Autumn 2019 Newsletter
(January 2020)
Lunar “August Moon” Autumn, 2019 Greetings
In China, we used to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival for three days. Full moon is on the 15th of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. We ‘Welcome the full moon’ on the 14th, ‘Appreciate the full moon’ on the 15th and ‘Send off the moon’ on the 16th.
何處明月不照人
The moon shines on everyone everywhere (Anonymous)
Also, these last two lines from the Song Dynasty poet, Su DongPo
但願人長久，
千里共嬋娟.
Let us live long to share this beautiful moonlight however far we may be.
Dear LTF family and friends:
Looking back at some highlights from this past year and months, I believe I have reported about our last Lan Ting China Journey a year ago, covering 5 provinces of rich and exciting experiences. It was a very special trip however we did over-reach a bit with almost too much traveling.
The next Lan Ting journey planned for China will be Autumn of 2020. We will focus on staying mostly at our base at Wu Yi Mountain, to explore nearby must-visit highlights within Fujian and neighboring provinces (no more than one-day distance). Hope some of you will wish to join us. Apply as soon as you can to be counted.
In February of this year, at home in Illinois, I was involved in a rewarding collaboration with the Jupiter String Quartet to dance in two Tai Ji inspired pieces, one by Igor Stravinsky, the other by R. Murray Schafer. We were able to film the concert live, so you can follow the links to view these two dances, and the program notes of the origins which had initiated this collaboration.
Prior to our annual Easter week 9-day intensive at Winterthur, Switzerland, I once again enjoyed teaching in Bavaria at Sonnenhausen and Schloss Elmau. And following Winterthur, returned home for the extended Spring Memorial Weekend Seminar in Urbana with a joyful group of perennial seminarians!
Back at the River House in Oregon this summer we again had 3 weeks of great learning with dedicated international seminarians who enjoyed new discovery, sunshine and beautiful weather.
In September, I was invited back to the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica to give another keynote on the “Three Pillars of Asian Wisdom” for the Confucius Institute there. I was cordially welcomed there in February of 2013 and enjoyed my interaction with the students and faculty very much.
Because of a dwindling early commitment from enough participants, we decided to suspend our annual Winter seminar at the River House in 2019. However, since then I’ve received requests yearning for a return to our Winter intensive studies, which I have decided to offer for the weeks of Feb.10 – 22, 2020 at the River House. I will focus intensively on the Essential Tai Ji Practice Repertoire with concentrated review, in-depth solidification of the most ESSENTIAL of our CORE learnings.
That said, we can only resurrect the Winter Seminar, if enough participants indicate their intention
to register. So, do let us know very soon of your wishes and commitment to ensure this program to return in our Winter schedule.
Because of the heavy snow last winter, for the first time in 14 years, we had to cancel the annual, around Chinese New Year, weekend seminar at Evergreen College in Olympia, Washington. Fortunately, that program will return for the weekend of January 31 -February 1, 2020.
As many of you who have joined out Face Book page are aware, I was very excited to have been invited by my book collaborator Jerry Lynch to participate in his podcast series, “The Way of Champions”. The podcast is entitled:
Eastern Philosophy Meets Western Athlete Performance: A Discussion with Chungliang Al Huang (#134)
Tune in to hear this discussion with Jerry Lynch, moderated by John O’Sullivan.
I’ve just returned from attending two events in Taiwan from October 3rd to October 20th . First, for the 90th Birth Year Retrospective Exhibition: “Pristine Poetics” of my kindred friend/collaborator, Ko Si Chi – whom you know from his marvelous photos in all my books.
The opening was very successful with most appreciative attendance, and the display in two huge wings of the Museum were very well done and impressive. We spent two days there, and I was asked to give two talks.
During the same time, I had a reunion with 林懷民 Lin Hwai-min, the founder/director of Cloud Gate Dance Theater during his retirement celebration. We were invited to visit his Theater Dance School and watch rehearsals and enjoyed a scrumptious banquet.
Over 50 years ago Lin was in my dance training workshop (1966-67) when Suzanne had the Ford Foundation Grant to pioneer Modern Dance in Taiwan. Now Hwai-min with his Cloud Gate Dance Theater is world renown . . . another “National Treasure” forming one of the most successful and creative Dance Companies in the world. To celebrate his retirement 50,000 dancers gathered in Taipei to honor his achievements. Most impressive!
Also, during their recent tour in the UK, Cloud Gate was listed amongst the BEST Dance List of 21st Century.
Next, I will be on to my annual Thanksgiving Residency in Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California.
This has been a very full and rewarding year, and my connection with the Living Tao Family inspires me to continue to seek opportunities to participate in our Living Tao events and events around the world.
CHI-eers! Chungliang