2018 Chinese Lunar New Year came to us with a down to earth message: For us to understand truly the meaning of love, devotion, friendship and loyalty in this year of men's best friend. According to Chinese traditional calendar, this year's celestial energy is Wood and Earth. The strength, the stability and longevity of forest and Mother Nature clearly show us that animals are kinder, more loving, and far more trustworthy than humans.  There is a legendary story about how dogs used to have longer life spans than humans. When they heard of the human's fear of death and complains of their short lives, the dogs generously switched with humans.  We often find solace and comfort from our dogs and other domestic and wild animals when we are in need of emotional support. How many times our silent friends will walk with us, sit on our laps, nuzzle us, or just look at us with their clear and innocent eyes to make us feel that they understand and they care.

Kindness, tolerance, trustworthiness and loyalty are rare qualities that are fundamentally inherent in natural creatures. Yet, we humans with our intelligence and craftiness must diligently try to maintain. In this special Year of the Dog, while the elephant hunters and rare animal smugglers are out there killing animals to feed their greed, and the rich and powerful are manipulating our world to their own advantage,   I am humbled and grateful for those qualities our dogs and other animal friends continue to show us. They don't seem to despair of us. Must we let them down and continue to be mean, selfish, dishonest and disloyal to our fellow human beings? 

​Tai Ji and Qi Gong movements and Chinese brush calligraphy strokes have a lot in common. I find each compliment the other almost seamlessly.
 
Some perceive Tai Ji as a series of postures and step-by-step exercise form to be memorized while holding one’s breath. Actually, Tai Ji is a physical moving form enhanced by the practice of breathing, known as Qi Gong. When the limbs and the breath rise and fall in a harmonized cycle, then Tai Ji happens.  Without breath, it will only be a movement manipulated mechanically by our brain.
 
This is the same in Chinese calligraphy. While there are many types of strokes in a Chinese character, each stroke is connected by energy. The calligraphy brush is composed of thousands of fine hair in various levels of thickness. As we fill the brush with ink, it is like taking in a breath.  When the ink empties gradually with the movement of the brush, it is like slowly exhaling to empty ourselves before we inhale with a new breath.
 
Thus, breath-by-breath, limb-by-limb, stroke-by-stroke, Tai Ji forms and brush movements happen as we allow our breath to guide us. Tai Ji, Qi Gong and brush calligraphy are not paintings done by numbers. It all happens in “ONE STROKE”. They emerge from our life force.
 

As I begin to jot down some thoughts about this Chinese New Year, i can't help wonder: does it matter if it is a fire rooster or a golden hen? Is it old world superstition, or just old culture baggage that some of us Asian Americans still carry? And yet, even many non-Asians around the world also enjoy celebrating Chinese New Year. I remember watching an all American Dragon Dance Team in traditional Chinese custumes perform in Taipei, Taiwan to the full blast of drums and gongs; and other Chinese folks observed Christmas and went to church. I know I can never stop celebrating Chinese New Year even if I have lived in a western society for many years. In a way, there is something very nice about living in a multicultural world where we can share and exchange with other cultures to enrich us.

Often I am asked about the Chinese Zodiac animals. And naturally, this year is all about the Rooter. Of course, nowadays, one can look anything up on the internet and get a multitude of information. But my own thought was, if we were to be sensitive and politically correct, we may have to come up with some newly coined Chinese sounding word like "Rooshen". The mother hen should approve of this because we all know that without her, how would that strutting bird carry on his dynasty? Sorry, I hope my sense of humor is not misplaced here.

As to the symbolic significance of the Rooster, according to ancient Chinese folk lore, it was chosen as one of the twelve Zodiac animals to serve in the 12 year cycle; and represent some of our human qualities: alert, diligent, energetic, dependable, etc., as well as vain, stubborn, controling and tunnel vision, etc. Alas, Asian culture and philosophy are usually given in pairs of opposites as a way of balance. It is never definitely right or wrong, good or bad. The Rooster or a Mother Hen with his/her various qualities can be helpful at the right moment and reversed under other circumstances. So, if we keep an open mind to absorb, shift through and retain what resonate with our true nature, then all culture and traditions are applicable and beneficial.

