The Circle of Love: A Tribute to Great Women | WPN World People News

In 2008, Madam Yu Mei-Jung, wife of Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, presents an award to Dominican President Leonel Fernández. In recognition of her longstanding efforts to promote love and peace, international organizations designated April 4 as “Madam Yu, Mei-Jung Legacy Day.”

In the warmth of May, children around the world take time to express their gratitude and love for their mothers. In 1908, American activist Anna Jarvis launched a campaign advocating for a holiday dedicated to honoring mothers. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson of the United States officially proclaimed the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day each year.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan met with Dr. and Mrs. Hong, Tao-Tze to exchange views on the ideals of love and peace.

The international community recognizes the profound influence that exemplary maternal love can have on society. April 4 was declared as “Madam Yu, Mei-Jung Legacy Day” to honor the lifelong dedication of Madam Yu to advancing a culture of peace rooted in love and conscience. Transcending the boundaries of her own family, Madam Yu steadfastly supported Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men, to carry out a great and noble mission. Through her extraordinary courage, compassion, and unwavering perseverance, she earned international respect and admiration.

In 2001, President Fradique de Menezes (right) of São Tomé and Príncipe visits Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy and rings the Bell of World Peace and Love. He is received by Dr. and Mrs. Hong Tao-Tze.

In celebration of this Mother’s Day, we pay tribute to all great women. We honor mothers for their selfless devotion, through which love continues to flow across generations.

Dr. and Mrs. Hong Tao-Tze lead a goodwill delegation to Europe to promote the ideals of love and peace.

A Mother’s Happiest Moment: A Concentric Circle Cake Filled with True Love

“This was the happiest I had ever seen my mother,” recalled Heng-Mei Dong as she spoke of one of the most cherished moments in her life. She was recalling her first Mother’s Day after joining Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy. She and her husband made a special trip north to celebrate the occasion with her mother, first visiting Tai Ji Men Academy to pay their respects to the Shifu (Dr. Hong) and Shimu (Madam Yu).

After ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love, Dr. Jagdish Gandhi poses for a photo with Mdm. Yu Mei-Jung and Dr. Bharti Gandhi.

Upon seeing them, Shifu warmly remarked to other Tai Ji Men dizi (apprentices), “They have come from Hsinchu,” and kindly reassured Heng-Mei, “This is your home as well; please feel at ease.” The academy was filled with people that day, creating an atmosphere that was both lively and warmly welcoming. To her surprise, Shifu also inquired whether she had eaten. When she later went upstairs and met Shimu, who said with a gentle smile, “As Shifu was about to have his lunch, he thought of you and immediately went to look for you.” Glancing at her watch, Heng-Mei realized it was already 3:30 p.m. “Shifu and Shimu would often delay their meals in order to care for and offer guidance to their dizi, doing so selflessly and without the slightest complaint.”

Tai Ji Men’s Shifu and disciples are dedicated to cultural preservation, and Mdm. Yu Mei-Jung’s gentle guidance helps them feel that love is everywhere.

A little after 5:00 p.m., a Tai Ji Men dizi arrived with a large cake to extend Mother’s Day greetings to Shimu, as Shifu and the dizi gathered to share in the joyful celebration. Shifu then instructed that the cake be cut into two concentric circles, inviting everyone to first partake of the outer ring.

“The inner circle is to be set aside for me to take home to my mother. I was also asked to convey to her: ‘Shifu wishes you everlasting youth and beauty,’ with special emphasis on the word ‘everlasting,’” recalled Heng-Mei. Upon returning home, she faithfully delivered the message. “My mother is also a Tai Ji Men dizi. She could not stop smiling and was filled with joy,” she added. Heng-Mei expressed her deep gratitude: “Through their example, Shifu and Shimu taught us what true filial piety is, and what true love truly means.”

The Circle of Love: Can I have a hug?

“I recall one Mother’s Day when the academy was filled with a warm atmosphere of joy and gratitude; seeing Shimu’s loving smile, I gathered the courage to step forward and asked, ‘Shimu, may I have a hug?’” recalled Shu-nu. To her surprise, Shimu embraced her warmly. Having lost her parents at a young age, Shu-nu found herself instantly shedding her long-held facade of strength. “I had never cried in front of others, yet I could not help but weep openly. I never imagined that someone in this world could love me as a mother does. I knew these were tears of joy.”

Shu-nu serves as a teacher at a vocational high school, where she is diligent and conscientious in her duties, cherishing the hard-earned opportunity to teach. "This spiritual cleansing seems to have filled the void of my childhood longing for love. I have also come to understand that only those who know how to love themselves are truly capable of loving others.” Her smile has grown more frequent, and she has gradually learned to open her heart. Beyond caring for her students’ academic progress, she now takes the initiative to support those facing family hardships, earning the deep affection of her students.

The greater the expansiveness of one’s heart, the more powerful the energy of one’s embrace. Heng-mei vividly recalled a private reminder from Shimu: “While in Africa, Shimu held a child in her arms and told the dizi that although the journey was arduous, for their sake we must strive even harder to spread the ideals of love and peace across the world, so that war and poverty may be kept far from them.”

