It was on February 25th 2012, in the early spring season, on a day exuding chilliness, when we gathered at a condo situated alongside the west bank of the Huangpu River, belonging to Rose Oliver M.B.E., president of DDA and a foreign expert at Shanghai University.
It was here that we witnessed the birth of a new and distinctive “big family”, dubbed the “Taiji Academy Home”, a fashionable title, yet one still steeped in tradition.
In front of the living room window, heading directly southwards, were placed 3 black and white photos, featuring 3 renowned masters; Masters Yue Huan Zhi in the middle and Dong Shi Zuo on the left, (both disciples of Yang Style Master Dong Ying Jie) and on the right, a photo of their student, and Master Wang Ming Bo and Master Rose Oliver’s own teacher, Master Dong Bin. Plates of fruit were laid out as ritual offerings to the 3 teachers, along with calligraphy of The Principles of Taiji Boxing, by Wang Zong Yue. A pleasing scent of Agalloch Wood from the incense burner permeated the room, making the atmosphere both soothing and solemn.?
Summoned by host Mr. Yu Huan Pei, the ceremony commenced at 3pm sharp.
Dressed in traditional taiji suits, Master Wang Ming Bo and Master Rose Oliver firstly bowed to the 3 teachers offering incense to them, strictly following the traditional conventions. They then sat down at both ends of the table respectively, waiting for the eight prospective disciples, also dressed in white taiji suits, to approach them and pay homage to the taiji family lineage. Both the masters and the disciples exchanged written testimony and scrolls, handwritten by Master Wang’s father of Wang Zong Yue’s Taiji Classic Principles, as a pledge to formalize the bond.?
The ceremony culminated as everyone saluted the forefathers to consummate the procedure.?
Afterwards, the host Mr. Yu Huan Pei invited both masters to address the disciples. Master Rose Oliver spoke in Chinese, saying that from today, everyone is now a member of this big family. She advised the group, that it was not only the essence of the grand masters’ proficient skill that we seek to learn and integrate into our practice, but that we should also treasure and emulate their noble spirit, morality and inherent goodness. Master Wang then spoke and stressed that the relationship between masters and disciples can always go beyond teacher/student to friendship. The teacher will utilize all his time, energy and experience to instruct the students, who in return, are expected to practise diligently and wholeheartedly.
Master Liu Hong Cai, a descendent of Chen Style Taiji, who acted along with Master Liu Ji Fa as one of the notaries at the disciple ceremony, considered this ceremony to be an integration of tradition and modernity, embracing both oriental and occidental culture and customs, merging Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism. He said it was remarkable for Ms. Rose Oliver to come from so far away to China, to garner the essence of Chinese martial arts and culture. He went on to say that it is inspiring to see her unswerving devotion to the martial arts and her endeavours to disseminate her own experience and knowledge to benefit more people. Master Liu said it was imperative to see the three major elements of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism in Chinese culture being adopted in today’s ceremony, as we are encouraged to follow all these classic doctrines. The inclusiveness of Chinese culture was perfectly depicted today through the presence of descendents and practitioners belonging respectively to Yang Style, Chen Style and Wu Style Taiji, emphasizing that we all bear a strong sense of duty to spread our ancient and glorious Chinese culture and traditions. Master Liu Ji Fa, a prominent master of Wu Style Taiji added that it is “De” (ethical and moral conduct) that counts the most in taiji practice and theory. The eminent taiji practitioners, that we revere so much were masters acknowledged for both their technical skills and their moral behaviour. We are encouraged therefore to take fidelity and righteousness as our priorities, as we explore our Taiji practice.?
?The host Mr. Yu Huan Pei is a younger kung fu brother of Master Wang Ming Bo, as well as a very good friend of both masters. He felt intensely touched and amazed by the whole ceremony. He especially deemed the establishment of this “Taiji Academy Home”, as both traditional and formal, as well as modern and innovating, and was thus extraordinarily meaningful.
2012年2月25日下午春寒料峭，黄浦江畔浦西的一座普通民宅，这里是双龙会主席、上海大学外籍专家王玫瑰的寓所。此时此刻，一个新的温馨而又特殊的“大家庭”正在这里诞生。新的家庭有一个非常传统而又时尚的名字—-太极私塾。
客厅窗前，正南的位置，桌上摆放着三张放大的老照片，中间的是著名杨式太极拳宗师乐焕之，左首是其传人集学者和武术大师于一身的董世祚，西面是王明波和王玫瑰的老师、已故太极名家董斌。照片前供放着一些水果，一册织锦封面毛笔书写的王宗岳《太极拳论》，香炉中清香袅袅，空气里弥漫着一股温馨、悠远而又庄重的气息。
?下午3点整，随着仪式主持人余焕培的一声招呼，太极私塾拜师仪式正式开始。
身着中国传统太极服装的王明波和王玫瑰，首先按照中国传统祭拜先辈的仪式，面南拈香礼拜，然后端坐供桌两端。8名同样身着洁白太极唐装的学生分批上前，先为太极先辈上香，然后对两位老师恭敬行礼，奉上鲜红的拜师帖，并接过老师回赠的回师贴和《太极拳论》书法卷轴，最后再次面对太极先辈行叩拜大礼。
礼毕，主持人请老师训话。王玫瑰老师用中文对学生们说：从今天起，我们就是一个家庭，每个人都是这个大家庭的一员，我们不仅要学习传承先辈的技艺，更重要的是要学习继承先辈和在座前辈的高尚的品德。王明波老师表示，师徒之间不但是师徒，也是“亦师亦友”，他将对学生倾囊相授，并勉励学生要努力学习，刻苦训练。
拜师仪式的见证人，陈式太极拳传人刘洪才老师点评道：这是一个中西合璧、古今结合、三脉一席的仪式，王玫瑰老师不远万里来到中国，不但把中国的传统武术和文化内涵继承了下来，并且又在中国传承下去，十分难得；今天的仪式里蕴含了儒释道三家的元素和文化精髓，是中国文化本质的继承，十分重要；今天在座的不但有杨式太极的传人，还有陈式太极和吴式太极的传人，体现了中国文化的包容精神，我们一定要把中国文化的优秀结晶发扬光大。吴式太极传人刘继发老师接着勉励道：学习太极拳，最重要的是学习“德”，我们所礼拜的太极前辈不但技艺精深，而且都是德高望重，在今后的学习过程中，一定要注重做人，要讲究“诚信、厚道”。学生们最后表示，今天的拜师仪式给他们上了印象深刻的第一堂课，使他们懂得了学习太极拳，最重要的是学习做人，能够成为这个大家庭的一员是一种荣幸，也是一种鞭策，今后一定要注重道德的提升和技艺的精进。
仪式的主持人余焕培老师是王明波老师的师弟，也是两位王老师的好友。他说，他在整个拜师仪式的过程中，也被深深地感染和感动，他强调太极私塾的成立，是传承也是创新，既是传统的又是时尚的，非常有意义。