Monday, July 25, 2005

Thanks to an ancient practice of exercise and meditation, Philadelphians this week will get a rare glimpse of a rare and valuable collection of Chinese art.

Tony Dai, president of the Australia Chinese Cultural and Art Association, says his family's priceless five-generation collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy is being seen for the first time, in no small part because his mother came down with a rare illness:

"She was in the hospital and dying, and the doctor told me there was nothing they can do about it -- I needed to prepare for the funeral.

But very luckily in the hospital she starts to practice Falun Gong and her health turns around."

The Dai family will show the exhibit, "Treasures of China," at the Hilton Garden Inn in Chinatown from Tuesday, July 26th, through Sunday, July 31st.

Dai says there will be curators present to explain the artwork as well as practitioners of Falun Gong, which has been banned in China for a number of years.

The collection then continues on a world tour.

Source http://www.kyw1060.com/news_story_detail.cfm?newsitemid=48032