Splendor 2016 Chinese New Year Gathering in Taipei | WPN World People News

Culture is the lifeline of a nation and also serves as a bridge to bring global citizens closer together, enhancing friendships that transcend national boundaries. The world-renowned Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in celebration of its 50th anniversary hold "Chinese New Year Gathering" in ten cities around the globe. Its friends from across the planet have sent their warmest congratulations and best wishes for the event.

With the theme: “The Light of Goodness, 50 Years of Glory,” the gathering is full of the beauty of traditional Chinese New Year celebration, and guests will experience a feast of ancient culture infused with new vitality. As natural and man-made disasters have occurred frequently, young Tai Ji Men members will present a song titled "The Angel in Your Heart" to extend their heartfelt condolences to victims in recent calamities across the globe. They wish the deceased to rest in peace and the living be comforted.

A beauty of traditional Chinese New Year celebration

About Chinese New Year Festival

Lunar Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, is celebrated where Chinese are gathering. Traditionally, the Chinese New Year Festival continues to day 15, the Lantern Festival. 2016 Chinese New Year festival began on February 7 and lasts until January 22. Of the many regions, Taiwan has been thought as the last pure land which preserves traditional Chinese culture. Now, they are trying to keep traditional Chinese culture alive.

By the end of the New Year or before the Lantern Festival, people usually invite friends for a gathering or demonstrate lanterns in different shapes to mark the end of the New Year Festival. Throughout Taiwan, there are several Lantern Festivals every year, most are organized by local governments, some civil societies. As 2016 is the year of Monkey, program theme and decorations are monkey-related.

Taipei is the capital of Taiwan. There are two important fairs on February 21. One is organized by Taipei city government in the evening. The other is Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy to celebrate it's 50th Anniversary in the day time. An ancient martial arts qigong menpai (school), Tai Ji Men has developed for thousands years; however, to fit to modern system, Zeng-men-ren (leader) of Tai Ji Men, Dr. Hong Tao-Tze established the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in 1966, and currently there are 14 branches around the world. The Tai Ji Men New Year Gathering is part of a series of events in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy.

Taipei Lantern Festival

Culture of Shifu and Dizi preserved in Tai Ji Men

"The Light of Goodness, 50 Years of Glory" is the theme of the gathering, which emphasizes that "Culture is the foundation of a nation, while heart is the core of a person," said Dr. Hong Tao-Tze in his remarks. He then called that "in the face of upcoming challenges, we all have to adapt to the changing times, to respect nature and fulfill our duties by starting with a change in our hearts."

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je said at the opening ceremony that he had been a Tai Ji Men dizi (disciple) and had benefited from Dr. Hong’s teaching. Major Ko told the guests that he is to create an environment that all citizens live in Taipei are happy; therefore, he especially agrees Dr. Hong's initiation of "with conscience comes a peaceful family. With happiness comes a joyful family”, theme idea of the movement of An Era of Conscience launched in 2014. To date, this movement has 196 nations participated, and aims to spread the light of goodness around the entire earth and unite world citizens to create a new era of conscience.

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je had benefited from Dr. Hong’s teaching.

Program of the gathering at the major stage is launched by a formation of a variety of ancient Chinese weapons to encourage people bravely create a new era and take conscientious actions. Of course, in the year of Monkey, Master Tang of the journey to the West is not to absent and leads his disciples, Monkey King, Pigsy and Friar Sand to greet the 50th anniversary of Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy. Stories of the journey to the West are known to the world Master Tang and the group of disciples set a good example of how a master takes care of his disciples who cultivate themselves and strive for the master in return. The relations between Master Tang and the three disciples is similar to those in Tai Ji Men that Shifu (master) guides and carries on the spirit of Chinese culture and martial arts to dizi.

Master Tang of the journey to the West leads his disciples, Monkey King, Pigsy and Friar Sand to greet the 50th anniversary of Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy.

A splendid time to enjoy

In addition, there are figures only seen in festive or new in this year arrive at the celebration to bestow their blessings upon all. They are creating an environment that guests were in a paradise. The figures include Celestial Dragons, Phoenixes, Chilin, Auspicious Lions, Peacocks and Gods of Good Fortune, Wealth, Longevity, and Happiness, fairies, angels, etc.

Gods of Good Fortune, Wealth, Longevity, and Happiness arrive at the celebration to bestow their blessings upon all.

The activity has been carefully arranged. The major venue of the event is at Taipei EXPO Hall. To create boundless happy energy, pairs of emcees will lead the attendees to experience a cultural carnival. When guests enter the site, they first are warmly welcomed through an ancient ritual that includes cheerful Tai Ji Men members waving ribbon balls, playing the roles of auspicious lions, and reciting a poem to wish them health, happiness, wealth, wisdom, and joy. Before into the EXPO Hall, guests can also play traditional Chinese games on the Good Fortune Street or enjoy music, drama, folk arts, etc. at the Good Fortune Theater. A famous drama of the Butterfly Lovers (Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai) is a Chinese legend displayd by a popular folk melody originated in ancient mid-China. The Good Fortune Theater presents the fragment that the two lovers met at the first time. Liang Shanbo admired Zhu Yingtai's story of fighting for her right to education and proposed to be sworn brothers.

The Butterfly Lovers were to be sworn brothers

Source: World People News