‘Truly Stunning’: Shen Yun Fills Chinese Audience Member With Hope for China

Apr 08, 2026Shen Yun

TOKYO, Japan—On the afternoon of April 2, Chen Xi, a young man who had traveled from mainland China to visit family in Japan, attended Shen Yun’s first performance of its 2026 Japan tour at the Shinjuku Bunka Center in Tokyo. After the performance, he said he was deeply moved. While he feels saddened by the current state of China, he added that Shen Yun has given him hope.

“It was truly stunning—everything from the stage design to the performers,” Mr. Chen said. “The dances were excellent. Both the male and female dances were great. I especially loved the women’s water-sleeve dance.

“The classical dance featuring a woman in a green top and orange pants was my favorite,” he added. “The colors were so vibrant, and the way the movements matched the costumes was really beautiful. The gestures were graceful and elegant.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, dedicated to reviving traditional Chinese culture. Rooted in Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist values, this heritage emphasizes reverence for the divine, moral integrity, respect for others, kindness, and tolerance. Much of this tradition, however, has been severely damaged under decades of communist rule.

Mr. Chen said the performance helps restore people’s sense of innate goodness. “This is definitely a good thing. People should be kind, and kindness is the foundation of a healthy society.”

Reflecting on the themes presented in the performance, including the idea that good is rewarded and evil meets consequences, he said, “When everyone thinks of others, the world becomes better. I often tell my friends that if everyone thought of others, the world would be harmonious, and Chinese society would be harmonious too.”

He also commented on what he sees as a decline in moral values in today’s China. “It’s really lacking in moral restraint. The gap between China and countries like Japan is very large—we fall far short,” he said.

As a Chinese viewer, Mr. Chen said he felt a strong sense of pride after seeing Shen Yun.

Shen Yun also presents stories that highlight the Chinese communist regime’s ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a peaceful meditation practice whose followers strive to live by the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. As with other faiths, Falun Dafa’s theistic beliefs have drawn repression amid the Chinese communist regime’s promotion of atheism.

With a heavy heart, Mr. Chen said, “The Chinese people’s understanding of human rights is very low, influenced by the CCP’s system of indoctrination.” He added that after watching Shen Yun, he now feels hopeful about the future of the Chinese nation.

“If things had continued as before, the Chinese nation would have truly been doomed. But now, things can really get better,” he said.

Reporting by Zhang Ying and Olivia Li.

From The Epoch Times

NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.