For this Chinese New Year, I can definitely use more of the energy and diligence from this "Roochen" to make my days fuller, to achieve a few goals. I will give myself a pat on the back once in a while, lift up my head to strut a bit, and even try a little crowing. A "Rooshen" should be able to do more, right?

As 2016 is coming to an end, a friend asked me to share my New Year’s Resolution or any thoughts about the passing year. At this time of the year, I do think about these things a great deal more in a way of reflections. But I actually don’t spend much time making New Year resolutions. I pay more attention to what happened this year not so much to what will happen in the unknown New Year. 
 
When I say “reflections”, I don’t mean “regrets” or self-criticisms. I prefer to look back on what was lived through, good or bad. I like to appreciate the time given to me, and the experiences I received from 2016. Sure, there were difficult and challenging times in 2016; but isn’t it almost over now? I am sure there were good memories to keep and savor. We can also be sure that those bad times are done and gone; and we still have good times to look forward to in 2017.
 
Yes, reflections do include things we didn’t get to do, or did badly. So, naturally we will avoid them in the new year without clinging to what couldn’t be helped, which will actually take away the joy of the new beginnings and happy happenings coming to us in the new year.    
 
When I was a kid in China, during end of school year or graduation, teachers and elders usually encouraged us with words like: Be as “ the new sun and changed moon.” I just accepted them as well meant encouragement without analyzing the actual words. Now looking at these Chinese characters again, I finally realized what they meant, and see the cycles of the sun and moon that mark our days and years with different eyes. If we think of the sun at dawn and the moon at dusk appearing to us as new ones each day and night, we would not take things for granted and will find new inspirations and new hope for each passing cycle in our lives for years to come.

This traditional Chinese Opera character of the Monkey King, Wu Kong 悟空, in full regalia is familiar to many people these days. I first learned about him as a child going to Chinese opera with my folks in old China. Sometimes we were in huge opera houses, sometimes the local theater troops will come to the village and perform on open air make shift stages. But always, when the music started and the Monkey King made his appearance on stage, the audience would be hushed in awe of his martial ability, his naughtiness and his vitality. He was the rebellious hero in the novel "Journey to the West" by 1500 Ming Dynasty author Wu Cheng-en 吳承恩.  The Monkey King was an immortal in the court of the Jade Emperor as legend goes; but got in trouble by stealing a sacred peach from the banquet table in the palace. His lack of humility and his wild nature caused him to be banished from the heavenly palace to isolation under the Five Fingers Mountain by Buddha, who wanted to teach him a lesson. When the Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk, Xuan Zhang 玄裝 embarked on his quest to seek the scriptures, the Monkey King was called to accompany him on the long and dangerous journey with a new name to encourage him: "Wu Kong", meaning to contemplate and understand "emptiness". 
Thus the "Journey" began for the Monk, the Monkey, and other creatures like the Pig who must struggle with greed and lust, and evil creatures who tried to throw temptation at the Monk and challenge them along the way. Eventually, they arrived at the journey's end to realize their individual transformation and found redemption. 
I remember as children back home in China, we would sit on wooden benches of the street comic book vendors and devour these adventures of the Monkey King. He was our only hero and we would imitate his every move from the Chinese opera and imagine ourselves saving the Monk and the rest of the world. 
In this year 2016 when the 12 year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac comes around again, the way for us these days are not much different from what the Monkey King had experienced.  We still must struggle with so many challenges along our own journey to find the qualities that will redeem us: "Humility, Patience, Endurance, Courage, Fidelity, Discipline, and ultimately, to keep FAITH  in the intrinsic human goodness. Let us embark, then, onto this Year of the Fire Monkey and pursue the light and joy of our own transformation.

Upper left: With Chungliang Al Huang and Deng Ming Dao;
 Living Tao Heritage Seminar in Gold Beach, Oregon.

Right: "Enter Tao in Taos",  Taoist Practice Seminar with Deng Ming Dao in Taos, New Mexico.

