Tai Ji Men Shines Bright at the U.S. Semiquincentennial, Honoring 60 Years of Legacy | WPN World People News

Grandmaster Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze leads Tai Ji Men dizi to participate in the Independence Day parade hosted by the City of South Pasadena.

July 4, 2026, marked the historic milestone of the United States’ 250th Independence Day (Semiquincentennial), celebrated across the nation with grand events and parades. This monumental year also marks the glorious 60th anniversary—a full 60-year zodiac cycle (Jiazi)—of the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy. To honor this extraordinary dual celebration, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the Zhang-men-ren (Grandmaster) of Tai Ji Men, led over one hundred dizi (apprentices) on a tour through the cities of South Pasadena, Rosemead, and Claremont. Braving the blazing summer heat with selfless hearts and conscience, they presented warm, heartfelt blessings to local communities, the United States, and the world, praying for global peace, prosperity, and the health and happiness of all people.

Moving as one in heart and spirit, the Tai Ji Men dizi work in perfect harmony to make the “Warm Sunshine Dragon” soar and dance under the blue sky, bringing it to life with extraordinary majesty.

Drawing upon their deep foundation of ancient qigong practice, the participating dizi brought traditional cultural performances to life, including the auspicious Celestial Dragon and Phoenix, symbolizing cosmic blessings upon the earth. On the morning of July 4, Dr. Hong led his dizi to participate in the South Pasadena Fourth of July Parade. This year's theme, "From Sea to Shining Sea: 250 Years of the American Spirit," beautifully integrated patriotic sentiment with multicultural inclusion. This marked Tai Ji Men's fourth invitation to this annual event, where they delivered a vibrant performance rich in cultural heritage. The colorful, dazzling procession earned high praise from local officials and civic leaders, as well as enthusiastic acclaim from thousands of spectators along the route.

The auspicious phoenix, a celestial creature symbolizing the dawn of a peaceful era, glide gracefully through the streets, carrying Tai Ji Men’s heartfelt wishes for global safety, happiness, and sustainable prosperity.

The grand event attracted numerous dignitaries, including California State Assemblymember Mike Fong, South Pasadena Mayor Sheila Rossi, Mayor Pro Tem Omari Ferguson, and City Councilmembers Michael Cacciotti, Jon Primuth, and Janet Braun.

Tai Ji Men's youth dizi presented a mighty, joyful drum formation, encouraging people to overcome life’s challenges with a pure, youthful heart, courageously do what is right, and create a bright future.

Mayor Sheila Rossi expressed her appreciation to Tai Ji Men, stating, “It’s so exciting to have had your performers in our show. They've been a special part of our show for the last several years. Thank you so much!”

Following the morning parade, Tai Ji Men wasted no time in heading to the Fourth of July Carnival hosted by the City of Rosemead to deliver a series of uplifting cultural performances.

Councilmember Jon Primuth also shared his appreciation: “Thank you for the beautiful spirit that you brought to our parade—energy, positivity, discipline, focus, and friendliness. Thank you so much! It was a great boost to our event.”

Making its U.S. debut, the "Hakka Cloth Horse Array" featured dizi in colorful roles—like the top-scoring scholar groom and a stable boy—vividly reenacting the journey of an ancient wedding procession.

The Auspicious Phoenix and Hakka Cloth Horse Array Carry Profound Wisdom

Tai Ji Men graced the parade with an elegant "Phoenix Dance" and a silk umbrella dance. As a celestial creature symbolizing the dawn of a peaceful era, the Phoenix glided gracefully through the streets, carrying Tai Ji Men’s wishes for global safety, happiness, and sustainable prosperity. Female dizi twirled red and white silk umbrellas, dancing with joyful vitality as they invited the public to follow their conscience and spread positive energy around the world.

The Hakka Cloth Horse Array captivated the spectators with its vibrant, delightful charm. Tai Ji Men dizi transformed into characters like the bride, a maid, and a matchmaker, vividly reenacting the journey of an ancient wedding procession.

The academy's youth dizi presented a mighty, joyful drum formation, encouraging people to overcome life’s challenges with a pure, youthful heart, courageously do what is right, and create a bright future. In the drum formation, 11-year-old Yu-Rong shared her personal transformation: “I used to be very shy and afraid to talk to strangers. With the encouragement I received at Tai Ji Men, I have become courageous and confident, and I've also learned independence and time management. Through this parade, I wanted to share the message of love and peace so that the audience could feel this blessing and joy.”

Tai Ji Men dizi happily interact with spectators along the parade route.

Making its U.S. Independence Day parade debut at this year's celebration, the vibrant Hakka Cloth Horse Array became one of the procession's most captivating attractions. Featuring a diverse cast of characters—including the top-scoring scholar groom, his bride, a maid, a matchmaker, stable boys, civil and military generals, sedan chair bearers, a boatman, a fisherman, a celestial crane, and a mythical clam—the team vividly enacted the trials and tribulations encountered on life's journey. This humorous yet wise traditional performance brought smiles to the crowd while delivering a warm, profound message: no matter how many challenges life throws our way, harboring a joyful heart allows us to overcome adversity with courage and wisdom, ultimately leading to a fulfilled life.

