A Joyous and Spiritual Journey during IBC's Mid-Autumn Celebration
Reported by: Lee Lyn Foong, Than Hsiang Taijiquan Group Instructor
On the beautiful evening of 6th Oct 2025, 15th day of the eighth lunar month, our Taijiquan Performance Team had the pleasure of performing at the International Buddhist College’s (IBC’s) annual Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration. The festival and the venue provided the perfect backdrop for us to share the beauty of Taijiquan and Bagua Zhang and contribute to the festive atmosphere.
The event began with a chanting ceremony in Pāli, Chinese and Tibetan by Sangha members from the Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna traditions, led by Ven. Dipananda, Ven. Dr. Zhen Ti and Ven. Khenpo Rangdrol respectively. This aptly reflects the rich diversity adopted by IBC. Ven. Khenpo Rangdrol then gave a Dharma talk on why we should always have faith in the Triple Gem - our Teacher, Sakyamuni Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The atmosphere started to gain momentum when all participants were invited to join in the lantern procession at IBC’s courtyard. The moon was in full glory, and we were so excited, taking pictures of it as it peeks from the clouds. Some of our Taijiquan members had not joined any lantern procession for decades. Some became sentimental listening to Chinese folk songs as the crowd blended in harmony during the procession.
As the crowd settled into the lobby after the procession, it was time for our performance, The Spiral Surge of Bagua, The Soaring Flight of Taiji. We had been practising hard since Ven. Dr. Zhen Ti extended the invitation to us in mid-July. Some changes were made from the first version since we showcased it at Than Hsiang Temple’s 40th Anniversary in April.
Even with half the crew members and a smaller audience, we still gave our best with choreographed moves showcasing Taijiquan of Yang-Style and Chen-Style, Taiji sword, Taiji Fan and Bagua Zhang. The Jingli (a formal gesture of traditional Chinese salute/respect) at the closing signalled that our mission was completed! Besides our performance, we also enjoyed performances by Prof. Tilak Kariyawasam, Dr. Zhu Xiaoning and some of the female students. We also participated in the quiz session and got small gifts for providing the correct answers.
On the following day, we had a demonstration of the Simplified 24-Step Taijiquan routine for IBC students to encourage everyone to adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle. The highlight of the morning was the Dharma session specially prepared for our members by Ven Dr. Zhen Ti. Our Dharma session was so interesting that we wished we had more time.
Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival at IBC was a very special experience, invoking a sense of nostalgia for many. In our journey of Taijiquan practice and performance, we were also brought closer to the Dharma. Some had their first experience of attending Dharma sharing, while others had their first morning chanting service. We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to International Buddhist College and everyone at IBC, for all the arrangements made and for the successful celebration. May we continue to learn, grow and contribute! Amituofo.
