Taiwan: Stirring Divinely-Imparted Culture Shows in Kaohsiung

The Chinese New Year Spectacular shows were grandly performed on January 27th and 28th, 2007 at the Chi-Teh Hall, National Chungcheng Cultural Center in Kaohsiung City, after a successful debut last week in Tainan. The hall was packed with an enthusiastic audience who highly commended the shows. They regarded the Spectacular show as the most classical, high-standard performance promoting authentic Chinese culture today. Many people expressed the wish to attend the performance next year.

The Chinese New Year Spectacular shows, with its essence being "divinely imparted culture," displayed the most pure, compassionate and wonderful arts of dance and singing in Eastern and Western traditional culture. The lively backdrop designs added to the effect of making the audience feel personally on the scene.

Prior to the performance, celestial maidens in ancient ceremonial costumes lined up to give each audience member a warm and courteous welcome, and help lead people to their seats. The audience was deeply impressed.

The outer layout of the Spectacular shows contained artistic and cultural meaning. Four large lotus lantern columns were arranged along the red carpet outside the Chi-Teh Hall, together with four square ancient vertical lanterns with coloured patterns, making the atmosphere at the hall brilliant and full of festive joy.

The audience was amazed at the lotus lantern columns. The designer, Chu Mei-niang, who majored in fine arts, said that in choosing lotus as the theme she meant to display the unique style of New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) and the content of the Spectacular shows. She wished to fully reveal the profound meaning of the elegance, purity and wonderfulness of traditional Chinese culture, and to create a walkway that would lead the audience into an inner world of peace and harmony.

The Spectacular shows started with the Lion Dance performed by Weihong Lion Dance Troupe. Following it were the dance performances, "Fairy Flute" and "Plum Tree" presented by the New Tang Dynasty Taiwan Arts Troupe. In the dances, celestial maidens came down from the heavens and danced gently to the heavenly music, leading the audience into a tranquil and far-reaching celestial world. The elegant demeanour of the celestial maidens left a deep impression on the audience.

The dance "Palace Lantern" performed by the Fanmei Dance Troupe led by terpsichorean Li Hui-mei, displayed the tranquility and elegance of ancient beauties with traditional palace lanterns and coloured ribbon performances. The audience enjoyed the audio and visual presentation able to elevate the soul.

In-between dances, was a vocal solo performance, "The Blossoming of Udumbara Flowers," sung by soprano Chang Jia-hui.

In 2005, ten Udumbara flowers were found blooming on the Kwan-yin (Guanyin) Buddha Statue at Sumi Zen Temple at Haeryong-myeon, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do in South Korea. According to Buddhist scriptures, these flowers are so incomparably precious that they blossom every 3000 years, coinciding with the time that the King of Falun comes to the human world to save people. At such a historic moment, this song, "The Blossoming of Udumbara Flowers," was composed.

The final programme was the performance presented by the New Tang Dynasty Flag and Drum Troupe. Its vigorous and majestic presentation pushed the enthusiastic atmosphere of the shows to the climax.

The Spectacular attracted great attention and support from all circles

Congratulatory letters and messages poured into the Chinese New Year Spectacular shows in Kaohsiung, including President Chen Shui-bian, Mayor of Kaohsiung, the Mayor of Taichung, and many more government officials. They extended their New Year's greetings and congratulated NTDTV for providing superb traditional Chinese culture to the world's people. There were also many government officials and renowned persons who came in person to watch the performances.

Chief art supervisor of the NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular shows in Kaohsiung, Wu Hongzhang, believed that it is fundamental for a country's prosperity to promote precious art treasures in the Chinese culture, to awaken people's yearning and interest for high quality culture, and improve people's characters through the theme of the performance "divinely-imparted culture."

Superb programmes touch the hearts of the audience

Forty audience members in their aboriginal outfits from Pingdong area were one of the focuses among the audience. Their zest and enthusiasm for the performance added to the warm atmosphere of the show. At the end of the show, they were reluctant to leave and kept saying, "Wonderful! I have never been so moved in my life."

A child from Taipei accompanied by his parents and grandfather looked very excited. He said that he had watched NTDTV Global Gala last year, and still remembered the "celestial maidens'" graceful dance. He definitely would not miss the performance this year. He liked every programme and in particular liked the lovely little lions in the Lion Dance performance.

The NTDTV Global Gala has been held for four years in Taiwan. Being characterised by "divinely-imparted culture," together with purity, harmony and a strong festive atmosphere, the gala is different from any other singing and dancing performances. This year's Chinese New Year Spectacular shows performed in Kaohsiung offered a blending of Eastern and Western performances, bringing the audience a joyful and festive New Year's atmosphere.