Tai Ji Men’s Epic Masterpiece “Back to the Origin” Debuts in the US on 6 Oct

2023-09-30

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Tai Ji Men's Golden Phoenix and unicorn bring auspicious energy to the world.

In the year 2000, the Tai Ji Men Cultural Goodwill Group brought “stop the war“ martial arts spirit to the Sydney Olympics, setting off a martial arts frenzy.

In October of this year (2023), Tai Ji Men, which inherits the essence of over 6,000 years of culture and martial arts, will recreate the performances "Back to the Origin" and "Cultural Gems: Love and Prayers for the World" in California, USA, echoing the grandeur of the millennium performance at the Sydney Opera House.

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The celestial drum formation by Tai Ji Men is truly heart-inspiring.

The majority of the individuals in the Tai Ji Men Cultural Goodwill Group are amateur performers. They leverage years of practice foundation, skillfully blend qigong, martial arts, and art to create a cultural feast that enriches the body, mind, and spirit. Through cultural exchange, they ignite inspiration in people's hearts, triggering a butterfly effect of acts of kindness.

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One world, united in harmony and happiness.

Performances are scheduled for October 6 and October 7 in Northern California and October 15 in Southern California. To benefit the public through cultural exchange, admission is free. Seats are limited so don’t miss this rare opportunity and secure your free tickets.

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The martial arts family showcases the martial spirit of 'stop' and 'war'.

Tai Ji Men caused a Martial Arts Sensation at the Sydney Olympics.

In 2000, Dr. Hong and more than 400 Tai Ji Men disciples were invited by the Sydney Olympic Committee and the Premier of New South Wales to perform during the Sydney Olympics. Tai Ji Men is the only qigong martial arts cultural group ever invited to perform at an Olympic competition venue during the Olympic finals. In addition it is also the only martial arts group to ever take stage at the Sydney Opera House.

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An ancient world of harmony and balance between yin and yang, where heaven and humanity are united as one.

On October 2nd, Tai Ji Men took the stage at the world-class Sydney Opera House with their performance titled “A Night of Ancient Culture.” Tickets were in high demand and sold out in two days.

An elderly gentleman who had traveled seven hours from Melbourne held a sign that read “TAI JI MEN TICKET WANTED PLEASE,” hoping to secure a seat at the Opera House. When he was fortunate enough to obtain a ticket, he joyfully kissed the cheek of a volunteer nearby.

Nearly 3,000 audiences flooded into the opera house that evening. The spectacular performance became one of the most precious memories in many people’s lives.

His Excellency the Honorary Gordon Samuels, Former Governor of New South Wales and royal representative of the Queen of Great Britain, accompanied by his wife, watched the cultural performance presented by Tai Ji Men. He also rang the Bell of Peace and Love to express his wish for world peace.

He remarked, “We must commit ourselves to a future of peace, of reconciliation and harmony. It is not difficult of course to produce the appropriate words when one is speaking of such a thing. What is difficult, also people have always found, is to match deeds to the words. Tai Ji Men understands this and understands that our conduct must mirror our words, must match our sentiments... We must learn how to live in peace and examples of the kind before you today point us in the direction in which we should travel”.

Tai Ji Men's performance adds depth to life and nourishes the soul.

The renowned Tai Ji Men production titled “A Night of Ancient Culture,” which had previously captivated audiences at the Sydney Opera House, was restaged at Taiwan's esteemed National Theater during the 2001 World Citizens Assembly.

More than 1,600 distinguished guests from over 60 countries across six continents came together to journey back to antiquity to rediscover that enduring force in the human soul.

Chairperson Susan Zipp of the Millenium People's Assembly Network expressed in her interview, "It was the most beautiful performance, the debut tonight, to be able to participate and watch such energy and such vision. I am so impressed with everyone’s abilities and even more so, Dr. Hong is such a magnificent energy, as a teacher, as a parent, as a solver. He has so much ability in his pinky, more than I have in my whole body, more than most people have, and he dedicates his vision to the future of humanity; one by one, person by person with Tai Ji Men, and it’s a beautiful experience. Watching tonight, I’m sure that the performers, when they see the videotape, they’ll just be crying and laughing and just so delighted. Everyone in the audience, everyone in the room, was elevated. Our lives are deepened and our hearts are richer because of tonight’s performance.”

