In 627, Chang’an, the capital of the Tang empire was being abandoned. People were fleeing the city due to a terrible famine. Xuanzang, a monk, was among them, yet he headed west not in search of food, but Buddhist scriptures.

More than five hundred years later, a nameless painter crafted an exquisite mural in a grotto near Dun Huang. It artfully depicted a full moon shining in the sky, encircled by colored clouds. A devout monk worshipped the goddess GuanYin. His disciple, who bares resemblance to a monkey stands behind him holding the reigns of a horse.

Today, the story of this pilgrimage to the west is widely known. Xuanzang’s legacy was simple: never give up and keep the faith. That is the spirit of the Chinese people.

Performance: Xianwuren Dance Studio