Grandmaster Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze leads Tai Ji Men dizi to participate in the Independence Day parade hosted by the City of Claremont.

A Joyful Cultural Showcase: Tai Ji Men Spreads Positive Energy at Rosemead Carnival

Following the morning parade, Tai Ji Men wasted no time in heading to the Fourth of July Carnival hosted by the City of Rosemead to deliver a series of uplifting cultural performances. In addition to the Silk Umbrella Dance and the joyful drums, a dizi wielding a kungfu fan seamlessly blended traditional martial arts with the soaring, spirited song The Heroines of the Yang Family. Through this performance, she conveyed and celebrated timeless virtues such as courage, loyalty, wisdom, perseverance, and justice.

Later, a group of young practitioners took the stage with an energetic performance of Happiness Is Everywhere, filling the venue with their enthusiastic singing and dance steps, and warmly inviting the spectators to join in the dance. Through this routine, they hoped to spread smiles, optimism, and boundless vitality to everyone in attendance, while extending their most heartfelt birthday wishes to the United States.

Rep. Judy Chu and Key Dignitaries Convene as Tai Ji Men's Vision of Global Harmony Resonates

On that afternoon, Tai Ji Men also traveled to the City of Claremont to participate in their Fourth of July Parade. Under the theme of “USA! United We Shine,” the event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, U.S. Congresswoman Norma Torres, California State Senator Sasha Renee Perez, California Assemblymember John Harabedian, members of the Claremont City Council, and others.

The centerpiece of Tai Ji Men’s procession was the magnificent golden Warm Sunshine Dragon. Moving with one heart and one mind, the dizi skillfully brought the majestic dragon to life beneath the brilliant blue sky. With breathtaking grace and power, it soared and danced through the streets, bringing warmth and blessings to every spectator while offering prayers for favorable weather, national stability, and peace for Claremont, the United States, and the world.

The awe-inspiring performance captivated the crowd, drawing enthusiastic applause and joyful laughter as spectators exclaimed, “So beautiful!” and “So amazing!”

Cross-Generational Unity: Moving Stories of Transformation

The Tai Ji Men dizi who participated in the parade represented three generations, each with an inspiring personal journey. Among them was 66-year-old Ray, an inventory logistics specialist for computer cables, who shared that under the guidance of Grandmaster Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, Tai Ji Men dizi crafted this entire celestial dragon themselves—from its inner skeletal frame to its outer ceremonial robe. Because it is quite heavy, maneuvering and running with it is highly challenging.

In the dragon formation were twin brothers Eric and Jerry, who are currently pursuing their master's degrees in Arizona. For weeks leading up to the event, the brothers drove six hours each way during weekends just to practice with their fellow Tai Ji Men Qigong practitioners. Eric, majoring in electrical engineering, shared how the training mirrored his academic life: "In graduate school, group discussions are frequent. Through the dragon formation, I learned the essence of teamwork and how to communicate calmly even when opinions differ. The resilience I built in training also helped me stay cheerful through Arizona's blistering summer heat, which frequently soared above 100°F."

Carlos, a dizi from Ecuador, also participated in the parade. For a long time, he had been troubled by health issues, including being overweight, a fatty liver, and high triglycerides. He described his old self as being like a hamster trapped in a wheel, repeating the same daily work routine without finding any direction. After witnessing firsthand the immense transformation his wife experienced within just one year of practicing Tai Ji Men Qigong, he decided to join. Under the guidance and reminders of Shifu (the Grandmaster), he began to actively improve his health, successfully losing over 40 pounds and significantly improving all of his health indicators. Furthermore, he learned to utilize his conscience and wisdom to bravely overcome life's challenges.

Tai Ji Men's spectacular performances across all three locations left an indelible impression on the local crowds. One spectator, Mikela Bjork, shared, “I love the joy that it brings. I love how colorful it is. You are the best part of the parade!”

Another attendee, Molly Craytor, reflected that the energy radiating from all the performers filled her with so much joy and positivity. “It’s so exciting to see,” she said.

Spectator Katie Distelrath praised the performance as a beautiful display of unity. She shared how much she loved the underlying message of the presentation, noting how inspiring it was to see every child work on the dragon and coordinate collectively to bring it to life. For her, the performance served as a powerful reminder that everyone should do more for the world. “Thank you for such a beautiful entry,” she added.

A Golden Era Reached: Reservations Open for the 60th Anniversary Grand Gala in October

Through their parades and cultural showcases, Tai Ji Men seamlessly blended ancient Eastern heritage with universal values, perfectly mirroring the core of the American spirit: respect for diversity, inclusion, and a forward-looking vision.

The year 2026 carries a beautiful dual significance. As the nation celebrates its 250th year, the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy enters its glorious 60th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, Tai Ji Men will host three grand celebratory galas from October 9 to 10 this year, promising an even more breathtaking and soul-stirring cultural feast. Admission is free, but seating is limited. All are warmly invited to reserve their tickets early to experience this rare, uplifting cultural phenomenon.