At the same time, lively and festive Lunar New Year Gatherings were taking place in Los Angeles and San Jose, California, USA.

Congressman and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, rang the Bell of Peace and Love, offering prayers for California, the United States, and the entire world.

In his interview, he stated, “I've been to many countries in the world, I have not been to as many countries as this bell has visited, and so that also is a powerful thought, that we are reaching out to every culture, every community around the world and spreading the message. It's a humbling feeling.”

Dr. Charles Mercieca, President of the International Association of Educators for World Peace, remarked, “I have traveled very extensively, and I think this was one of the best, if not, the very best program that I ever saw in my life. It was very perfect, very exciting and it’s very, very spiritually oriented.”

"The Light of Goodness, 50 Years of Glory" left a lasting impression on distinguished guests from around the World.

2016 coincided with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy. During the New Year period on February 21, a special cultural performance with the theme “The Light of Goodness, 50 Years of Glory'' was presented at the Taipei Expo Park Butterfly Pavilion. Ancient culture was brought to life by the cultural numbers imbued with festive atmosphere of olden times. Thousands of guests gathered at the park on that day to share joy and blessings.

Mayor Manny Cappello of Saratoga, California, USA, said, ”I think it is the message of love and peace and harmony that comes across. And it wasn’t just a message that was being expounded by adults if you will, but it is also the message that was carried forward and being said through to the children as well. And I think it’s really impressive, just say the children, we are not just going through the motions just in terms of dance and their singing, but you can tell it’s coming from their heart."

Helen Hall, Chair of the Walnut Valley School District Board of Education, said, "If you can spread that throughout Los Angeles and throughout the state and throughout the world, I think that’s wonderful. And I can’t say enough of the love and the peace that I felt in this performance today."

Tai Ji Men's "A Night of Ancient Culture" was restaged at the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC) and local theaters in Los Angeles and San Jose on July 21st and September respectively, attracting more than 5,000 audiences in total. These events led modern man in discovering the positive energy that originates from the kindness of their hearts. The audience also experienced the connection between their hearts and the universe, and gained insight into the origins of life and the direction of humanity's future.

Ambassador Minute Alapati Taupo from Tuvalu remarked, “I think Tai Ji Men is a really effective organization in preaching for peace and security and to a bright humankind and what we can do to live a better life for now and forever."

Brazilian pilot Edison M. Peinado Jr. said, "It’s very impressive to see a group of people putting this together. And every day you open newspapers, you open the internet and you see so much distress, so much hatred. And when you see a group of people telling the world: Hey! It's our choice to make and do the good thing. So, I see a lot of hope, so much to learn here."

Chia-Chi Hsu, the Asia-Pacific General Manager of Schoeller Textil AG, Switzerland, said, "I never expected it to be so incredibly impressive and touching! I truly believe Dr. Hong is amazing; he has dedicated so much in his lifetime."

Haruko Ogata, a member of the Sou’s Box (Japanese band), said, "We truly feel connected to world peace, and we can sense the tremendous power radiating from all of you. I also want to use this power to live each day happily when I return to Japan."

The ABC television network broadcasted and praised the magnificent performance."

During the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 16 and 18, 2016, the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy celebrated its 50th anniversary. “Tai Ji Culture A Precious Treasure Bringing Hope to the World” took stage in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. The events ignited a fervor for Eastern martial arts and the venues were packed. The performers were individuals of all ages, from three generations of the same family, who combined their skills with multimedia to showcase ancient, enchanting formations. Additionally, rarely seen auspicious creatures from Eastern mythology, along with blessings from the Eight Immortals of the East, created a truly remarkable spectacle.

The grand event held at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles was broadcasted by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) television network through a live stream, sharing the stunning visuals with audiences worldwide.
On that day, VIP guests from 24 countries and over a thousand viewers from 15 different locations across the world tuned in to watch the event via the live feed.
ABC Network introduced Tai Ji Men as an ancient martial art renowned for its ability to inspire the soul and promote peace, happiness, and positive energy. The anchor enthusiastically exclaimed, 'That's a great show!' The success of the event was covered by more than 50 American media outlets on that day.

