Imagine Tai Chi blending with Chinese music, Tai chi dance, modern dance and children’s choir - it is as unimaginable as it is exciting to experience all these Chinese cultures in one setting. For the last 4 to 5 years, Yan Huichang, the artistic director and principal conductor for life of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) and the Tai Chi Master Xing QiLin have worked together to prepare the “Ji’’ concert happening this year in July, in which talents from different artistic disciplines in Hong Kong will join forces to sincerely present a “cultural feast” to the audiences in Hong Kong. For music is a universal language, the “Ji” concert chooses to explain itself in simply 6 words (6 music movements) and no more: Infinity, Beginning, Origin, Spirit, Evil and Essence. The show also marks the celebration of the HKCO’s 45th Anniversary and the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2022.
The idea of creating the “Ji” concert emerged when Maestro Yan experienced the martial art himself. He recalled, “I still remember when we were practising Chinese music, the teacher would ask us to also learn Tai Chi, swordsmanship, calligraphy and Chinese painting. That way we can understand Chinese culture more comprehensively.” Initially, he only used Tai Chi to strengthen his physique and health, but after meeting Master Xing Qilin and getting to know more about the profundity of Tai Chi, Yan became deeply moved by Qilin’s passion and determined to combine Chinese music and Tai Chi on stage.
Chinese culture takes pride in its inclusivity and diversity of different philosophies and art forms. Tai Chi belongs to Taoism, of which the concept of Yin and Yang describes how the opposite or contrary forces may in fact be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent, or even give rise to each other in the natural world. In view of this, the “Ji” concert tries to include multiple performing art forms with Chinese music by inviting talents from different fields to join, fully demonstrating such tolerance to diversity.
Artists include music composer Ng Cheuk-yin, choreographer and stage director Yuri Ng, well-known ballerina Linda Fung, the resident artist of the City Contemporary Dance Company Qiao Yang, the vocalist of local a cappella group “Yat Po Singers” and movement expert Ronald Tsang, and the Hong Kong Children’s Choir. Audiences can expect a show with music as the overall vehicle of expression, while other forms of performing arts, such as lighting, modern dance,Tai Chi dance and children’s choral singing will blend in to impress. The result will be an insightful showcase of traditional Chinese cultural thinking.
Despite what most perceive, “Ji” is not equal to Tai Chi. While Tai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art practised for defence training, health benefits, and meditation, “Ji” is a more comprehensive concept that embodies the Chinese nation’s values over thousands of years: the inherent ways as demonstrated in nature, affinity with heaven and earth, moral cultivation, filial piety and respect for teachers, consolidation of family ties, governance of the state, and harmony with the world.
“In fact, there are three “ji”: Wuji, Tai Chi, and Huangji,” said Linda Fung, the renowned ballerina, “Wuji begets Taiji, Taiji begets Huangji, and then Huangji becomes Wuji. The state of being very quiet and empty, and the harmony that goes to the highest peak with Yin and Yang is Huangji. This cycle becomes the law of the universe, which is what the show is about.” Growing up under the influence of Western culture, Linda finds herself amazed by the profundity of Tai Chi’s wisdom, which has since altered the way she perceives life. She looks forward to demonstrating to the audiences how Tai Chi has influenced her body and movements in the show.
The biggest challenge Yan Huichang faces while preparing the show is how to embrace the different arts form to present the theme of “Ji”. The team hopes to provide the audiences with a visceral experience of the Wuji, Tai Chi and Huangji cycle through the show’s multidisciplinary nature and the integration of various artistic forms and elements, instead of a preachy, simply educational showdown. In doing so, they would leave the theatre feeling happy and relaxed almost as if they have just finished doing a set of Tai Chi. This will make them understand Tai Chi and Chinese culture better.
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Date and Time
15-16/7/2022 (Fri & Sat) 7:30pm
Venue
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre
Ticket Fee
$350, $280, $220, $170
Tickets are now available at UBTIX
Conceptualization: Yan Huichang
Conceptualization / Taichi Wushu Dance: Master Xing QiLin
Original Music: Ng Cheuk-yin
Stage Direction: Yuri Ng*
Taichi Wushu Dance: Linda Fung
Dance: Qiao Yang*
Movement: Ronald Tsang
Chorus: The Hong Kong Children’s Choir
Chorus Master: Alex Tam
Set Designer: Issac Wong
Lighting Designer: Zoe Cheung
Sound Designer: Can.ha
Video Designer: Dan Fong
Costume Designer: Mandy Tam
*Appearance by kind permission of City Contemporary Dance Company
