22 September 2016
Culture makes a nation great. Preservation of non-material culture has become an emerging trend. A cultural performance with oriental martial arts spirit was held at 7:30 pm Friday, September 16 in Arcadia Performing Arts Center. The performance features martial arts formations and oriental celestial creatures such as dragon, phoenix, lion and kilin. Performed by more than 300 Tai Ji Men dizi aged from young children to the elderly seniors, the cultural presentation has written a new page of martial arts demonstration. The performing center is fully packed with more than 1,000 distinguished guests. The performance is broadcast alive in 15 cities in Taiwan and the state.
Making great fanfare in Sydney Olympic in 2000, Tai Ji Men is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. A cultural goodwill trip around the world has been planned. More than 10,000 people have witnessed the performance in July in Taipei. The performance is taken to California in September with the theme “Tai Ji culture, wisdom of ancient civilization, shining in the modern times”. The opening is the concert performed by Love and Peace Orchestra, followed by the pounding drum performances. The drumbeat and the coordinated heart and qi delivers joyful energies and demonstrates ancient culture with new vitalities.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Hong indicates “Qi nurtures all the living creatures in the universe. Dao is the way nature functions. The oriental philosophy of tai ji and yin yang is the origin of universe. Every life is closely connected with the rhythm of the universe. It takes a heart of calmness and cleanness for us, especially at this time of turbulence, to get back to the state of nature and realize our full potential in order to seek the truth and meanings of life. What I have inherited from my prior grand masters and what I have been teaching is this lesson of life which is about the unity of heart and qi and have been practiced for thousands of years.” For years in the journey around the world sharing love and peace, Tai Ji Men have received so many feedbacks of kindness and witnessed many sparkling consciences. “The average life span is less than a hundred years. However, culture of conscience can transcend the generation gap and be carried forward forever in the form of a shifu and dizi.” Dr. Hong’s philosophy and wisdom resonates in the hearts of the participants.
In celebration of this historic moment and in appreciation of Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy’s contribution to society, leaders from various fields presented certificates of recognition in person or through their representatives, or sent certificates by mail, including Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez; Lieutenant Governor of California Gavin Newsom ; California State Senator Ed Hernandez; Michael D. Antonovich, member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; Mayor Eric Ching of Walnut; Mayor Sandra Armenta of Rosemead; Mayor Chin Ho Liao of San Gabriel; Mayor Samuel Kang of Duarte; Mayor Barbara Messina of Alhambra; Councilmember Larry J. Spicer of Monrovia; Robert Guthrie, chief of Arcadia Police Department; Xiao-Cui Liu, president of International Martial Arts Federation; and Dr. Kylie Hsu, professor emerita at California State University, Los Angeles. California State Senator Ed Hernandez said during the event, “What a wonderful night. There’s so much energy here in the room. Look, smiling. The absolute biggest honor that I have is to be able to attend cultural events like this being held in the City of Arcadia. But more importantly, the incredible leaders like Dr. Hong, who spreads joy, but more importantly, wisdom and prosperity throughout the world.”
Chin Ho Liao, mayor of San Gabriel, congratulates Tai Ji Men for its 50 years of success. He has known Dr. Hong for more than 10 years and he thinks Dr. Hong looks like 30 years younger. The practice of qigong must have brought positive energies. He appreciates Dr. Hong’s efforts in teaching dizi to love himself and to love others and to bring love and peace.
The celebration centers around the culture of tai ji. The performance is decomposed into three sessions with stories reflecting the universe, the society and life. Happiness, joy and justice have been delivered in various forms such as martial arts, music, dancing and opera, instilling the ancient culture with new vitality.
Tai Ji Men is an ancient menpai of qigong, martial arts and heart cultivation. It holds the key to unlock the wisdom in the depth of heart and also the treasures of diverse cultures. Current zhang-men-ren, Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, established Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in 1966. Tai Ji Men has visited more than 200 cities in 66 nations conducting more than 2,000 cultural performances and won the recognition of “international ambassador of peace and goodwill”. In recent years, Tai Ji Men has been promoting the movement of An Era of Conscience which has won supports from people in 196 nations. This year, they brought the endorsement of Declaration of World Citizens to the 66th UN NGO Conference, Portugal and Balkan. People from 71 nations have signed the declaration.
Videos of footprints in different parts of the glove promoting love and peace are presented in the program. Ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love to pray for blessings and peace is also in the video. The Bell has traveled around the world. As of today, 270 world leaders from 87 nations including 27 heads of states, 8 Novel Price Winners, UN ambassadors and NGO leaders have rung the Bell.
The focus ceremony in the program invited guests to beat the drum or unfold the fan to install positive energies into the world,including Alyssa Guerrero, representative of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez; California State Senator Ed Hernandez; Brian Mejia, representative of Michael D. Antonovich, member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; Mayor Chin Ho Liao of San Gabriel; Councilmember Larry Spicer of Monrovia; Superintendent David Vannasdall of Arcadia School District; Thwin Htet Lin, Deputy Consul General of Myanmar in Los Angeles; Gustavo Sancho, representative of Consul General Sylvia Ugalde of Costa Rica in Los Angeles; and other leaders. They participated in this jubilant and meaningful ceremony, regardless of political party, creed, or race.
The theme of cultural presentation is “Tai Ji culture, wisdom of ancient civilization, shining in the modern times”. Through the well-coordinated performances of martial arts, dancing, music and opera, the highest kong-fu of unity of heart and qi is presented. The plot of the performance is intended to deliver philosophy of life and find the inner energies of heart.
All the performers aged from 8 to 64 are non-professionals. They have carried the tradition of cultural heritage. Audiences are immersed in the cultural presentation witnessing the harmony and joy.
Conclusion of the performance is three songs of “Fly with Your Dream” , “Song of Hope” and “Happiness is Everywhere” presented by energy boys and energy girls. The stage was turned into a carnival when the music of “We are one world” started. The vigor and beauty of different ethnic dancing brought everyone together in peace and harmony.
Photo: Brian Mejia (third from left), representative of Michael D. Antonovich, member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; David Vannasdall (fourth from left), Superintendent of Arcadia School District; Chin Ho Liao (fourth from right), Mayor of the City of San Gabriel; and Larry Spicer (third from right), Councilmember of the City of Monrovia present certificates to Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze (center), grandmaster of Tai Ji Men, for leading Tai Ji Men members to promote a culture of love and peace.