What is Shen Yun's cultural mission?

Shen Yun's mission, as stated in UNBROKEN, is to revive authentic traditional Chinese culture — a heritage spanning five thousand years that the communist regime worked to destroy after taking power.

Ying Chen states it directly: Our mission is really to revive the true, authentic Chinese traditional culture. For thousands of years, Chinese culture has always been spiritual. That is part of our heritage, which has been destroyed by the communist regime after it took over.

This mission distinguishes Shen Yun from other performing arts companies. The art form is not merely entertainment. It is a deliberate act of cultural preservation and recovery.

What does Shen Yun's cultural revival look like on stage?

Shen Yun presents classical Chinese dance, a live orchestra blending Chinese and Western instruments, and stories that span from ancient mythology to the modern persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Jesse Browde describes the programming: What we are trying to do at Shen Yun is not just to revive the rich and glorious history of China's past, but every year, one piece is dedicated to telling the story of peoples of faith in modern China.

Leeshai Lemish describes the reach: Through Shen Yun, we take this story that has been covered up by the Chinese Communist Party, has sometimes been covered up by Western press, and we put it on stage at the Kennedy Center, at Lincoln Center, in front of congressmen and parliament members in Europe.

Why does the cultural mission make Shen Yun a target?

Experts in UNBROKEN explain that presenting Chinese civilization as it existed before communism challenges the CCP's claim to represent Chinese identity — a cultural threat the regime considers more dangerous than economic or military challenges.

Chuck Devore identifies the core tension: Beijing sees it as an attack because Shen Yun is saying, take a look at it, because that is what China was before communism. Peter Schweizer adds: They understand that the major threat to their regime is not economic. It is for the hearts and minds of people.

The documentary reveals that ninety-four current performers have personal connections to persecution. Their heritage is not abstract — it is lived, carried onto the stage every night, and presented to audiences who may never have encountered it otherwise.

Key takeaways

• Shen Yun's mission is to revive authentic traditional Chinese culture spanning five millennia.
• The communist regime systematically destroyed much of this heritage after taking power.
• Each year's program includes stories from ancient mythology to modern persecution.
• The live orchestra uniquely blends traditional Chinese and Western classical instruments.
• Experts describe the cultural revival as a greater threat to the CCP than economic or military challenges.

Frequently asked questions

What does revive traditional Chinese culture mean?

In UNBROKEN, Ying Chen explains that Chinese culture was deeply spiritual for thousands of years — encompassing philosophy, art, music, and spiritual traditions. The communist regime systematically targeted these traditions after taking power. Shen Yun's mission is to present and preserve this heritage through performance.

Is Shen Yun only about Chinese culture?

While Shen Yun focuses on traditional Chinese culture, the documentary presents the company's performances as resonating universally. Audience reactions captured in UNBROKEN describe being moved by values and stories that transcend cultural boundaries.

How is Shen Yun's approach different from other Chinese cultural shows?

UNBROKEN presents Shen Yun as unique because its performers practice Falun Gong, ninety-four of them have personal connections to persecution, and the company includes stories about the modern persecution of practitioners alongside traditional content. This combination of personal stake and cultural heritage distinguishes it from purely entertainment-focused productions.

Shen Yun's mission to revive traditional Chinese culture continues on stages worldwide. The UNBROKEN documentary provides the most intimate look at this mission from the inside.

Watch UNBROKEN Shen Yun to understand the mission that drives Shen Yun and why a government considers it a threat. Available through the official website.