Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy

Tai Ji Men Spreads Blessings at Walnut’s Lunar New Year Celebration

Fabulous Cultural Performances: Consolidating Kind Hearts and Positive Thoughts to Transform the World

The festivities commenced with the vibrant beats of the Tai Ji Men Joyful Drums. Nurtured by the guidance, love, and encouragement of Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, the youngsters at Tai Ji Men have thrived in an atmosphere of happiness. Embracing the rich cultural heritage handed down through generations, they expressed their exuberance and vitality through rhythmic drumming, spreading joy to all. Their spirited and stylish rendition earned resounding applause from the audience.

Next came Tai Ji Men's performance of the silk umbrella dance. The graceful rotation of the umbrellas served as a symbol to inspire individuals to act with conscience and engage in benevolent deeds to foster positive transformations in the world. Their charming smiles and graceful movements elicited enthusiastic applause from the audience.



In celebration of the New Year, a cascade of firecrackers filled the air! Following their resounding echoes, the Tai Ji Celestial Dragon, Auspicious Lions, and Celestial Official emerged to bestow blessings upon the world. The 68-foot-long Dragon, making its debut in Walnut, was meticulously crafted by Tai Ji Men, rendering it truly unique. Guided by the shifu (grandmaster) and his wife, Tai Ji Men dizi (apprentices) ventured into the mountains to handpick bamboo suitable for the dragon's framework and meticulously sewed its exterior, stitch by stitch. United in purpose, Dr. and Mrs. Hong, alongside their dizi, diligently collaborated to fashion over a dozen Tai Ji Dragons in different shapes and hues, imparting blessings and vitality to various occasions throughout the world.

Due to the bamboo construction of the Dragon's frame, maneuvering it posed significant challenges owing to its considerable weight. In order to authentically capture the essence of the Dragon, Tai Ji Men members dedicated their weekends over the past two months to practicing the dragon dance. Among them, 14-year-old Aaron Lin, a student within the Walnut School District, gleaned valuable lessons in patience, perseverance, and the importance of unity and collaboration through these practice sessions. Inspired by his experiences, Aaron motivated his peers within Tai Ji Men of similar age to collaborate effectively in preparations for the performance, thereby fostering the development of leadership skills.

Aaron's mother not only urged him to partake in the Dragon Dance rehearsals but also led by example through her participation in the Drumming Formation practice sessions. Each weekend, the mother-son duo went to Tai Ji Men, immersing themselves in the joyful atmosphere of qigong practice and training sessions for upcoming performances. Together, they engaged in daily exercises to enhance their physical well-being. Bonding over shared interests and objectives, they provided mutual encouragement and cherished moments of quality time. Consequently, their enhanced parent-child interactions facilitated open discussions about their respective lives, effectively mitigating potential conflicts and fostering a harmonious relationship between mother and teenage son.

The cultural showcases presented by Tai Ji Men transcend mere performances. Engaging in the preparation and execution of these displays, Tai Ji Men members have embraced opportunities for personal growth, fostering heartfelt connections and surpassing self-imposed boundaries. This collective journey of self-discovery not only benefits the individuals involved but also serves to uplift those around them, fostering a shared path of improvement. It is this heartfelt dedication that imbues Tai Ji Men's performances with a profound emotional resonance. Walnut Mayor Nancy Tragarz and Mayor Pro Tem Linda Freedman expressed sincere appreciation to Tai Ji Men for their exceptional performances, following the Dragon Dance and Lion Dance, recognizing the depth of passion and commitment evident in their presentations.

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez also attended the event, extending her heartfelt wishes to all attendees. She encouraged everyone to embody the virtues associated with the dragon, including power, honor, love, and success.

Following this, Tai Ji Men presented a spectacular drum performance, offering wishes for a New Year brimming with courage and hope. Tai Ji Men also graciously invited Congresswoman Linda Sánchez and the elected officials from the City of Walnut to share their heartfelt New Year wishes for the community and the world. Mayor Nancy Tragarz expressed hopes for global peace, harmony, happiness, health, and enduring bonds of friendship and love. Congresswoman Sánchez wished for peace, prosperity, and the opportunity to savor life's blessings. Mayor Pro Tem Linda Freedman extended wishes for a year filled with prosperity, happiness, and cherished moments with loved ones. Council Member Dr. Allen Wu expressed a desire for the drums to dispel negativity and bring peace and good fortune to all. Councilmember Eric Ching offered a prayer for continued prosperity bestowed by the divine. Councilmember Ritchie Cajulis wished for peace, prosperity, and happiness to grace everyone's lives.

Tai Ji Men extended an invitation to the leaders to guide all attendees in a moment of reflection, offering kind wishes for the New Year and for global harmony. Subsequently, the leaders joined together in beating the celestial drums, symbolizing the sharing of these heartfelt wishes with the world, allowing the resonance of hope to permeate through the beats.

Following the conclusion of the performance, Mayor Nancy Tragarz awarded Tai Ji Men a certificate of recognition in acknowledgment of their outstanding performances and valuable contributions to the community. In addition to the cultural showcases, Tai Ji Men organized three booths where the public was invited to select bookmarks representing 12 different types of qi (energy), such as positive, joyful, and courageous energy, with the intention of bestowing abundant positivity and blessings upon all participants. Its booths also featured traditional New Year's activities, including the composition of Chinese couplets and lantern-making. Tai Ji Men also invited attendees to sign meaningful declarations for the International Day of Conscience, World Prayer Day, and World Day of the Power of Hope. These activities aimed to inspire individuals to follow their conscience, harness the power of hope, and engage in benevolent actions to improve themselves, their communities, nations, and the world.