Indescribably Beautiful

By Amber Wu, "Whirling reveals inner self" - Taiwan Journal - Taiwan
Vol. XXVI, N° 18; Friday, May 8, 2008

By the time he was 36, Ken Yang had succeeded in creating a profitable company, but felt lost. Though he had tried to find spiritual growth in religion, he was still looking.

He did not finally find his way until four years later, during a trip to India in 2000. Upon seeing a group of Sufi practitioners performing a Dervish whirling dance, Yang was instantly captivated by their movements, which struck him as indescribably beautiful.

Now a devotee of Dervish dancing, Yang said that sometimes when he whirls he feels as if he is flying. “The space I whirl in is small, but it feels like an enormous world. The forms of being do not matter any more, and at my innermost core only peace reigns,” he said.

Yang noted some similarities between Dervish dancing and the writings of the ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi. Both help him reach a state of deep relaxation and tranquility.

After tracing the origins of Sufism back to Konya, Turkey, Yang realized the movement builds invisible connections between peoples and also between one’s soul and body.

In 2007, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Rumi—the great Sufi master and poet—Yang performed with a group of dancers that whirled non-stop for 36 hours. The Wind Music boss now teaches the dance form every week in Taipei’s Da-an park.

Besides running a record label, Yang is also a musician. He notes that Dervish dancing has not only given Yang more patience at work but also influenced his music.

One of the most unforgettable moments in his musical career occurred shortly after 9/11.

“An American DJ played my song ‘The Dance of Cheery Blossoms’ shortly after the attacks, and I received many positive comments from his listeners. He sent me an e-mail saying that good music can transcend national boundaries and bring consolation to human spirit,” Yang said.

Picture: Serenity flows through Ken Yang’s music and dance. Photo: Chang Su-ching