The annual meeting of the Huamei Yijing Study Society in 2024 was held on June 8th at 2:00 PM in Room 203 of the Overseas Chinese Education Center. The meeting included the inauguration of the new and outgoing presidents and a special lecture. The chairman Yanye and the renowned spinal treatment expert Dr. Chen Yu Tang were invited to speak. The director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center, Wang Yingrong, and deputy director Huang Yili were also in attendance. The event attracted dozens of members and the public, with not a single seat left empty.
After President Li Zhaoqiong’s speech, she introduced the entire board of directors and took a group photo. Under the supervision of Wang Yingrong, the new president Hong Liangbing took office and on behalf of the chairman of the Overseas Chinese Committee, Xu Jiaqing, presented a certificate of appreciation to Li Zhaoqiong for her contributions over the past 5 years. Certificates were also presented to the well-deserved new president Hong Liangbing, who will bring more knowledge about Yijing to the overseas community and society during her two-year term.
Li Zhaoqiong expressed that as she gets older, she increasingly appreciates the wisdom of “Yijing” and the profoundness of Chinese culture. She hopes to spread this knowledge to more people for their benefit. Hong Liangbing pointed out that he joined the Yijing Study Society because of learning from teacher Yanye. He has been deeply inspired by the essence of Chinese culture spanning five thousand years. The Yijing philosophy encompasses many theories of psychology, making it applicable to all aspects of life. He welcomes more people to join in learning together.
Despite enduring the lingering effects of a recent journey, Teacher Yanye attended to explain the “meaning behind the numbers” to the audience. After a brief review of the previous discussion from “zero to two,” she explained that “three” represents the principles of heaven, earth, and humanity. In ancient characters, “three” is represented by the brightest three stars in a constellation, symbolizing the completeness of the universe. “Four” divides within a certain range and symbolizes yin numbers, resembling a division into quarters. Nothing will exceed a certain limit, and both fortune and misfortune will diminish. “Five” represents the sky above and the earth below, influencing heaven, earth, and humans, which is a fundamental theory in Chinese thought used in fields such as traditional Chinese medicine, divination, fate, and feng shui. The audience admired Teacher Yanye’s explanations on the meaning behind numbers, ranging from ancient writing to traditional Chinese studies from various angles.
Following that, Dr. Chen Yu Tang gave a lecture on “healthcare in the golden years,” emphasizing the importance of the mindset of body, mind, and spirit in health. He pointed out the philosophy of health maintenance lies in consistency rather than quantity: perseverance, appropriate food intake, balanced nutrition – neither too much nor too little, self-discipline, etc. He quoted the saying of South Huaijin that the “Bai Zi Ming” of Laozi, the ancestor of Laozi from the Dao family, is the best essence of the three schools of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian, which is also the way to health and longevity. During the event, Dr. Chen Yu Tang led the audience in a series of ten movements called “Ten Complete Movements,” which alternated between fast and slow motions, involving actions such as interlocking hands, sticking out tongues, spreading wings like a roc, and brisk walking in place – all exercises that can be practiced at home for one’s health.
The new board of directors and supervisors for the Huamei Yijing Study Society in 2024 are as follows: Consultant/Honorary President – Teacher Yanye; President – Hong Liangbing; Vice President – Pan Yuzhen; Treasurer – He Wanli; Secretary – Chen Wanping; General Affairs – Mi Mailan; Directors – Huang Fengbin, Qin Hongjun, Zhang Yiqin, Shao Meiwu, Cai Zonglin, Li Zhaoxuan; Supervisors – Li Zhaoqiong, Tan Junyi.