Expressing China's Glorious Past

It is perhaps fitting that China's Golden era − the Tang Dynasty features in the opening sequence of the Chinese New Year Spectacular.

While the West was lost in the Dark Ages, further East the Chinese culture flourished for three centuries under the Tang Dynasty(618–907AD). It is considered one of the most splendid, diverse and cosmopolitan civilisations of not only China but the world.

"In the history of China – the best time and most peaceful and most prosperous period for the people to live in was the Tang Dynasty," said Mr C.Y. Wong, the President of New Tang Dynasty [Australia] Television prior to the full house performance of the Spectacular in the Canberra Theatre.

The opening dance scene in the Spectacular called Creation, tells the celestial story of how a Buddha comes to Earth to bring goodness to mankind and he becomes the emperor of the Tang Dynasty. A divine culture is brought to Earth and Chinese civilisation blossoms under the Tang.

"It was a beautiful dream like sequence," commented Helen Musa the Arts Editor for The Canberra Times. "I think it did it quite well, the other thing I thought [ Creation ] brought out was the Buddhist culture well – the Buddhist culture came out very strongly and well."

Helen Musa, the Arts Editor for The Canberra Times. (The Epoch Times)

Apart from celebrating traditional Chinese culture, Mr Wong said that the purpose of the Spectacular is to share China's rich history with the West.

"We see it as a bridge to connect Eastern and Western cultures," says Mr Wong.

Ms Musa observed at the Spectacular's Wednesday performance "there is a wonderful cross section of people – Chinese and non-Chinese people…it has got to be highly educational because I think the more you can learn about other cultures the better – and of course China is so important to us and so is Chinese culture."

For Canberra resident, Philip Barton, it inspired him to learn more about the Tang Dynasty. "I don't know anything about the Tang Dynasty," he said, "but actually I was touched by it. I would really like to read more about the Tang Dynasty having seen this. It was obviously a time when Chinese culture was very strong."

C.Y. Wong, the President of New Tang Dynasty [Australia] Television. (The Epoch Times)

Last year, Mr Wong said: "NTDTV had one show with an audience of 2000," this year he said the independent television network was holding "12 shows in five cities and an audience of 20,000 people…establishing that true Chinese culture represented by NTDTV has taken a root by more and more Australian people."

The NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular is to perform in Melbourne on March 23–24 and then in Sydney March 29–31.

After Australia the show will be touring New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan. It has already toured North America, parts of Europe and Japan.

The NTDTV Chinese Spectacular has extended its global shows to more screenings in New Zealand, Korea and Taiwan with the Divine Performing Arts group who are the artistic force behind New Tang Dynasty Television's Holiday Wonders and Chinese New Year Spectacular shows each year. Its mission is to rediscover the essence of true, traditional culture and to bring arts to the world that celebrate human dignity and positive values. It produces and performs works that center on classical themes and divinely-inspired cultural traditions. The group's performances aim to provide an experience of consummate beauty and goodness. For further information about the show in your city, please visit shows.ntdtv.com.