TOKYO, Japan—On the afternoon of May 13, Ms. Bai, a Chinese tourist in Tokyo, attended the fourth performance by Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Tokyo International Forum. She said that anyone who watches Shen Yun—which celebrates traditional Chinese culture—can feel the wisdom, strength, and uplifting energy conveyed through the performance.
“Both the male and female dancers embodied a balance of strength and grace, a harmony of yin and yang,” Ms. Bai, who requested to be identified by her surname only for personal safety reasons, said. “Their movements radiated a majestic and uplifting power from within, leaving the audience with a profound sense of hope and possibility.”
After watching the performance, Ms. Bai said she had gained a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture. “I deeply felt the traditional Chinese teaching that good and evil each bring their own recompense, and that people should maintain their faith during difficult times.”
One scene that especially stood out to her depicted the Monkey King seeking spiritual instruction from a master. “The old Taoist master accepted many disciples, but one by one they gave up under harsh conditions—wind, frost, rain, and snow. In the end, only Monkey King persevered. It made me feel that in life, people must go through hardships in order to gain enlightenment. Only after enduring such trials can one ultimately achieve fulfillment.”
Ms. Bai said the performance’s emphasis on upholding kindness and virtue is especially important in today’s society. “There is so much confusion and moral disorder in the world today that many people feel anxious, lost, and unsure of how to face life. At such times, people need a kind of spiritual support to guide their thoughts, inner spirit, and actions, so that the body and mind can ultimately become fully aligned and harmonious.”
This divinely-inspired culture ushered in centuries of glory and prosperity. However, after the communist takeover and the spread of atheism, all this traditional culture was systematically destroyed. Today, Shen Yun brings back the beauty and goodness of pre-communist China.
Reflecting on Shen Yun’s mission to revive traditional culture, Ms. Bai said, “Its significance is truly enormous. Anyone who watches it can feel the wisdom, strength, and righteous energy within the performance. This kind of power can overcome all negative things and unhealthy states of mind.”
She added that some people communicate with their inner selves through practices such as meditation, “and that, too, is part of the process of rediscovering oneself.”
As Shen Yun tours the world presenting traditional Chinese culture, Ms. Bai said that Chinese culture itself contains profound wisdom and spiritual richness. “People in other countries also see this tradition as something magnificent, which shows that beautiful things can be recognized and appreciated no matter where they are,” she said.
