Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy

The 80th Anniversary and Campus Tour Day of the Army Infantry School

Tai Ji Men Victory Flag Performance Spreading Positive Energy to Encourage Both the Soldiers and Civilians to Safeguard the Country

By Li Kuo-Hua, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

The Army Command Headquarter and Army Infantry School organized the Campus Tour on National Defense event for the 80th Anniversary on Feb. 11th, 2012. The campus was opened from 9 am to 2 pm for commissioned officers, their families and civilians to join the army exhibition featuring training, research, and the future development of the army. Among the many activities organized for that day, the cultural performance by Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy especially showed the positive energy and the spirit of knights. Tai Ji Men also performed the Fan Dance, which is gorgeous and only available for royal activities in the ancient time. They wish people to be united and live in peace in the Dragon Year.

Thousands of people visited the Military Academy and watched the excellent Chinese culture festival. General Officer Lee Hsiang-Chou said in his speech, “Distinguished guests, welcome to the 80th Anniversary of the Military Academy to enjoy the excellent cultures. I wish the series of demonstrations of fighting skills and cultural activities can help promote the infantry’s vanguard spirit.”

First performance is the martial arts performance. The martial arts practitioners’ spirit of bravery, vanguard, unity and cooperation encourage both the soldiers and civilians to safeguard the country. Tai Ji Men then performs the Fan Dance, which is gorgeous and only available for royal activities in the ancient time. With sweet smiles, Tai Ji Men sisters presented a ruyi and taiji totem with fans. They wished everyone peace and good luck and encourage people to create happy life with the wisdom of balanced yin and yang philosophy.

Major General Chin Cheng-Pu said, “Tai Ji Men has many times won great honor for our country. This event is very meaningful to both the soldiers and civilians. I would like to say thank you to Tai Ji Men for the great performance for the 80th anniversary of the Army Infantry School. It is very successful.” Mr. Hsu Chih-Chieh, Legislator and the Director Fongshan District, Kaohsiung, praised Tai Ji Men for practicing self-cultivation and promoting the improvement of moral character. The retired Commissioned Officer Cheng Hsu-Chin (the 49th phase of the Republic of China Military Academy) said, “I hope our country, society, and the world can enjoy lasting peace as described by taiji: After a storm, comes a calm.”

After watching Tai Ji Men’s performance, the host, Ms. Chang Lan-Lan, was deeply moved and in tears. She said, “The music touched my heart deeply. I cannot describe it. The performance in the sunshine was so beautiful. Especially the dancers looked like fairies. What the society lacks is the purification of human’s hearts. As long as there is love, the world will get better and every body will see hopes.”

In addition, the military academy also prepared various events for celebration. Exhibitions included cultures and arts, the history of the Army Infantry School, training results, military equipment display, and so on. Performances have Physical Fitness Squad training, Dragon Team parachuting, Military Marching Band and Honor Guard, Military Drum Team, Tai’an Primary School Samba Drum, Shu-Te Home Economics and Commercial High School Cheer Squad, South Island Dance Group, garden party, and so on.

We can also see live the demonstration of knight spirit in the event. Tai Ji Men dizis from all walks of life, including many retired commissioned officers and soldiers, keep serving the society and safeguarding justice under the inspiration by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze. Mr. Tang Chun-Yu, who has devoted himself to the army for more than 20 years, is currently a volunteer of UN/NGO World Citizen Association. Dr. Liu Ming-Jer, who received his Ph.D. Degree of Environment Engineering from National Chiao Tung University and retired from Chemical Department of Military Academy two years ago, has also promoted campus human rights education for a long time. Mr. Peng Tsu-Kang, who has retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Army Command Headquarter, has also joined many public welfare cultural activities. Mr. Hung Hui-Hsiung, who has been a team chief and chief instructor in the Army Infantry School, has won the Excellent Instructor Prize in 2007. Together with Dr. Hong, Mr. Hung has taken advantage of his holidays and leisure times to join public welfare cultural activities to promote peace and love in UN, New York. Mr. Hung said that he has practiced Tai Ji Men qigong for more than 18 years. He has learned how to calm down with positive thinking. He is also able to be confident and has grasped many opportunities to improve himself and exercise his potential. Mr. Hung encouraged all the teachers and students in the Army Infantry School to think positively in the face of difficulties. If one can be courageous to treat difficulties as chances to improve oneself and work hard, favorable results will be then achieved.

Besides, in the stick performance, there are many youths who have joined Tai Ji Men from childhood. They acted uniformly and powerfully and moved all the audiences. The young generations are the new hopes of the society and the country.