The Divinity of Shen Yun

(Minghui.org) Great works of art can impress people, enlighten them, and even uplift their morality. This is the same in both Eastern and Western civilizations. Traditional art nourishes people’s souls in a gentle and peaceful way, and leaves a lasting impression.

Where does this inspiration come from? French novelist Gustave Flaubert wrote, “The artist must be in his work as God is in creation, invisible and all-powerful; one must sense him everywhere but never see him.” The ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras also believed that the secret of music lies in imitating the harmonious numbers presented by celestial bodies, thereby reflecting the harmony of the universe.

In Chinese culture, music corresponds to the five elements of heaven and earth. According to the Liji (Book of Rites), “Great music is in harmony with heaven and earth; great rituals are in sync with heaven and earth.”

Belief in the divine was always reflected in both Eastern and Western cultures. The following message is displayed in a German opera house: “Bach gave us the words of God, Mozart gave us the laughter of God, Beethoven gave us the fire of God, and God gave us music so that we can pray without words.”

Beautiful, traditional culture nurtured and informed mankind for millennia. Western society described the struggle between good and evil in fairy tales such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Snow White.” Similarly, Chinese people came to understand causal relationships and moral values through novels, dramas, other literature, as well as ancient legends.

In modern society, however, many focus on acquiring material possessions and have gradually turned away from traditional values. Popular culture emphasizes sensory stimulation and venting one’s emotions, and it encourages people to pursue material desires and enjoyment. Some wonder when mankind will return to traditional values.

Founded in New York in 2006, Shen Yun Performing Arts presents China’s 5,000-year-old civilization through traditional Chinese dance and music. Touring to more than 200 cities in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia, Shen Yun has performed more than 10,000 shows to date. Audiences worldwide have warmly welcomed the artists, and some say they feel a connection to the divine while watching the show.

A Glimpse of Heaven

After Thom Russo, a multi-Grammy award-winning music producer watched a Shen Yun performance on January 19, 2025, he called it, “Amazing. It was so much content in two hours that I’m overwhelmed with the information—and all in a wonderful way.” Seeing so many heavenly scenes in Shen Yun, he said he felt “uplifted and moved emotionally.”

Alabama government officer Donna Bingham watched Shen Yun in February 2024. She said she saw “a happy, peaceful energy, like a flash of light flowing in the air from the stage. The energy was on the stage and on the actors; it seemed to spread to everyone, and indeed affected everyone.”

Bingham said she also witnessed the energy in the final program, when the Creator appeared and saved the world. She said the energy was golden and carried a powerful message of peace and compassion for everyone with tranquility and peace, as if it were a glimpse of heaven.

A Direct Connection to the Divine

Fashion designer Tiffany Ruiz was also amazed by Shen Yun when she attended a performance in May 2024. She said she felt “happiness, joy ... [and] a lot of things that lead back to the divine.

“I think [Shen Yun] definitely shows the Creator’s compassion,” she explained. “It definitely shows a direct connection to the divinity. It shows it in different ways. It shows it through music. It shows it through dance. It shows it through all the ways that we can express ourselves without anybody telling us what to do. You can express yourself in these ways to the divine.

“I see just divine love, a divine oneness—just everything becoming one,” she continued. “It almost felt like that was a state of enlightenment.”

Divine Expressions in Shen Yun

Ms. Galatier studied ancient Greek choreography and was a professional dancer for fifty years. After watching a Shen Yun performance in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she noticed the postures of the celestial maidens in the show resembled those of ancient Greek goddesses, and said that through the performances, she could see that the divine expressions of the human body belong to all cultures.

Considering herself an “archaeologist of dancing,” Ms. Galatier studied stylized dance movements from ancient Greek sculpture in museums. After seeing Shen Yun, she realized that the holy, or divine, expressions of the human body were the same between ancient China and ancient Greece.

“Atheism and Evolution Are Deceitful”

After Jeffrey Palermo, chairman of a software engineering firm, watched a Shen Yun performance in December 2024, he said, “I’d like to see more of it. It’s a very beautiful show. Very well done. The dancing was amazing.

“What struck me the most was [Shen Yun’s] teaching about the Creator of this world and that atheism and evolution are deceitful. That’s a very important theme that everyone should hear,” he said. “This is important because “[humans] are created in the image of the Creator, and he’s going to come back to this world to save us.”

Many People Have Forgotten Existence of the Divine

Japanese defense management official Umezawa Akinobu saw Shen Yun in January 2025. “I shed tears the moment the curtain opened,” he said. He called the performances “a masterpiece, very touching. There are not so many amazing moments in life, but I was amazed today.”

He then expressed his sincere gratitude for Shen Yun’s Artistic Director: “I am glad that you came to this world. Otherwise, we would not be able to see Shen Yun today. I sincerely want to express my gratitude and say, ‘Thank you.’”

Nishide Hiroko, a well-known Japanese etiquette trainer and a company president, also watched Shen Yun in January 2025. “This can really save mankind in today’s society. After mankind is saved, animals, plants, and even nature will also be saved. I really hope that the earth and even the universe can be restored to its original beautiful appearance through this performance,” she said.

After watching a Shen Yun performance in December 2024, business owner Suzuki Sachiyo believed that in a materially rich modern society, people have gradually forgotten the existence of the divine. He hopes Shen Yun can help reverse this trend.

“Perhaps God Has Already Returned in Some Form”

“I felt an extraordinary connection, as if God was near. The dances performed by the artists brought me closer to the divine,” said Izabela Julia Czechowska, a former Polish diplomat to China, after watching a Shen Yun performance in January 2025.

She loved the show very much, “particularly the parts that convey divine elements. As a believer, Shen Yun’s portrayal of the divine within traditional Chinese culture felt incredibly beautiful as if I touched heaven,” she said. “I am a very spiritual person, and I could feel it. The energy on stage filled the entire theater space and even entered my body. This energy made me feel so warm inside and sent shivers through me,” she said.

Czechowska said Shen Yun brings a rare divine experience to Europe. “In Western Europe today, people are gradually distancing themselves from God, which is regrettable. Your work is truly significant! I firmly believe that God exists and may soon return—perhaps God has already returned in some form.”

She also expressed deep gratitude for Shen Yun’s artists. “I deeply respect their artistry, energy, and talent. I hope they continue on this path, spreading the message of God’s presence and the need for us to change some of our notions. The world desperately needs such a message,” she said.

In the end, Czechowska conveyed her heartfelt appreciation for Shen Yun’s artistic director. “I want to thank you for your immense effort and this extraordinary performance. It deeply touched us, including my mother, whose eyes were filled with tears,” she said.

If we trace the source, we would find that art originated from the divine. Despite the chaotic state of today’s world, many people are filled with hope. Only great art can help people return to tradition and to the divine. Shen Yun plays precisely this role–leading our society back on track and beyond.