503. Tai Chi and Chinese Dragons in Toronto with Video – 2014

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Ruth writes: I made a quick dash downtown today at noon and was rewarded by two beautiful Chinese dragons dancing in the streets around Yonge-Dundas Square. Members of the Taoist Tai Chi International said the longest was 100 metres which probably makes it the longest dragon in Toronto – well the Toronto area. They are based in the Tai Chi International Centre in Mono, Ontario – which is near Orangeville.

If you look at the video, you can see just how really long it is. It takes 50 people to operate with another 50 people to help. Dancing a dragon is strenuous. It is a good advertisement for the health-enhancing qualities of tai chi (Cantonese) or taiji (Mandarin).

Dragons are part of ancient Chinese culture, symbols of power, strength, and good luck. But if you look closely, you won’t see many Chinese faces in the pictures. Like several Chinese customs such as chop sticks, stir-fry, kung fu and dragonboat racing, tai chi has now become international – part of world culture. The occasion today was Tai Chi International Awareness Day with about 600 participants from all over the world. Look for it next year too.

More pictures follow. The Taoist website is at: www.taoist.org. The video is at: http://youtu.be/PgrUjWDAT-k

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

Copyright ©2014 Ruth Lor Malloy

 

 

 

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