United States: Semi-Divine Nature of Chinese Culture Highlighted at Chinese New Year Global Gala in New York

On the evening of February 4, 2005, New Tang Dynasty TV held the New York performance of the 2005 Chinese New Year Global Gala, after earlier performances in Hong Kong, Taipei, London, San Francisco, Toronto and Washington DC. The 5000-seat theatre at Madison Square Garden were sold out two days before the performance. The theme was "Myths and Legends."

The Gala began with the "Majestic Thunder" bugle call and resounding drums. The flag and drum troupe symbolising "triumph in the first battle" inaugurated the Gala.

An auspicious dragon represented nature governed by heavenly principles; the Tang dynasty drums expressed jubilation in the human world; arrays of flag symbolised water that breeds life. Dragons in Chinese culture represent good luck, dignity, and might. They can eliminate calamity and bring blessings, peace and prosperity to society. Lions symbolise good luck and the supernatural beings symbolise good fortune and justice. Chinese New Year lion dances are often used to scare away evil spirits. The flag array, symbolising the blue ocean, represents long-lasting vitality.

The traditional Chinese lion dance introduced a dance drama entitled, "Legend of the Lunar New Year". The dance drama narrated the traditional origin of Chinese Lunar New Year -- Venerable monks used three magic weapons including a firecracker, couplet, and lights to subdue the rampant monster called "Nian" (Year). The drama also told the story about how an elderly woman treated others well when hurriedly fleeing for her life and she was eventually rewarded with good fortune.

Several thousand years of Chinese culture was linked with the cultivation culture of the Tao and Buddha schools, whose thinking deeply influenced the Chinese culture. The Ying Tang Dance Troupe presented a large-scale dance that told an ancient and beautiful legend of divine beings. The mythical story, "Eight Immortals crossing the Sea" is known to every household in China. The eight immortals "Han Zhongli, Cao Guojiu, Zhang Guolao, Tieguai Li, Lu Dongbin, Hang Xiangzi, He Xiangu and Lan Caihe) represented man, woman, the old, the young, the rich, royalty, the poor and the humble people, namely, people from different social backgrounds and classes. It showed that people from different social occupations could all achieve success in self-cultivation as long as they are sincere. The dance drama "Eight immortals crossing the sea" found a beautiful and memorable way to retell this familiar story.

A playlet entitled "Turning an Iron Rod to a Needle" enacted the origin of the literary quotation, "As an iron pestle can be ground down to a needle, persistent effort leads to success." It is told that Emperor Zhenwu was originally the crown prince of the Jingle Country during the period of time when the Yellow Emperor ruled. In order to achieve the Tao, Zhenwu went to Wudang Mountain to painstakingly cultivate himself. One day, when he sat in meditation and entered into tranquil state, a group of evil spirits chaotically danced. They transformed into various idols to scare him, but Zhenwu was not moved at all. The demon of lust incarnated as a beautiful temptress. At a critical moment, Zhenwu was deluded by the demon of lust. After that, Zhenwu felt deep regret and thought that his several-decade cultivation was in vain. When he went down the mountain, he encountered a Bodhisattva disguised as an elderly lady who told him that if one grinds an iron pestle every day, the pestle could eventually be ground down to a needle. Zhenwu suddenly understood the principle and made up his mind to diligently cultivate himself again. Finally, he was successful. The "Needle-Rubbing Well" is an important part of Wudang Mountain, one of Taoism's holy places. This story tells something of the solemnity and hardship of cultivation as well as the immense benevolence of a God who offers salvation and gives people the chance to rectify their mistakes.

It emerges unsullied from filth and stands straight without straining. Its fragrance is fresh and far-reaching. A dance entitled "The Unblemished Lotus" presented by Tianjiao Performing Arts Troupe conjured up notions of purity and spiritual elevation connected with the lotus flower. As they blossomed, beautiful fairies dressed in colourful costumes emerged from the sacred flowers. With classical Chinese dance steps, and pink, yellow and green fans, the dance displayed the fairies' peacefulness, serenity, kindness, sincerity and purity.

Students from the National Taiwan University of Art were invited to perform "A Dream-like Dance of Grace" to one of the most famous pieces of music of the Tang Dynasty. It was said that one year, immortal beings did Buddhist (or Taoist) service to allow Tang Emperor Xuanzong to tour the moon palace. Emperor Xuanzong heard the celestial music outside the palace, which was extremely pure and beautiful and then remembered the rhythm in his heart. After he went back, he composed the music and had it choreographed. The music passed down from generation to generation. Stories traditional Chinese culture is passed down by Gods is in fact a common occurrence.

Over thousands of years, Chinese people have the tradition of worshipping the divine and heaven on the Chinese New Year Day so as to seek answers in life, obtain the peace of spirit and express their gratitude to Buddha and divine beings' blessing. The large-scale singing and dancing "Buddha's light shines on us" expressed people's sincerity of worshipping the divine and their longing for auspiciousness and peacefulness.

Apart from the dances, exquisite dance solos, songs and magic acts also won warm applauses and cheers.

In the song, "Sending blessings to my homeland," Soprano Bai Xue expressed the message of fondness and hope with distance keeps us apart at this special time of the year.

She also performed a song entitled, "Warm Wishes for the New Year", which expressed the singer's deepest thoughts and wishes for her loved ones in her homeland. "Another Chinese New Year Eve is coming, Greetings to all Chinese people! New manner in the New Year, wish you joy and peace! Kind-hearted people, Happy New Year! Thousands of songs and music would be unable to extol that Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance are in the human world!"

In addition to displaying the essential Chinese culture, the Gala also included high-quality performance of the western art and culture. The U.S. renowned Empire Brass's performance, performance by famous bass vocalist Christian Bischoff, Chorus "Simple Gift" and "Ode to the Lotus" by The Dessoff Choirs, one of the American music representatives, were all warmly received.

The Ying Tang Lion and Dragon Troupe and the Tianjiao Performing Arts Troupe concluded the Gala with a colourful performance entitled "Dragons Soar to the Drumbeats," a resounding welcome to the New Year.

Nearly 400 performers including some Falun Gong practitioners from North America, Europe, Taiwan and Australia participated in the Gala performance. The theme was highly praised by audience.

Mr. Geoff Smith, a renowned attorney from Bell Legal Group, Australia and his wife extremely love traditional eastern culture. The couple came from Australia to New York to watch the NTDTV Chinese New Year Gala. Mr. Smith expressed that the show was spectacular, providing he and his wife an opportunity for the first time to really understand traditional Chinese culture. They felt very happy. They hoped that they can come to watch the Gala again next year.