The front entrance is all decorated today with red lanterns and ribbons. The most eye-catching is the distinct red sign, “Chinese Community Center,” which has just been hung up, almost a month after the center’s first opening. Today the parking lot is turned into an open auditorium. More than a hundred Chinese and other community friends from all parts of Memphis have come here to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which will announce the official Grand Opening of the Chinese Community Center.

Spring is here, and everything wakes up after a long winter’s sleep. Today the sun appears especially warm and welcoming. People gather around in small groups with old friends and new. One can hear the joyous chatting mixed with ringing laughter and feel the buzzing energy in the air. Soon one can smell the smoke and aroma of barbecue flowing around in the air. Someone has set up a barbecue grill, and Jin (Jinliang Cai) is busy flipping hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone. Indeed, food can always make one feel at home.

The two lady MC’s, Wangying Glasgow and Wei Du, announce, in English and Chinese respectively, the start of the ceremony. First, the inspiring opening speech is delivered by the Board Chair of the Greater Memphis United Chinese Association (GMUCA) Mr. Jimmy He. He summarizes the true meaning of a community as “caring for the old and loving the young.” Some twenty years ago, GMUCA established the first Chinese school, which has, over the years, offered Mandarin Chinese, Math, Computer Science, Arts and other classes to children of all ages. Now the Chinese Community Center takes as its mission to provide a “home” for the overseas Chinese and Chinese Americans, especially for the elderly. Filial piety, or respect for the elderly, has long been a Chinese virtue, a Confucius tradition that is carried on and made flourish here in America. As a result, in less than a month, the Center has already started a number of services and programs for the seniors including three weekly classes: the Taiji class, the ESL class and the painting class.

Mr. He emphasizes that the opening of the Chinese Community Center is a huge accomplishment. It is a result of twenty some years of continuous efforts by the previous and current GMUCA leaders and pioneers. He especially acknowledges Mr. Huimin Hu, the Director of the Center, for his vision and persistence in pursuing the seemingly impossible dream – to find a “home” for the Chinese community. Without him and his volunteer team’s tireless endeavors, this dream would never have become today’s reality. Mr. He urges the Memphis Chinese to continue to stay in Memphis upon retirement, for Memphis has a great Chinese community that offers everything they need and this community needs more Chinese and Chinese Americans to stay. Thanks to all the volunteers and donors, today we finally have our own community center, a clean and inviting space for people to gather together and socialize. We hope to see more centers like this in the future, to serve as platforms for cultural exchange, entertainment, leisure and performance.

Present in today’s ceremony are several VIP dignitaries of the city: the Shelby County Mayor Mr. Lee Harris, the very first female Memphis Police Chief Ms. C. J. Davis, and the Vice President for Government Relations of Cigna Healthcare Ms. Mary Tate Lee. Mayor Lee Harris brings a small gift – a white coffee mug with his name on – to the new community center as a token of congratulations. He praises the Chinese community for its contributions to the diversity and development of the Greater Memphis: the Chinese help to enrich the culture of Memphis and Shelby County by adding their talents and values to the fabrics of this large cosmopolitan area. The opening of the Chinese Community Center will help further social prosperity for the Greater Memphis area.

Ms. Mary Tate Lee offers her warm congratulations to the Chinese community. She shows her appreciation to the new community center for its work and service for the Chinese seniors in regard to their health and well-being. On behalf of Cigna Healthcare, Ms. Lee expresses that she’s willing and ready to offer her help to the Chinese Community Center whenever it’s needed.

Today’s program showcases some of the most popular traditional Chinese instrumental music and the mesmerizing demonstration of Chinese Martial Arts. Yaogu, or waist drum, a small drum attached to one’s waist with a wide ribbon, is a traditional folk dance instrument. It is typically performed by women on celebratory occasions such as the Chinese New Year. Here they are, a line of ladies in white tops and black bottoms, adorned with red silk around their slender waists, moving along while making pleasant and rhythmic tapping music with their little drums. This might be the very first time yaogu appears on stage in Memphis, though it was a familiar sight in China in the old days. According to the team leader, Dr. Ying Wang, who is the only male in the group, the drum team was formed less than a month ago, and they have rehearsed but five times. Their amazing performance brings back some of the good old memories for the elderly Chinese.

Pipa, a guitar-like instrument, has been played in China for more than a thousand years. It is typically plucked by a lady with her bamboo-shoot-like long fingers. Today’s performer, Ms. Elsie Zhang, is no exception. The music she plays, “Dance of the Golden Snake”, is a piece of classic celebratory music composed by the renowned artist, Mr. Nie Er, who was also the composer of the Chinese National Anthem. “Dance of the Golden Snake” was once showcased in the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Like pearls dropping into a jade plate, Ms. Zhang’s pipa is exquisite and passionate, precisely communicating the ardent and happy emotions of this music composition.

Taiji, a form of the Chinese Martial Art, has various schools and styles, all of which are based on the yin-yang philosophy. It is aimed at achieving mental, physical equilibrium and power through internal tranquility. It is popular among the elderly due to its slow, subtle movements and its gradual but powerful health benefits over time. Today’s performer, Mr. Xueming Wang was born into a martial art family about 65 years ago. Having practiced for more than fifty years, he is a master of Taiji and other forms of martial art. Almost a month ago, he volunteered to teach Taiji for free in the Chinese Community Center. Thus the popular Taiji class was quickly formed, and today his new students are going to show their initial achievement on stage as well.

Master Wang’s solo performance is called Chen Style Taiji. The master is dressed in all white. With his silvery silky hair flowing in the air, he seems almost unearthly. He meanders forward and backward, smooth and composed, gradual but powerful. Every glide shows his controlled freedom. Every curve demonstrates his ultimate mastery of the move. He is flowing in his own body and blossoming in the Taiji art, the art of subtlety and strength. Next, his students, in all black, demonstrate what they have learned so far – the first 24 moves of Taiji basics. Their impressive first step promises much more success in the future.

The next performance is an indulgence for the ear. Dizi, or the bamboo flute, is another major Chinese traditional instrument of folk music. Today’s music, “Happy Joy,” is a popular piece usually heard at weddings and other celebratory occasions. The melody, relaxing and cheerful, is full of festive atmosphere and thus perfect for today’s stage. The two performers, Jijiang Wu and David Lu, have carefully collaborated to present this delicious auditory feast to the audience. Mr. Wu’s flute, clear and crisp, is like a bird singing on top of the tree in the spring. Mr. David Lu’s keyboard accompaniment is deep and resonant, vibrating with power, rolling out a rhythmic backdrop for the enchanting flute. The two artists creatively mingle together two kinds of widely different instruments in a seamless harmony to bring out a unique piece of modern folk music.