Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy

Tai Ji Men's Celestial Dragon Steals the Spotlight at U.S. Independence Day Parade

Sharing Love and Kindness Through the Beauty of Culture

The annual Rose, White & Blue Parade is one of San Jose's oldest and most iconic Independence Day celebrations. Attracting tens of thousands of participants each year, it not only showcases the vibrancy of the community but also serves as a key platform for promoting the local economy and fostering ethnic inclusion.
This year's parade officially began at 9:45 a.m. on July 4 near the campus of Lincoln High School. The procession featured parade performers, antique car convoys, marching bands, dance troupes, and various community groups in an orderly lineup. Children added a touch of joy and charm to the event by decorating their bicycles and wagons with red, white, and blue ribbons. The parade route passed through the Shasta/Hanchett and Rose Garden neighborhoods, following Dana Street → Naglee Avenue → The Alameda. The main celebration took place at the corner of Shasta Avenue and The Alameda, drawing large crowds and creating a lively, festive atmosphere along the way.
This year's event embraced the theme ‘Patriotism Through Inclusivity and Justice,’ highlighting the city's cultural diversity, social equity, and shared values. In addition to continuing the century-old Rose Parade tradition, the enthusiastic participation of communities from various ethnic backgrounds showcased unity and cultural pride, bringing a deeper and more meaningful dimension to the Independence Day celebration.
Disciples of Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy's Northern California Academies in Cupertino and Santa Clara, along with Tai Ji Men disciples from around the world, formed a team to participate in this year's grand celebration. Making a dazzling appearance, the Tai Ji Celestial Dragon—symbolizing compassion, courage, and wisdom—danced along the parade route, blessing the crowd with wishes for health, happiness, and good fortune. It quickly became the highlight of the event. Female disciples performed an elegant Silk Umbrella Dance, with the spinning umbrellas symbolizing transformation and balance in life. The performance conveyed the message of ‘speaking kind words and doing good deeds,’ offering warmth and a sense of peace in turbulent times.
Tai Ji Men disciples demonstrated a strong spirit of unity and teamwork, delivering a performance marked by precision and seamless coordination. Matt, a disciple participating in the dragon dance for the first time, shared that he has been with Tai Ji Men for 20 years, but this was his first opportunity to join the dragon team. “Dancing the dragon requires becoming one with it, and supporting one another so no one falls behind,” he said. “When we actually performed, it went even more smoothly than in practice. I'm truly grateful to all the Tai Ji Men brothers and sisters around the world whose support made it possible for us to accomplish this together.”
The Tai Ji Celestial Dragon drew enthusiastic responses from spectators along the parade route, with many stopping to take photos. Julie, a local resident, shared that she found it truly meaningful and inspiring to see Chinese culture integrated with other communities in the same event. Underhill, a resident of Los Gatos, added, “I love the dragon, I love the flags, the attire, everything. I think there's a lot of fun culture to it. It's beautiful. I'd love to educate myself more though on it.”
Tai Ji Men is an ancient school of self-cultivation, qigong, and martial arts. As a non-profit organization, it is dedicated to promoting love and peace worldwide through cultural exchange. Tai Ji Men teaches that by speaking kind words and doing good deeds, individuals can generate positive energy and help build a more harmonious and compassionate world. The public is warmly invited to experience the benefits of qigong and explore the wisdom of yin and yang to restore balance and well-being in life.