Various heads of states and leaders from around the world including the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Pope Francis, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, U.S. President Barack Obama, French President François Hollande, Governor-General of Jamaica, President of Switzerland, and President of Latvia sent congratulatory messages. Over 30 organizations and individuals in the United States presented Certificates of Commendations to express their gratitude. They bore witness to the achievements of Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in half a century, and how it had inspired everyone with positive energy to be courageous in their endeavors.

Arnold Garcia the founder of Hollywood Magazine said, "Definitely the show is just amazing. Lots of color. The message is strong..peace, world peace. It’s very, very important in our world today. And I think Dr. Hong has sent a great message to the world.”

California Redwood City Councilmember Jeff Gee was deeply impressed by the performance, stating, "How do we preserve our culture and pass them to the next generation, to my children? Whether it be food, dance, or martial arts, all that come to see what’s going on here and how the children learn and carry on the tradition, it’s extremely valuable."

Tom Beck, Mayor of Arcadia, California, said, "Love and peace is so important and it’s one thing that everyone should be doing.” “I think everyone individually needs to do what they can to bring more love, to bring more peace and bring more kindness to their neighbors and their neighborhoods, and the city because this world will be so much better if we all work together for more love and more peace.”

Sun, Muh-Tung, Commissioner of the Overseas Community Affairs Council (Taiwan), expressed his excitement, saying, "It is the greatest blessing of my life to have the honor to be here today!" He continued, "I am very grateful that these people have contributed their time and resources. I hope everyone can give Tai Ji Men the greatest encouragement, and we hope that Taiwan's cultural heritage, with such high standards, can continue to be passed down."

The Tai Ji Men's extraordinary production “'Back to The Origin” will debut in the United States.

Where do we come from? Where do we go from here?
Resembling an Eastern version of “Genesis,” Tai Ji Men’s epic masterpiece, “Back to The Origin”, will make its debut on the evening of October 6th at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts in California.

The performance narrates the journey of humanity from the celestial realm to the earthly world, with the main character continuously searching for the meaning of life.

This production, under the guidance of Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, involves scriptwriting, music composition, costume design, stage sets, props, and more, all crafted and performed by the disciples themselves, mobilizing over 500 individuals.

The entire play is infused with rich cultural heritage, cleverly combining Eastern martial arts, traditional drama, and contemporary dance, presenting classical culture in an innovative manner.

Following their impressive presentations of “A Night of Ancient Culture” at prestigious venues like the Sydney Opera House in 2000, the Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu in 2001, and the Fox Theatre in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016, Tai Ji Men is now introducing their significant production “Back to The Origin.” This aligns with the inauguration of the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in Santa Clara, and they have decided to premiere it at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.

On October 7th, at both the afternoon and evening shows at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, the production “Cultural Gems, Love and Prayers for the World” will deliver a cultural extravaganza that blends martial arts, dance, and art, evoking sentiments of love and peace in the audience. It will encourage everyone to prioritize their conscience and extend prayers and blessings to the world, carrying the hopes of love and peace. On October 15th, in both the afternoon and evening, “Back to The Origin” and “Cultural Gems, Love and Prayers for the World” will return to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

Tai Ji Men is an international non-profit cultural organization. Its culture is deeply rooted in Tao wisdom, which has been passed down from generation to generation. It is dedicated to preserving the culture of Tai Ji Men and enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of people worldwide.

Dr. Hong has led delegations from Tai Ji Men and the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) across six continents, propagating a culture of conscience, love and peace.

Tai Ji Men is recognized as an international ambassador of peace and goodwill. It has ventured to more than 300 cities across six continents to present over 3,000 cultural performances.

In October of this year, Tai Ji Men will be opening two new academies in California, USA. We look forward to more people joining us in promoting love and peace, persistently planting the seeds of moral awareness worldwide, and collaborating to make a positive impact on the global stage. The Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in Santa Clara will have its grand reopening on October 8th, followed by the academy in Pasadena’s grand opening on the 14th."

California Cultural News:
Ticket information for the Tai Ji Men cultural performances are as follows:

On October 6th and October 7th, there will be a total of three performances at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
Please secure your free tickets by visiting https://www.taijimen.org/events/sj-opening

On October 15th, there will be two performances at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium
Please secure your free tickets by visiting https://www.taijimen.org/events/la-opening