The Porch Club of Riverton celebrated the Chinese New Year on Feb. 1 with performances by Moorestown resident Wenrong Zou and Pennsylvania residents Shuai Wang and Juan Wan.
The three demonstrated Tai Chi and Wang played a Chinese zither. Residents received paintings of their names in Chinese calligraphy.
Zou has been practicing Tai Chi for more than 40 years, and according to Porch Club member Mary Louise Bianco, has won two gold medals in the 2016 U.S. Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championship and second place in the 2016 Hong Kong International Wushu Competition.
Zou is a Tai Chi Quan and Tai Chi Saber performer who has participated in many Tai Chi demonstrations. She was once a midwife in China and has taught Tai Chi at the Guanghua Chinese School in Pennsylvania, Delaware County Community College and Philadelphia City Hall. She currently teaches at the Moorestown Recreation Center.
She described the meaning of the Chinese New Year being the Year of the Tiger.
“Tiger means very strong, powerful and to never give up,” Zou explained.
Wang is a Taoist nun, a Chinese zither performer and opera singer. She currently teaches the zither and the history of traditional Chinese music at Pennsylvania’s Swarthmore College.
“This instrument is a traditional culture from China and it can keep your body very healthy (and) give you longevity,” she said. Wang went on to explain that playing the zither can prevent illnesses such as heart disease, kidney and liver disease and high blood pressure.
“I think that (in) Chinese traditional culture, there is one line to go through together,” she noted. “This instrument (will) always be the background with Tai Chi because you can relax.”
Philadelphia resident Wan has practiced Tai Chi under the tutelage of master Chen Ziqiang, participated in performances and taught Tai Chi in the United States. Chinese New Year festivities for Wan include spending time with family.
“Your family, all the family, celebrate together and make delicious food,” she said.
Zou, Wang and Wan demonstrated Ba Duan Jin, a form of Qigong with eight movements that give the brain rest, oxygen and nutrients and focus on breathing. Movements include turning one’s head to look left and right, pointing the tailbone left and right, lifting the fists and bouncing on the toes.
“I think Tai Chi right now is not only exercise to everybody, because they talk about yin (and) yang,” Zou observed. “They say everything has two sides, like a woman and man, day (and) light, water and mountain and the bad and good.”
To end the Porch Club event, Zou performed with a sword and explained what she feels when she’s in the moment.
“I don’t care how many people (are) in here watching me,” she said. “I just enjoy myself; I forget.”
