Ching Ming Festival

Ching Ming is the Festival of the dead......day for families to pay respect to their ancestors.....before China did not really make a big thing about it.......but this year China is making it a big deal..............they have special TV coverage, and even free buses to the cemetery.  I think China sees that a fast growing capitalist style economy is slowly eroding the values of the people of the country, and that a return to some of the cultural practices of the past will give people a better grasp of who they are....and not just about making money!!   We started out very early at 7:30 am.........it's over 40 minutes to the cemetery..........and there was plenty of traffic.

The disciples of Li Zhi Ming Celebrate Ching Ming 2010.

To the right of me is the tomb of Dong Hai Chuan, the founder of Baguazhang.  On my left is the Tomb of Li Zhi Ming and his wife...the founders of our branch of Bagua.

Dong Hai Chuan's Tomb.

Dong originally was buried elsewhere and when his Tomb was moved the previous headstones where brought here, and make up the back side of his tomb.

Master Zhao Da Yuan with old and new disciples.

 We began with a few speeches............bowing at the Tomb of founder of Bagua.....Dong Hai Chuan,then those of Li Zhi Ming, Guo  Gu  Min, and Liang Zhen Pu.

Glenn and I took pictures with Master Zhao.

 Following speeches there were demonstrations by various students and Masters...........Zhang Qing Liang, Sui Yinjang..................were among the Masters performing........Master Yang's students also performed.  The only female student performed an excellent bagua form....she was low and fast.......very relaxed, with well controlled movements.  Also, this was a good opportunity to meet the other disciple candidates........there are 21 of us........all representing different professions, businesses, professors and doctors of Chinese Medicine inside and outside of China  .Master Zhao had us take group pictures, and he introduced some of the new disciple candidates............I was introduced as lao er..................number two disciple candidate......again quite an honor...............it will also mean that I have a big part in the development and promotion of Baguazhang.....in the future.  After that it was time for the Festival of the Dead luncheon........it was again another opportunity to meet my new Bagua Family.........followed by lots af Bai Jiu............Er Guo Tuo toasting.........and beer.

Afterwards we celebrated Ching Ming with food...and lots to drink...l;ts of Baijiu....white rice wine...that stuff's got a kick!!

 Then, we finished the day with a lesson by Master Zhao on the fine points of the Taiji Whip Staff.............and then how to apply each movement...........even Master Yang learned some new things about the Whip Staff................you can think about this point.....in the Yang Taiji Form there are many repetitions of the same moves............Master Zhao showed in fact that   each one is different..........only in modern 24 or 42 Taiji..............are the movements made the same......and one bad thing he said was the sitting back and moving foward..............which many students think is yin and yang......but it's not....anytime you sit back you lose!  The competition forms are ok for performance but do not represent real Taiji...which can be applied!!   The current way most people are practicing Yang Style Taiji is heavily influenced by modern Wushu.

Master Zhao gave me instruction on the use and practice of the Shanxi Taiji Whip Staff, the other disciples watched as he explained the techniques.

 Well tomorrow is the big day  for all of us disciple candidates................Coach Wu informed us he is coming!  Well gonna get some down time and relax tomorrow will be a long day!!  Cya all!

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