Tai Ji Men Shares Blessings and Positive Energy at Temple City Lunar New Year Celebration

Temple City welcomed the Lunar New Year with a vibrant celebration at Temple City Park on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Hosted by the Temple City Chinese American Association in partnership with the Temple City City Council, the event brought residents, families, and community leaders together for an afternoon of cultural pageantry, joyful performances, and meaningful community connections.

In addition to Temple City Chinese American Association President Tim Huang, Temple City Mayor Cynthia Sternquist, Mayor Pro Tem William Man, and City Councilmembers Tom Chavez, Vincent Yu, and Ed Chen, the celebration welcomed distinguished guests including Congresswoman Judy Chu, California Senator Sasha Perez, California Assemblymember Mike Fong, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. The elected officials extended heartfelt Lunar New Year wishes to the public, offering blessings for happiness and prosperity in the year ahead, and expressed appreciation for the joint efforts that brought the community together for this special celebration.

A highlight of the afternoon was the dynamic cultural presentations by members of the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, who greeted the audience with warm Lunar New Year wishes. Drawing inspiration from Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the grandmaster of Tai Ji Men, the presenters shared the message that “a good start is the key to success,” offering blessings for health, happiness, and safety in the year ahead.

Tai Ji Men dizi (apprentices) then presented the opening performance—the Tai Ji Celestial Drums—a powerful and uplifting display symbolizing encouragement, joy, and positive energy. The drummers, ranging in age from 9 to over 50, demonstrated harmony and vitality cultivated through qigong practice, sharing what they described as “happy qi (energy)” with the community. They expressed hopes that the resonant drumbeats would awaken inner kindness and inspire people to share light and joy with others.

Building on the festive spirit, the performance continued with the Tai Ji Celestial Dragon, embodying compassion, courage, and true wisdom. Referencing the Year of the Horse, the performers encouraged attendees to move forward with steadfastness, strength, and optimism, while extending wishes of peace and blessings to both the local community and the world.

Tai Ji Men also shared a significant milestone: 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy. Fabulous theatrical cultural performances will be held in October with free admission, warmly inviting the public to join the celebration.

As part of their presentation, Tai Ji Men dizi offered blessings known as the “five treasures” in life—health, wealth, wisdom, happiness, and joy. Debby, a Tai Ji Men dizi, shared how practicing Tai Ji Men Qigong has helped both her and her parents improve their health. Her mother regained greater mobility. “My father is happier,” she added, explaining that he rarely went out before but now enjoys social connections within the Tai Ji Men community.

CiCi, an architectural designer and Harvard graduate, and her two daughters were part of the “five treasures” segment. CiCi overcame childhood struggles with severe allergies and eczema through Tai Ji Men Qigong, which improved her health and confidence. Grateful for her own transformation, she introduced her daughters to qigong, passing on its lifelong benefits.

Sandy, a mother of two boys, also took part in the “five treasures” presentation. She began practicing Tai Ji Men Qigong at age 18 and transformed from an insecure, dependent young woman into a calm, confident mother. Through qigong practice, her children have gained focus, resilience, and emotional balance, excelling in both sports and academics. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to Tai Ji Men for nurturing her family’s growth.

When interviewed by Tai Ji Men dizi, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger shared, “Your performance was incredible. I definitely heard, loud and clear, from the people that were part of the performance how much it’s made a difference in their lives, and one talked about how her mother and father got involved, so it’s clear to me that not only the performance today, but this is something that you all are truly passionate about, and it showed.”

Temple City Councilmember Ed Chen also expressed sincere appreciation to Tai Ji Men for bringing lively, interactive performances to Temple City that allowed the public to experience and appreciate Chinese culture, thanking the group for contributing a memorable presentation to the community.

The Temple City Lunar New Year Celebration concluded with smiles, laughter, and a shared sense of renewal, capturing the spirit of the season and reflecting the city’s commitment to cultural diversity, community harmony, and hope for a prosperous year ahead.