In July 2002, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze was invited by the presidents of São Tomé and Príncipe and The Gambia to attend their national day celebrations. Shortly before departure, news broke of a civil war in Ivory Coast. Nevertheless, the Zhang-men-ren and his wife proceeded with the journey as planned. The delegation of 18 carried with them the 240-kilogram “Bell of World Peace and Love,” traveling for more than twenty days across 16 countries, entering nine, and conducting 17 cultural exchange events. They met with heads of state and ministers from multiple nations, bringing messages of love and peace to Africa and promoting the global endorsement campaign for a declaration titled “Love of the World, A Wish for Peace.”

The Story of the Red Envelope: A Loving Mother’s Most Tender Gesture

“In my younger years, I resented my parents and wondered why they were so poor that they could not afford to support my education,” recalled Qiong-Xia Zheng. After completing elementary school, she began working. Her life was marked by hardship, and at the age of 36, she was widowed and left to raise her two children on her own. Yet with a smile, she described her life as having “transformed from a bitter melon into a sweet melon.” Through her time with Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, she learned the value of gratitude. Today, she is a joyful grandmother.

“Shimu was a truly special mother figure in my life,” said Qiong-Xia. She observed that Shimu was always smiling, treating Tai Ji Men dizi as her own children with complete impartiality. Having experienced the challenges of managing a household, Qiong-Xia deeply understands the demands such responsibilities entail, especially within the large Tai Ji Men family, where countless matters require care and attention. “Like a mother, Shimu stood at the forefront, thoughtfully organizing and attending to everything, allowing us to practice qigong with peace of mind and to live and work with joy, and to become pillars of society.”

On the eve of one Lunar New Year, Qiong-Xia thought of the tradition of presenting red envelopes to elders. She happily went to the bank to obtain new banknotes and prepared a red envelope for Shimu, even composing a special message of blessing. After the Spring Festival, a fellow Tai Ji Men dizi handed her an envelope. To her surprise, it contained the full amount she had offered to Shimu. On the envelope, Shimu had written in her own hand: “Qiong-Xia, I understand your heartfelt intention and have received it with care. I have also carefully kept your message and the red envelope.” Deeply moved to tears, Qiong-Xia felt the gentleness and thoughtfulness of Shimu, who understood the challenges she faced as a single mother. To this day, she continues to treasure the envelope bearing Shimu’s handwriting.

Energy Family: Even Centenarians Can Transform Their Destiny

At the age of 90, can one still hold aspirations for life? Chen Ye Zai-Mei endured a life marked by hardship. She had been both a child bride and an adopted daughter, married at 18, and worked alongside her husband in the mines while managing the household. Even when surrounded by children and grandchildren, she would at times dwell on the suffering and hardships of her past.

At the age of 90, Chen Ye Zai-Mei experienced a transformation in her life. “The greatest change after my mother began practicing Tai Ji Men Qigong was that she let go of the unhappiness of the past,” said Guang-Zhi Chen. After the entire family joined Tai Ji Men, harmony and warmth filled their home. “Shimu celebrated my grandmother’s 100th birthday and even prepared a special cake and Tai Ji Men commemorative stamps for her,” said Pei-Wen Chen, with deep gratitude.

Chen Ye Zai-Mei experienced many “firsts” in her later years: singing and dancing for the first time, appearing on television, celebrating Taiwan’s National Day with her children and grandchildren in front of the Presidential Office Building, and joining the President and thousands of citizens in writing calligraphy prayers for blessings on New Year’s Day marking the nation’s centennial. During the Double Ninth Festival in the centennial year, she was invited, at the age of 102, to share her insights on health and longevity at the “Centenarians’ Elegance Exhibition” held at Zhongshan Civic Hall. She remarked, “When the heart is kind and the mind remains positive, life naturally becomes better,” and gently encouraged others to “listen sincerely to the guidance of Tai Ji Men’s Shifu.”

“Through Shimu’s example, her words, and even her silent guidance, I have come to understand myself anew. I have learned to embrace the strengths of being a woman, and how to be a good daughter, a good wife, and a good mother,” said Pei-Wen. Decades ago, Pei-Wen longed deeply for affirmation. She recalled her early, inexperienced days of leading a drum formation: “I was still a university student, guiding younger fellow dizi in drum performances. There were inevitably moments of frustration, and I truly hoped for encouragement and recognition from Shifu.” One day, she happened to encounter Shimu, who said to her, “Shifu said you are leading the formation very well.” This brought Pei-Wen great joy. “Shimu understood me so well. She knew how much I needed encouragement and affirmation, and she specifically said it was ‘Shifu’ who had said it.”

Love Is Ever Present, and Wisdom Is Passed On Through the Culture of Qigong and Martial Arts

“In the cultural dance formations, Shimu’s guidance, her example, and her love are present everywhere,” said Wu Pei-Ling, herself a dance instructor. “What I enjoy most is when Shifu and Shimu come to see us after practice.” Although the disciples are often drenched in sweat, Shimu greets them each time with delight, saying, “Beauties, all of you are beauties.” Seeing her joy, the disciples’ fatigue simply melts away.

