Photo 1: Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, center, waves his hand at spectators during the Parade of Faiths. He has led Tai Ji Men dizi (disciples) to visit 101 nations to promote conscience, love, and peace through cultural exchanges. He was instrumental in the United Nations’ designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. (AP Image)
Aug. 16, 2023
The inaugural Parade of Faiths, a prelude to the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions, took place in Chicago on August 13, heralding the return of the Parliament to its birthplace. The parade procession showcased Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy’s captivating array of ancient Eastern animals, deities, and mythological figures, transcending time and space, to bestow positivity and blessings upon the world, which was well-received and was very significant as in the face of the pandemic, extreme climate events, international conflicts, and other challenges, the world yearns for more positive energy.
Tai Ji Men’s majestic procession featured celestial creatures--the Tai Ji Celestial Dragon (symbolizing compassion, courage, and true wisdom), the Phoenix (representing rebirth), the Peacock (representing selflessness), the Qilin (signifying benevolence), and the Lion (representing happiness and auspiciousness)--spreading blessings, hope, peace, happiness, and auspicious energy to the spectators on site and beyond.
Photo 2: Anson Chen, who was one of the dragon dancers, shared his experience of dragon dance with a younger high school performer. (AP Image)
Among its parade highlights was the inclusion of the Eight Immortals from Eastern mythology, who bestowed upon the world a sense of blessings, propitious winds, well-timed rainfall, as well as global security and harmony.
Nearly 120 Tai Ji Men dizi (disciples) from Illinois, Nevada, Massachusetts, California, Canada, the Netherlands, and Taiwan participated in the parade. They are from various walks of life, such as doctors, professors, accountants, students, engineers, corporate executives, and retirees. Among them, the oldest participant is 68 years old, while the youngest is just 11 years old.
Within this group, Clair Huang, a graduate student at Harvard University specializing in public health, proudly brandished a sword of justice during the parade. Participating as a dragon dancer, Anson Chen hailed from Northern California. Fifteen years ago, during his sophomore year in college, he assumed the challenging role of the second segment of the dragon. Despite the considerable load, he carried it with grace to alleviate the burden of the senior participants. Through dedication and practice, he transformed into a skilled dragon dancer. Presently, he imparts his experience to a younger high school dancer, passing on his wisdom. Together, their collaborative efforts, along with seven others, showcased unity and cooperation, embodying the spirit of the dragon.
Photo 3: Gill Wang, who performed a dance inspired by Oceania, holds a degree from Johns Hopkins University and has recently commenced a graduate program at USC. She emphasized that Tai Ji Men members showcased dances that portrayed a spectrum of cultures from six continents, envisioning a harmonious world where individuals regard one another as family.
A spectator from New York expressed that she got goosebumps while watching Tai Ji Men’s performance and that she became emotional because of the touching and captivating nature of the display. "The feeling of peace and solidarity, people working together, getting along, is wonderful," she added.
A lady living in Chicago remarked that she felt that Tai Ji Men members spread love from their hearts. “I felt the love. I felt the peace. I felt the connection and acceptance of all people. That's what it's really about," she said.
The theme of the 2023 Parliament of the World's Religions, "A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights," serves as a poignant reminder of the imperative to awaken the moral compass within every individual, particularly during this critical juncture in human civilization.
Over the past few decades, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze has led Tai Ji Men dizi to visit 101 countries to promote conscience, love, peace, freedom, and human rights, and they were instrumental in the United Nations' designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. The group's involvement in the parade stands as an ongoing endeavor to awaken collective conscience through diverse means. It will continue to foster these positive values in its upcoming events during the Parliament and inspire more kind-hearted people to work together for the betterment of the world.
Tai Ji Men's Engagements Throughout the 2023 Parliament of the World's Religions:
*Tai Ji Men’s Journey: A Fight for Conscience and Justice
Date: August 15, 2023
Time: 10:30 a.m.~12:00 p.m
Place: E353C, McCormick Place Lakeside Center
*Tai Ji Men: Traditional Music and Martial Arts for Peace, Love, and Conscience
Date: August 16, 2023
Time: 3:20 p.m.~4:20 p.m
Place: Exhibit Hall Performance Stage, McCormick Place Lakeside Center
Contacts：
Lily Chen 1(626)202-5268
Ruby Chang 1(984)-281-6662
Email：2023pressrelease@gmail.com