Lower Right: Ru Yi Studio new location exterior.

We expect to announce revised programs, up-coming events and activities by new year of 2016. Please make appointments in advance and check update information on line.  Ru Yi Studio is transitioning as 2015 comes to an end. Thank you for your interest and support in the past.

It was an exciting year at Ru Yi Studio. The year of the auspicious year of the Ram,Yang 羊. It has the same pronunciation as 陽, as in the Taoist concepts of Ying and Yang. This past year  was energetic, relaxed, but upbeat. I made a decision to enjoy the year in an easy going manner with a few memorable high lights. In February, I went to Oregon to co-teach a Living Tao Heritage Program with my brother, Chungliang Al Huang, and Master Deng Ming Dao on Taoist philosophy, focusing specially on sharing my late Mother's Ba Ji Quan martial art movements and philosophical teachings.
In June, we started the renovation project  converting my ceramic workshop to a smaller studio.
In October, Master Deng came back to Taos for our 3rd Taoist Practice Seminar. We studied Tai Ji, and Chinese brush calligraphy as Qi Gong meditation. Local friends and some from different states returned to join us. We enjoyed the last glorious days of fall colors with Taos Mountain within view.
​
2015 was a year for me to slow down, study and do more creative work. At this writing, our new studio  is ready to welcome the new year. It will be the year of the Monkey! I foresee a year of action, fun activities, and new insights. Watch for updates and announcements for future events and workshops.  Thank you for keeping in touch on our website and on Facebook.
Happy holidays and a happy new year to all.  

Dragon Boat Festival and Summer Cleansing happens on the Fifth day of the Fifth Lunar Moon in Chinese calendar.  Many have written about the famous Poet Qu Yuan who sacrificed his life in a political gesture long time ago that supposedly started the dragon boat race.  Actually, ancient  folk customs of dragon boat race started way back before Qu Yuan even came into being.  The symbol of the dragon was used by the early Wu Yue 吳越 people in southern China as a sign of superiority and status to show their power against invaders. The territory of the Wu Yue people were in southern China with many rivers and water ways, so boats were the main transport. The boat race was a sport as well as a training for young warriors to use in battle.   Legend has it that the King Gou Jian 勾踐 of the Wu Yue people started the dragon boat race. Various paintings, carvings of this mythical creature were created in daily lives to protect them from evil, to represent vitality and power, and to instill pride in the people.  

In the summer season, cleansing the environment to avoid disease was important to the ancient people. On May the 5th, also called "Duan Wu Jie" 端五節, colorful threads representing the Five Elemental Energies were used to decorate the doorways, wrap around arms or hang from braids  for protection and good luck.  Folks collect orchids, herbs to create medicinal  baths.  In some regions, it was celebrated as the day for daughters.  Also, in some northern China where there was a lack of rivers, no dragon boat existed and this particular day was actually considered a "Bad Day".  It was bad luck to be born on this day. Shamanistic ceremonies for protections and cleansing would be needed to get throughout this day and remove the bad omens.  

Ancient China with its vast terrain and diverse ethnic cultures certainly offer us more than one thing to study and think about.  Happy Summer Solstice to all.

Early in November, 2014 I collaborated with Ellen LeBel in Eureka, California at a workshop about movement and creativity. Our participants were mostly artists, educators and local residents in various pursuits of their lives.  Sharing my Tai Ji/Qi Gong practice and brush calligraphy training, we used calligraphy brushes dipped in water, ink and colorful paint making images to experience the movement of Qi (life force).   It was not a workshop to learn specific artistic techniques, but a coming together of  creativity, fun and our collective energy.  The results were stunning. In addition, we were blessed with a special huge brush made by our friend Lauris, with sissal and bamboo, to apply physical movements from two people to bring out the Ying/Yang and east/west synergy for many spontaneous and unpredictable imageries on paper.
My appreciation to new and old friends who joined us to make this experience so memorable. 
For information on future seminars and workshops in Taos, New Mexico or Eureka/Arcata, California, check Programs, on Facebook for announcements.