TAOYUAN, Taiwan—Mr. Huang Shih-cheng, former vice president and secretary general of the National Cultural Association and incumbent president of the Heritage Foundation in Taiwan, went to the Taoyuan County Performance Center to attend the artistic feast presented by Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company on the afternoon of March 30.
“It is indeed a superior artistic performance,” said Mr. Huang after seeing the show. “Over the past seven years, Shen Yun Performing Arts has demonstrated traditional Chinese culture and wisdom through classical Chinese dance and backdrops in a very vivid and natural manner. It is indeed very touching. As to the music, it is soul-stirring.”
Having seen Shen Yun performances three years in a row, Mr. Huang happened to be in London, U.K., when Shen Yun was performing in Taipei from Feb. 20 to Feb. 26 this year. As a result, he attended the performance in Taoyuan instead.
“A perfect cultural and artistic performance,” he said in praise of Shen Yun. “As it has been highly praised in various countries—such as the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, etc.—it is advisable that we welcome it.”
Mr. Huang further talked about Shen Yun’s contribution to people in Taiwan and to human beings: “Especially in Taiwan, I think it would be very rare for us to see such a high-level performance. I think it has tremendous contribution to uplifting the artistic level in Taiwan. In the meantime, it can also awaken humanity and rebuild ethical values.
“It will contribute a great deal to humankind,” he added.
“Traditional culture is worth preserving,” said Mr. Huang, reflecting upon Shen Yun’s mission of reviving 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. “Being a person who has worked in cultural circles for a long time—and once served as secretary general of the National Cultural Association—I have attached much importance to traditional culture, including traditional moral values, ethics, compassion, as well as other values relating to humanity.”
“From the cultural contents of Shen Yun’s performances,” he added, “we can tell that it is to awaken the entire human’s awareness—and awaken them.”
Commenting on the current chaotic situation in society, especially mainland China, Mr. Huang said, “Many problems are resulting from human hearts. As the society is in chaos, if we always think of things from the perspective of materialism, we will lose our humanity and have an impact on the Earth.”
“Nowadays, few performing arts companies would pay attention to humanity,” he explained. “Shen Yun’s programs are advocating virtue. Its performances are very positive, which can teach people how to conduct themselves well. I think this is essential for human beings nowadays, as they can awaken people’s humanity and rebuild their values.”
“In other words, basically they are saving humankind,” he added. “It is what is most important at present.”
Mr. Huang holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, and he is the president of the Taiwan International Cultural Education Foundation and the president of the China Writers’ Association. In addition, he was formerly a national policy advisor to the president of Taiwan.
Read the original Chinese article.
With reporting by Zheng Xinci 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.
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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