Seong Ta is one of the most venerable Buddhist monks in Korea, and is the former president of Daegu Buddhism Radio Club. Currently, Seong Ta is a consultant on the Democracy and Peace Advisory Committee, and a member of the Social Integration Committee, both of which answer to the President directly. Seong Ta also sits on the board of directors at Dongguk University.
Seong Ta said of Shen Yun: “The performance was brilliant. The dance and music were excellent and inspirational.”
Seong Ta added that the unique characteristics of different Chinese culture, regions, and eras were portrayed vividly through the dances and music of Shen Yun. Colors and the backdrop were likewise outstanding. It was a performance that excels in every aspect.
One of the programs, Sand Monk is Blessed, which tells the story of how an ogre-known thereafter as Sand Monk-first got into a fight with Pigsy and Monkey King and later became a disciple of Xuanzang through the redemption by the Goddess of Mercy, brought out the deepest and most emotional inspiration from Seong Ta. “The Monkey King program is certainly a favorite. The scene in which the Sand Monk became a disciple was such an emotional blast,” he explained.
Seong Ta also related to the messages conveyed by Shen Yun, saying, “The inner dispositions of the performers were revealed to the audience in some of the scenes. All of the programs were great, bringing to people everything that has to do with a happy and peaceful future.”
The first program Descending to the World, which told the story of Gods and Goddesses coming to the earthly world with the Lord Buddha, and brought to the stage the glory of thousands of years of divinely inspired culture, made Seong Ta realize that perhaps he had understood the origin of the entire universe.
The music and the lyrics sung by the solo vocalists also were of true joy to Seong Ta, as he commented that Shen Yun is a must see performance at least once in this lifetime.
Bulguksa, located at Mt. Tomhan in Gyeongju City, is the most elegant and treasured temple in South Korea. With a history dating back 1,500 years, the temple is named on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Many of the possessions in the temple, such as the Blue Cloud Bridge, and the two seated gilt-bronze Buddha statues, are among the seven National treasures of South Korea.
‘A touching program’
Amazed by the exhilarating and exquisite performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company’s 2013 premiere in Daegu on the afternoon of April 6, Mr. Yu Jae Hui, Daegu District Governor of the Korea-China Culture Association (KCCA), took his family to attend Shen Yun’s final show in Daegu at Suseong Artpia again on April 7.
Mr. Yu said: “Shen Yun demonstrated the magnificence of the Chinese culture in various dynasties, including the era of Yao and Shun, the Spring and Autumn period, Han, Sui, Tang, Yuan and Qing, etc., in the form of brief dance dramas. The program itself is very comprehensive and majestic, which powerfully promotes the Chinese [culture]. In addition to the authentic Chinese culture, the performance also has connotations of Buddha Law. I perceived the greatness of the majestic divine paradise in the divinely inspired [Chinese] culture from the first piece Descending to the World.”
As a person who has visited many places in China, Mr. Yu praised the expanse of the Shen Yun performance. He said, “The performance displayed the universe’s all-encompassing nature, so it is indeed a touching program.”
He added, “I have had a karmic relationship with China for 20 years, and I have been to many places in China since then. I think that this show is indeed very remarkable. The program and performers are truly superb. People all over the world would have the same sentiment after seeing the show.”
It was Mr. Yu’s wife’s first time seeing Shen Yun. She expressed that Shen Yun helped her understand “where we came from and where should we go.” She explained, “The first piece Descending to the World was very impressive. I was amazed by the scene that Buddha descended to the world, and then ascended to heaven. In particular, when seeing the Buddha coming from the immense universe and descending to the earth from dimension to dimension, it was very mysterious and overwhelming.
“I was really thrilled by this program. Although I don’t know where I am from, I have known where to go. I enlightened that we should return to our original true self,” she said.
She also stressed, “Seeing the dances made me feel very comfortable and peaceful. Shen Yun liberalized my soul.”
The couple attended the performance with their daughter who has majored in violin. She said, “The synchronization between the performance on the stage and the live orchestra was seamless. The orchestra’s performance was very professional. The music varied according to the distinct sensibilities of the Chinese culture’s characteristics. The music played by the combination of the Eastern and Western musical instruments is very natural and very touching. It is indeed a soul-touching performance.”
Read the original Chinese articles. [1] [2] [3]
Reporting by Gim Gyong-A and Hsin-Yi Lin, Cho Runde and Frank Fang, Kim Kyung-Aha, Lee Zhen and Bill Xu
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
