NEW YORK – Hazy mountains, delicate ladies, noble birds, kings’ horses, and bright flowers. Tony Dai’s paintings quite possibly possess everything that might pop into your head when you envision the Far East.

Mr. Dai, the President of the Australia Chinese Cultural and Art Association has brought his family’s five-generation collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy to New York, where they will be displayed free of charge to the public. Their cherished collection includes work from nearly all of China’s most influential and revolutionary artists of the past 100 years. If you don’t know your Asian art very well, just imagine Picasso, Van Gogh, and Degas in a room together drinking tea in Beijing.

Previously, only the Dai family and their closest friends had the privilege of seeing all of these pieces. Why are they going public now? Dai Mei-ling, Tony’s mother, said she has turned over a new leaf after almost dying and wants to be a good person.

When her family emigrated from Shanghai to Australia she mysteriously contracted a rare illness that targeted her immune system. She was bedridden and close to death when she started practicing Falun Dafa. The practice is also known as Falun Gong and consists of slow-motion movements, meditation and teachings that emphasize moral principles.

Mei-ling’s condition miraculously improved. She was then left with a profound understanding of human life’s preciousness, and unpredictability. Mei-ling and her family are now dedicated to spreading the beauty they own. Mrs. Dai said at the opening of a show in Taipei, “I want to share my collection with everyone… these works of art are valuable, but I can never take them with me to my grave.”

The artwork in the exhibition, like most Chinese art, holds spiritual resonance reflecting history, meditation, and nature. You can see a lot of the Chang-an, southern Ling-nan, and Ching-ling painting schools. There is Xu Beihong’s celebrated, graceful, and precise “Horse.” Qi Baishi’s masterpiece “Leaf and Insects,” with its meticulous brushwork and flowing composition gives praise to simplicity. Another painter, Pu Ru was a member of the Manchu royal family during China’s last dynasty, the Qing dynasty. His poignant “Scholars Under Pine Tree” adeptly evokes a sense of contemplation. Among other rare pieces are the Empress Dowager Ci’s “Birds and Flowers,” and the world famous Chinese opera singer Mei Lanfang’s “Lady.”

Since July 2003 the paintings have been displayed throughout Australia and Taiwan. The Australian Prime Minister John Howard said, “This exhibit is an excellent opportunity to showcase the beauty and richness of traditional Chinese art and culture.”

In Taiwan, the Dai family held over 20 shows in the past seven months. After New York, the collection will travel to Japan, on a special invitation from the Japanese Royal family.

The collection, “Genuine Traditional Chinese Painting & Calligraphy by 19th &20th Century Masters,” can be seen from Thursday, Oct. 21 to Sunday, Oct. 24, from 9:30 A.M. to 9:30 P.M. daily at the Waldorf Astoria.