Tai Ji Men Participates in the Parade of Faiths

Eastern Celestial Creatures Grace the Parade to Bless the World

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, waves his hand at spectators during the Parade of Faiths. He led nearly 120 Tai Ji Men members to promote the spirit of martial arts–stopping conflicts and promoting goodness. (AP Images)

The inaugural Parade of Faiths, a prelude to the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions, took place in Chicago on August 13, heralding the return of the Parliament to its birthplace. The parade procession showcased Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy’s captivating array of ancient Eastern animals, deities, and mythological figures, transcending time and space, to bestow positivity and blessings upon the world, which was well-received and was very significant as in the face of the pandemic, extreme climate events, international conflicts, and other challenges, the world yearns for more positive energy.

Tai Ji Men presents the Celestial Dragon to convey the idea that global citizens should apply their conscience and come together in unity to shape a sustainable future of harmony and peace. (AP Images)

Tai Ji Men’s majestic procession featured celestial creatures--the Tai Ji Celestial Dragon (symbolizing compassion, courage, and true wisdom), the Phoenix (representing rebirth), the Peacock (representing selflessness), the Qilin (signifying benevolence), and the Lion (representing happiness and auspiciousness)--spreading blessings, hope, peace, happiness, and auspicious energy to the spectators on site and beyond.

Tai Ji Men presents a reenactment of the Eight Immortals from Eastern mythology to wish for favorable weather, as well as global security and harmony. (AP Images)

Among its parade highlights was the inclusion of the Eight Immortals from Eastern mythology, who bestowed upon the world a sense of blessings, propitious winds, well-timed rainfall, as well as global security and harmony.

Nearly 120 Tai Ji Men dizi (disciples) from Illinois, Nevada, Massachusetts, California, Canada, the Netherlands, and Taiwan participated in the parade. They are from various walks of life, such as doctors, professors, accountants, students, engineers, corporate executives, and retirees. Among them, the oldest participant is 68 years old, while the youngest is just 11 years old.

Tai Ji Men presents a reenactment of beautiful ladies from Eastern history. Embodying various virtues, these women radiate both inner and outer beauty, showcasing their love for humanity and the world. (AP Images)

Within this group, Clair Huang, a graduate student at Harvard University specializing in public health, proudly brandished a sword of justice during the parade. Participating as a dragon dancer, Anson Chen hailed from Northern California. Fifteen years ago, during his sophomore year in college, he assumed the challenging role of the second segment of the dragon. Despite the considerable load, he carried it with grace to alleviate the burden of the senior participants. Through dedication and practice, he transformed into a skilled dragon dancer. Presently, he imparts his experience to a younger high school dancer, passing on his wisdom. Together, their collaborative efforts, along with seven others, showcased unity and cooperation, embodying the spirit of the dragon.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, leader of Tai Ji Men, center, waves his hand at spectators. He has led Tai Ji Men to visit 101 nations to promote conscience, love, and peace and was instrumental in the UN’s adoption of International Day of Conscience. (AP Images)

Gill Wang, who performed a dance inspired by Oceania, holds a degree from Johns Hopkins University and has recently commenced a graduate program at USC. She emphasized that Tai Ji Men members showcased dances that portrayed a spectrum of cultures from six continents, envisioning a harmonious world where individuals regard one another as family.

A spectator from New York expressed that she got goosebumps while watching Tai Ji Men’s performance, and that she became emotional because of the touching and captivating nature of the display. "The feeling of peace and solidarity, people working together, getting along, is wonderful," she added.

A lady living in Chicago remarked that she felt that Tai Ji Men members spread love from their hearts. “I felt the love. I felt the peace. I felt the connection and acceptance of all people. That's what it's really about," she said.

Tai Ji Men presents the Celestial Officials during the Parade of Faiths to bless the Earth, dispel disasters, and wish the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions a great success. (AP Images)

The theme of the 2023 Parliament of the World's Religions, "A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights," serves as a poignant reminder of the imperative to awaken the moral compass within every individual, particularly during this critical juncture in human civilization.

Over the past few decades, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze has led Tai Ji Men dizi to visit 101 countries to promote conscience, love, peace, freedom, and human rights, and they were instrumental in the United Nations' designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. The group's involvement in the parade stands as an ongoing endeavor to awaken collective conscience through diverse means. It will continue to foster these positive values in its upcoming events during the Parliament and inspire more kind-hearted people to work together for the betterment of the world.