“Shimu embodies the perfect balance of gentleness and strength. In her soft-spoken words, there is wisdom that causes the disciples’ hearts to blossom, bringing warmth within; the encouragement she offers is a steady and unending flow of love,” said Wu Pei-Ling. She added, “When observing a formation, Shimu is always able to find, among the disciples, the one with the most radiant smile.” Wu Pei-Ling has learned to look for that same radiant smile in a crowd, to recognize the joy that comes from within. In her heart, the most beautiful presence is clear: “It is, of course, Shimu—the most radiant smile and the most compassionate example.”

Xu Ya-Yun recalled, “After we completed the design sketches for the peacock dance costumes, we presented them to Shifu and Shimu. Shifu smiled and then asked, ‘Does Shimu have any thoughts?’” Shimu suggested, “At the very edge of the peacock’s fanned tail, add a touch of rose pink; it will surely become even more beautiful.” After making the revision, the entire costume immediately seemed to radiate a sense of hope. “I feel that Shimu is truly remarkable. She offers just the right guidance at the moment we need it most, addressing exactly what we may be lacking.”

A sound culture fosters quality education, and quality education, in turn, supports a strong economy. Working in unity, Dr. and Mrs. Hong Tao-Tze have guided and nurtured tens of thousands of dedicated disciples. From the young to the elderly, they demonstrate the positive influence of Tai Ji Men across all professions and fields. In addition, Mdm. You has made outstanding contributions to qigong, martial arts, culture, and the arts. Through both personal example and thoughtful instruction, she has established exemplary models for disciples to follow. Immersed in the holistic education of Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, disciples cultivate their own “culture of conscience.” Through diverse expressions such as qigong, dance, and martial arts, they share messages of love and peace, and in their daily lives, they put into practice the principles of love, peace, and conscience—serving others, contributing to society, and benefiting their countries.

True Love Knows No Fear: Madam Mei-Jung Yu

“After Dr. Jagdish Gandhi rang the bell, Dr. Bharti Gandhi suddenly performed a traditional Indian gesture of highest respect—she knelt, touched Shimu’s feet with her right hand, and then touched her own forehead,” recounted Li Fei-Long. He added, “I witnessed that, at a time when conditions in India were far from secure, Shimu personally led the journey with the Bell of World Peace and Love. Her sincerity and action deeply resonated with Dr. Gandhi, who, before tens of thousands of students, parents, and justices from various countries, expressed her heartfelt respect.”

The founders of City Montessori School, Drs. Gandhi, are distinguished educators. The school has been recognized by Guinness World Records as one of the largest schools in the world and has received the Peace Education Prize from UNESCO. Through its long-standing organization of the International Conference of Chief Justices of the World, the institution established a meaningful connection with Dr. and Mrs. Hong Tao-Tze.

On the eve of the 2008 International Conference of Chief Justices of the World, a series of terrorist attacks erupted in Mumbai, leaving people in fear. Fei-Long recalled, “The disciples were still discussing whether we should refrain from attending. Yet Shimu, undeterred by the potential danger, decided to personally lead the delegation to participate.” That year marked the first time the Bell of World Peace and Love was brought to India. Mdm. Mei-Jung Yu presided over the bell-ringing ceremony, and Dr. Jagdish Gandhi rang the bell and made a heartfelt wish for peace.

Fei-Long stated, “During the period when Shifu was in retreat, Shimu, on his behalf, continued to carry forward the mission of Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy to serve society and benefit humanity. This allowed me the opportunity to witness that Shimu is far more than a woman who quietly supports her husband (Shifu). Like Shifu, she possesses a steadfast and courageous heart, along with the resolve to act for the well-being of others.” A successful entrepreneur, Li Fei-Long devoted his post-retirement years to accompanying Dr. Hong Tao-Tze abroad in promoting a culture of love and peace.

Transforming the World Through Tolerance and Encouragement, Madam Yu, Mei-Jung Legacy Day

Looking back on the series of commemorative events held in 2024 in Taiwan and the United States in honor of Mdm. Yu Mei-Jung, she received commendations and awards from 16 countries. These included high praise from former presidents such as Rosalía Arteaga Serrano, Ivo Josipović, and Moncef Marzouki. In addition, U.S. President Joe Biden issued the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing Mdm. You’s leadership in guiding her disciples to contribute over 610,000 hours of volunteer service in the United States.

Mdm. Yu Mei-Jung devoted her life to advancing a culture of peace rooted in love and conscience. She was not only the wife of Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, but also served as Vice President of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) and as Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Association of World Citizens. She is widely respected as a dedicated advocate for peace. April 4, 2024, designated as “Madam Yu, Mei-Jung Legacy Day,” stands not only as a recognition of her lifetime of achievements, but also as a tribute to all women who strive for justice, peace, and conscience.