Tai Ji Men’s Shifu received at the Turin Book Fair the Global Peace Award and met Pope Francis and leading political personalities.
by Massimo Introvigne and Marco Respinti
An article already published in Bitter Winter on May 20th, 2024.
It was a mercifully sunny afternoon after a rainy week in Castellina Marittima, a small town on the hills near Pisa, Tuscany, where one of the authors (Massimo Introvigne) has his residence. The town is known as “the Alabaster City.” Castellina Marittima was one of the world’s main centers for extracting the rare and precious translucent marble-like mineral known as alabaster, although the quarries are largely exhausted today. The town continues to attract tourists for its unique position dominating the Tuscan see and the islands. Yet, with all its rich history, Castellina Marittima had never seen anything similar to the performance offered on May 8 by Dr. Hong Tao-Tze and his dizi (disciples).
Readers of “Bitter Winter” are familiar with Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, the Shifu (Grand Master) of Tai Ji Men, an ancient menpai (similar to a school) of Qigong, martial arts, and self-cultivation headquartered in Taiwan, and President of the U.S.-based FOWPAL (Federation of World Peace and Love), an NGO that has organized peace education activities and other events in 103 countries. Dr. Hong was instrumental in having the United Nations adopt April 5 as the International Day of Conscience and is now working towards having September 23 designated as the World Day of the Power of Hope. Dr. Hong also invites the world’s political, cultural, and religious leaders to ring the Bell of World Peace and Love and express a wish for peace in significant ceremonies that promote a culture of love, peace, and conscience.
Having landed the same morning in Milan, and energetic as usual despite his 80 years, Dr. Hong arrived in Castellina Marittima and delighted and amazed an audience unusually large for the town’s small size with his dizi’s martial arts and musical performances. They even included a rendering of “O Sole Mio,” and citizens and local children were invited to sing and dance with the performers. The cultural association CreAzione, which had organized the event with the sponsorship of the local municipality, honored Dr. Hong with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The mayor of Castellina Marittima, Alessandro Giari, presented the award and accompanied Dr. Hong, his dizi, and local authorities to a private celebratory dinner.
The following day, May 9, Dr. Hong visited the historical city of Pisa, which was from the 11th to the 14th century the capital of an independent state and a significant Mediterranean maritime power, the Republic of Pisa. In the City Hall, under the flags of the ancient Republic, which is now the flag of the municipality, and of FOWPAL, the Mayor of Pisa, Michele Conti, and the City of Pisa Secretary for Culture, Filippo Bedini, welcomed Dr. Hong and rang the Bell of World Peace and Love. The ceremony was covered by the main regional Tuscan newspapers and by Italy’s national news agency ANSA.
From Pisa, on May 10, Dr. Hong moved to Turin, where he and his dizi were received in the historical Sala delle Congregazioni, also known as the Ambassadors’ Room, of the City Hall. The Vice President of Turin City Council, Domenico Garcea, rang the Bell of World Peace and Love and guided the dizi in a tour of the most historical rooms of the City Hall.
On May 11, Dr. Hong received the Global Peace Award at Turin’s International Book Fair, the second largest book fair in Europe, which this year set a record with more than 222,000 visitors. Attorney Francesco Curto, President of Fedinsieme (Faiths Together), an association that federates several different religions active in Turin, presented the award to Dr. Hong. The event was part of the official program of the International Book Fair and included a “laudatio” by Massimo Introvigne of Dr. Hong and of Dr. Samuel Radebe, the founder of the South African movement The Revelation Spiritual Home, who received a Global Spirituality Award for his promotion of African indigenous spirituality. “Laudatio” is a Latin word meaning “praise” and is the traditional speech given in Europe when presenting an award and explaining why the awardees have been so honored. Dr. Hong pronounced an acceptance speech, where he emphasized the need for peace efforts guided by conscience in a world plagued by wars and disorder.
In the afternoon, an interreligious concert was held at Terrazza Solferino, a location for evens that is included in the touristic itineraries for those who want to admire the beauty of Turin’s contribution to the Art Nouveau style (called in Italian “Liberty style”). Several groups performed, and the Tai Ji Men dizi were applauded for their martial arts demonstrations and beautiful dances.
On May 13, Dr. Hong was received in Milan by the Governor of the Italian state (called in Italy “Regione”) with the largest population, Lombardia, Attilio Fontana., who rang the Bell of World Peace and Love. The event was organized by State Legislator Matteo Forte, a friend of “Bitter Winter” and of religious liberty. Dr. Hong, Governor Fontana, and Lombardia’s Under-Secretary for International and European Affairs, Raffaele Cattaneo, discussed peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.
Having traveled to Rome on May 13, on May 14 Dr. Hong and the dizi were received in the Sala Capitolare of the Italian Senate’s Palazzo della Minerva, where Senator Lucio Malan, the Senate Speaker of the majority party, rang the Bell of World Peace and Love.
The well-known Tai Ji Men angels concluded the ceremony with a moving performance. As did all the other politicians mentioned in this article, Senator Malan signed the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope.
On May 15, Dr. Hong and the dizi paid homage to Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square. Seated among the special guests in the first row, accompanied by Marco Respinti, Dr. Hong presented the Pope with gifts and wishes for the world peace, as well as with the Declaration of World Day and the Power of Hope. Dr. Hong briefly explained to the Pope the mission and activities of the FOWPAL. The Pope’s speech was about “caritas,” a Latin word translated as “charity” but also as “love,” and its social role, which particularly resonated with Tai Ji Men’s philosophy.
Italians like to say, “Who finds a friends, finds a treasure.” Dr. Hong and the dizi found many new friends in Italy. And many Italians found a new and inspiring friend in Dr. Hong, applauded his teachings, and made more friends among the always smiling dizi.
