During the semi-finals of the 2025 New Tang Dynasty Worldwide Chinese Classical Dance Competition, audiences were treated to numerous stories embodying virtues. Regardless of the historical or cultural background of the characters in the performances, the contestants showcased qualities such as patriotism, faithfulness, elegant grace in the face of adversity, and profound introspection on the meaning of life.
One of the standout performances came from a young female contestant from Taiwan, Zeng Pinxuan, who narrated a tale of unwavering loyalty in ancient China titled “Dream Return” on the semi-final stage.
“I portrayed a woman from ancient times, waiting at home for her husband to return from war; however, as he delayed in returning, her longing for him became so overwhelming that she started experiencing hallucinations,” Zeng Pinxuan explained. “There’s this part in the middle with the sound of silver bells, ‘wind chimes, my beloved returns,’ where she almost sees her husband and the sheer joy of their reunion, only to abruptly realize that he never actually came back…”
In embodying this character, Zeng Pinxuan deeply appreciated the traditional virtues of ancient Chinese women.
“They upheld fidelity and chastity towards their husbands, treating them with respect at all times, holding themselves to ethical standards,” she said. Yet, when it came to portraying the sorrowful emotions in the performance, Zeng Pinxuan initially struggled to find the right balance.
“Eventually, I decided to express that sadness from different perspectives to evoke varied feelings in the audience: from initially selfish expressions of grief to ultimately showcasing the noble traditional virtues of Chinese women, who, while their husbands fought for the country, had to think of others, embodying a selfless and unwavering belief…”
Over her nine years of learning Chinese classical dance, Zeng Pinxuan has been deeply touched by the profound cultural heritage it carries. Her own journey in learning dance has been a process of gradually shedding egoistic tendencies and focusing on a broader perspective.
“As a child, I felt my dancing abilities weren’t great, so if I aimed to show off, that issue would hinder me,” she said. “But once I let go of those concerns and truly wanted to learn Chinese classical dance well and pass it on to more people, allowing them to understand its pure, virtuous, and beautiful essence, external conditions no longer became obstacles; it was all about the heart.”
The pure joy that dance brings Zeng Pinxuan lies in maintaining a clear mindset. “I believe the happiest part of dancing Chinese classical dance is keeping a pure heart. When I truly enjoy dancing, that’s when I’m the happiest.”
Therefore, Zeng Pinxuan’s participation in the competition isn’t just for personal gain. She aims to observe and learn from dancers skilled in techniques like “body with hands, hips, and legs,” then bring these skills back to Taiwan to further promote Chinese classical dance.
“In Taiwan, we lack teachers who directly instruct on ‘body with hands’ and ‘hips with legs’; many times we have to comprehend it on our own, so this time, I’m directly learning visually and hoping to master it well, passing it on in the future if I have the chance to teach,” Zeng Pinxuan said.
She emphasized, “I still believe in maintaining a pure heart, not learning for the sake of learning but understanding the purpose behind it. Some may think learning ‘body with hands, hips, and legs’ will enhance their dance postures, but if they learn solely for self-display, they might not truly grasp it; so, the crucial aspect is learning with a selfless heart, which could be quicker and easier than we imagine, and of course, I’m still in the process of exploration…”
Chinese classical dance isn’t merely entertainment in Zeng Pinxuan’s eyes; she views it as a medium for transmitting ancient culture and traditional values. “It serves as a means to convey divine culture and traditional values, carrying profound significance within.”