(Clearwisdom.net) Ms. Lin Xilin, born in 1935, majored in law in college. She is a former reporter for China Youth Daily. In 1957, Mao Zedong personally referred to her as a typical "Rightist." The Chinese Communist Party put her in jail for 15 years. In 1979, the CCP redressed all the "rightists" in China. However, Deng Xiaoping mandated that five of them could not be redressed. Ms. Lin was one of the five. The other four have passed away. Thus, Ms. Lin is known as "the last Rightist in China." She moved to France in 1983 and now lives in the USA.
Ms. Lin Xiling began her literature and art career at a young age, and is famous for being "the last Rightist in China." She has now watched the Divine Performing Arts shows four times. Right before Christmas of 2007, after watching Holiday Wonders in New York for the second time, Ms. Lin was deeply moved and she felt her hope for the future returning. A week later, Ms. Lin's memories and feelings from the show were still fresh in her mind and she gladly accepted our interview. Her words came from the bottom of her heart. The following has been compiled from the interview recording.
Ms. Lin Xiling on December 24, 2007, attending Holiday Wonders for the second time
My parents were both "Shanghai Style" artists. My father had a good voice, and was a fan of theater and Chinese opera. He used to carry me on his shoulders to go watch Master Mei Lanfang's performances. My mother was born in an educated family and her career was as a music teacher and writer. I had a good artistic education growing up. I joined the army performing troop when I was only thirteen years old. I was very capable and could play many musical instruments, sing, and direct. I watched countless performances in China, by Chinese or international performers. After going into exile, I watched many premier international shows in Paris, Sydney, and Vienna, but the Divine Performing Arts shows moved my heart like nothing has before.
A Longing Fulfilled- "Divine Performing Arts" Displays the Serene Beauty of Heaven and Man As One
I have been wondering, "What attracted me to watch the Divine Performing Arts shows repeatedly? What touched my soul so deeply?" I think on the surface, it manifests the beauty of heaven and earth.
The show displays solemn divine kingdoms, the graceful Qing Dynasty palace, and the current China proper. It shows righteousness conquering evil. It also displays images from the great Tang dynasty battlefield, to the flower blossoms of the Southern China water townships, to the dreamy realms of Western musical serenades. The high-tech three-dimensional scenery creates perfect visual effects that guide the audience through a cultural journey that transcends time and space.
In the opening program, "Descent of the Celestial Kings" when the Lord Buddha comes down from the cosmos riding on an Imperial chariot, those heavenly horses flying over the audiences' heads with their huge wings flapping, filled people with hope that the Lord of Buddhas has come to save sentient beings with mercy. In "Hou Yi Shooting down Nine Suns," as nine birds fly in the sky, one by one turning to burning suns, the orchestra music helps express the beings (and the audience) living in terror with no where to hide. "Lady of the Moon," represented to me a realistic large, cold Moon Palace. How these great stories were displayed so gorgeously on stage is beyond my imagination!
I used to long for heaven and man to be one, and I used to pray for heaven and man to be one, but this dream was getting more and more blurry. The Divine Performing Arts shows manifest the serene beauty of heaven and man as one which I have long dreamed of, but could not see. Behold, under the Tianshan Mountain, known as a land of magical power and gifted talents, innocent young maidens dance with yellow dresses, handsome young men dance with sincere warm energy...what a Western China folk art painting! Under the snow-covered Changbai Mountain, green rice fields, scattered farmers' houses, young Korean people are praising the mercy of God. This is the long unseen serene beauty of heaven and man becoming one.
Divine Performing Arts Redefines the Harmony between Masculine Strength and Female Charm
"Drummers of the Tang Court" carries clear flowing rhythm, manifests the true Chinese spirit of a pillar of strength, vital livelihood, and fills one with a surge of energy. The drumming is exciting, and chases away the dark clouds. It powerfully moves the audience with its mighty righteousness. Sometimes the drumming is soft and slow, raising people's hope and happiness. When the drumming ends with its sound in unison, shaking the universe, people's hearts are filled with sunlight and there are no shadows. Suddenly I realized that these young men are the embodiment of "masculine strength."
The great Tang dynasty was the most splendid time in Chinese History. The Tang Dynasty's men, to me, can "catch a tiger on the mountains and seize a dragon in the ocean." They are full of masculinity, confident calm, and follow their pursuit of virtue with a solid will. I thought that in modern China, after more than 50 years of Communist rule, that our nation's backbone has been broken. Where can you see strong men with inner peace? A true man that can "carry virtue with iron shoulders" is hard to find, but the Tang Dynasty Drummers thoroughly display the Chinese men's spirits, and allowed me to see hope for our nation's renaissance.
I also have to mention the dance "Water Sleeves." My mother is from Southern China, and I lived in Southern China almost half of my life. The scenery displaying the Southern China water townships is so bright and graceful. The lake is clean, there is a little curved bridge, and colorful flowers...this is the hometown that I remember in my dreams!
Girls as pure flower buds dance in between the clear springs and flowers. Their steps are as soft as clouds flowing on water, and as a breeze on the surface of a lake. They are like water fairies. The quiet and elegant movements soothe people's hearts, and the pure clean minds bring tears to people's eyes. They used water sleeves shedding flower pedals, fanned the spring breeze, and led the audience to dance together with them in the clouds. When the music ends, the girls leave softly, but their divine spirits still echo in the audiences' minds.
The divine Performing Arts redefines the harmonious grace of male strength and female charm.
Divine Performing Arts Awakens the Best in Humanity
As an Erhu player, I highly recommend Ms. Qi Xiaochun's "Redemptive Suffering." It is the most piercing and soul stirring Erhu performance I have ever heard. I was so moved that tears ran down my cheeks. I used to like "The Moon Mirrored in the Second Spring Pool" composed by Hua Yanjun, and "Groaning in Illness" by Liu Tianhua. However, from Ms. Qi's "Redemptive Suffering,"I experienced an overpowering sense of mercy. The compassion is beyond description, surpassing all, and can save all the miserable people in the world. Ms. Qi's "Redemptive Suffering" is the best Erhu piece and is unprecedented in both ancient and modern times.
Also, the superior composer, conductor and orchestra that bring divine music to the audience, the marvelous tenor and soprano who communicate to the audience with their sincere hearts, the elegant host and hostess who are so humorous, but genuine...I deeply admire all of them.
Divine Performing Arts has succeeded at blending both Eastern and Western traditional cultures, and has created the new true human culture. It has awakened the best of humanity, and guides mankind to ascend.
(To be continued)
January 6, 2008
