyard, and brought me to a mountain villa hotel for questioning. Then I was asked to write three documents: a Guarantee Letter, a Criticism Letter, and a Repentance Letter, and I was fingerprinted. I thought, if you want me to write, I will write—but it’s just for appearances. Inside, I remain calm, never forgetting my original intention, my faith is even stronger. You cannot control my soul. After that, around 5 a.m., they sent me to Yuanhang’s home because I couldn’t return to the massage parlor, so I was sent back to my maternal home.

Ruling Celestial:
At around 5 a.m. on July 3, five police officers came to search my home. At first, I didn’t understand what was happening and asked them to show their police ID and search warrant. Later, they showed me documents from the Anyang Public Security Bureau in Henan. They tore down articles I had posted on my wardrobe.

They said they needed to go to the Huanghe Road police station. I was worried about delaying my patients, so I urged them to go there quickly.

They brought with them an organizational chart showing the Chief Director, Branch Directors, the Two Saints of Yin and Yang, eight Dharma Masters, and 16 Zen Maters, and questioned me one by one about them.

They held detailed records of my donations and asked how much I had donated, whether I had done any publicity, if there were any offline study sessions or training, and about promotions on Douyin (TikTok). Everything was videotaped.

Their work was fully exposed to me, and they frequently called their command center for instructions. This was a nationwide operation.

They called the command center to verify what I had said in the notes. They said they couldn’t use the name “Ruling Celestial” and had to use “True Zen Revered One” instead.

I cooperated with them. After recording my statement, they confiscated my laptop and two mobile phones.

I strongly demanded their contact information, and they gave me the landline number of the Anyang Public Security Bureau and the phone number of Officer Dou.

At first, they strictly restricted my freedom; someone followed me even to the bathroom, and my two phones were in their hands.

Phones are very important to me, so I insisted on keeping one, but they said they needed to check it back at the station.

I have a rebellious personality, so I told them even police must act according to the law.

They bought breakfast and ate with me.

After finishing, they wanted to leave me at the police station, but without my phones or money, I couldn’t go back home.

I sat there and told the officers, “You don’t keep your word. You are behaving like bullies. You promised to send me home, but now you won’t.”

They gave me a ride and sent me home along the way, discussing how to buy tickets and return to Henan.

I proactively left them the office phone number for future contact and requested the return of my two phones and laptop.

To me, it felt like they wanted to understand the nationwide situation and the details of the True Zen Master to report upwards.

They also asked about the organization’s structure, work arrangements, publicity, and offline training—essentially whether there were organized Lifechanyuan study sessions.

They asked many questions about sexual freedom, nude photos, and so forth.

I arrived home at about 1:30 p.m.

Zhixiu Celestial:
Tianxian still hadn’t gotten up this morning when more than a dozen police officers barged wildly into her bedroom and then took her away. They kept filming her as she was taken away—I don’t know what they were trying to do. This morning, I was also called to the village committee to write a guarantee letter. I did not sign any of the three documents the police brought. I told them they said Lifechanyuan is a cult, but I haven’t found anything evil in it, so I can’t say Lifechanyuan is a cult. I’m an honest person, and I speak the truth. I won’t do anything against my conscience. Because of this, I refused to sign. Then they said because of me, my children’s jobs would be affected. I asked, “Have I broken the law?” Then they changed the topic. Finally, they told me not to study anymore in the future. I agreed and wrote a guarantee letter saying I wouldn’t study anymore. Only then was I allowed to go home.

Youchang Celestial:
This morning, the village party secretary came to my house with four or five people. As soon as they entered, they said Lifechanyuan is illegal and told me to open my phone. They ordered me to quit WeChat groups like “Xuefeng Bandit Ship,” “Brothers and Sisters,” and “Awaken to the Way of the Greatest Creator.” They said it’s an illegal organization and if I continued, it would seriously affect my child’s schooling. They asked me to sign documents and give fingerprints promising not to join illegal organizations. I was very scared. This was my first time seeing them. I’m in Zhengzhou and have never contacted them before. How did they know where I lived? I think it might be because I posted the “800 Values” on Douyin, which mentioned “Xuefeng” and “the Second Home.”

Jiazhao Celestial:
Around 9 a.m. today, Jingding Celestial, Haiyun Celestial, the former Rusheng Celestial, and the former Yuanzhou Celestial, along with me, were called by 16 police officers to the team office for questioning. They asked when we joined Lifechanyuan and what our slogans were. I said our slogan is “Love nature, live in harmony with all beings, harm no life, do not oppose the government, do not engage in politics, and be lawful citizens.” Seeing that we were older, they wrote guarantee letters for us and then let us go home.


Ganquan Celestial:
Praying for the safety of all our relatives taken away by the police, praying that the Greatest Creator blesses them to return safely soon. My son is not a Celestial but works in Zhengzhou and was also taken away by the police.

Yuyue Celestial:
Reporting to our dear guide, people came from Linzhou and told me to go back, saying it would be for at most three to four days. I said I have no place to stay if I go back and asked why. They said it’s because of orders from above. After discussing with their superiors, they said I don’t have to go back if I don’t want to. They made me write three documents: a guarantee letter, a confession letter, and another I forgot the name of. Finally, they asked me to write my reflections on Lifechanyuan. I was thinking about how to write it, but they told me to copy what was given, saying Lifechanyuan is a cult that destroys society, families, and the country. From their attitude, it looked like they were just carrying out orders. At the end, they asked for a group photo, took one, and left.