【時報訊】密蘇裏植物園中國花園之友會4月29日(周日)下午一時至三時，在中國花園友寧園內舉行遊園日慶祝活動，向美國社區介紹中國花園之建築結構及文化意義，國際佛光會聖路易分會在遊園日提供品茗中華茶藝節目，偉伯斯特大學二年級同學劉力志應邀古箏演奏，當日下午中國花園內春光明媚，鳥語花香，來賓品茗聆樂之際，隨即演練太極與大地萬物融而為一。
中國花園遊園日課堂上課部分由聖路易中國花園之友會會長太極師傅Justin Meehan律師在Kemper中心主持。首先邀得植物園工程主管Douglas Waggner做半小時之中國花園建築結構報告。娶位中國太太的Douglas Waggner對中國花園「友寧園」建築下了一番工夫研究，同時印出當年建園時之各階段建築圖向在座人士逐一解釋，讓大家在硬體結構上認識中國花園。
由於中國花園是1996年南京市送給姐妹市聖路易市的一座花園禮物，Justin Meehan會長邀請來自中國青島的孫怡律師為會眾作了兩姐妹市歷史背景之說明，突顯兩市間之情誼和民間友情。
在中國花園文化意義上，Justin Meehan律師邀得美籍Jackie Mitchell女士以她收集之大量中國花園幻燈片為題材向大家解說中國林園之文化意義。她提到中國花園之月圓門窗，風水陰陽，竹節氣節和雨打芭蕉，甚富詩情畫意，尤其這些文化背景是由一位美籍友人口中道出，更屬難能可貴。所有教學課程內容均委請周密女士全程錄影。
Justin Meehan會長在課堂上提醒大家參加5月19日、20日在植物園舉行之中華日活動，這是為期兩天，聖路易地區最大型之中華文化活動，節日精彩可期。
在中國花園內的活動則有太極演練，品茗茶藝和古箏演奏。每年都由國際佛光會聖路易分會支援的品茗活動由會長李寅和崔雅清小姐主持，以上好的中國茶招待遊園貴賓。
來自中國大陸四川，目前在聖市偉伯斯特大學金融及宗教研究系就讀二年級的劉力志同學應邀在中國花園文逸亭內作古箏演奏。7歲開始練琴的劉力志以熟練的指法，清脆宏容的箏音演出“雪山春曉”，“漁舟唱晚”兩首古箏名曲，獲得滿場掌聲。劉力志不但作古箏演奏，同時也將她學習古箏之心路歷程與大家分享，並介紹古箏琴弦之特色，在欣賞悅耳琴音外另有一番收獲。
中國花園遊園日結束後，中國花園之友會當晚在聖市京園餐廳餐敘，共商中國花園遊園日活動今後之發展計劃，Justin Meehan會長將籌組理事會並將中國花園之友會註冊成為非營利團體，擇期舉辦募款會為中國花園友寧園之維修募集經費，結合社區力量，共同維護這座聖路易所有市民引以為榮之中國花園。
Chinese Garden Tour/Celebration April 29th at Missouri Botanical Garden
Hosted by:Justin MeehanTai Chi Master, Attorney at Law, President of the Friends of the Chinese Garden
J. Justin Meehan or Sifu Justin, as he is known to his students and peers, has studied the marital arts for 44 years and Tai Chi Chuan specifically for over 39 years. He began his study in New York at the age of 14. Originally studying Japanese Karate, he later studied Korean Tang Soo Do, in 1967 earning his Black Belt. In 1967 he began studying Chinese martial arts, and in particular, Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan). His Chinese Martial Arts studies include Shaolin, Northern & Southern Praying Mantis, Hung Gar, and Wing Tsun. He was the first person to teach the Chinese Internal Arts in St. Louis in 1970. He was selected to present Chen Style and Tai Chi Free Fighting workshops at the Annual Tai Chi Festival at the Tai Chi Form of Master Jou Tseng Hua. In 1985, he was selected for a feature presentation in the Whose Who of Martial Arts and chosen to serve on the Selection Board for the Midwest area. In 1981 he traveled to China to visit the Shaolin Temple and to study the original Chen style of Tai Chi. He has also traveled to Bahia, Brazil (1980 and 1995) to study the African-American martial art, Capoeira. He was featured in the award winning cable TV documentary, "CMAA Martial Arts Spectacular" demonstrating Tai Chi alongside such martial arts legends as Danny Innosanto and Bill "Superfoot" Wallace. He is also included in the 1996 Taste of China Taiji demonstrations videotape. His bio and photo is included in Master Liang Shou Yu's book, Elements of Kung Fu listing national and world Masters. Sifu Justin sponsors workshops and master classes under the Chinese Internal Arts Center, a non-profit corporation. His formal teacher (ShirFu) is Master Zhang Xue Xin of San Francisco. Sifu Justin is Master Zhang's Senior U.S. Disciple. Contact Sifu Justin at his law office at (314) 772-9494 or website at WWW.STLTAIJI.COM or e-mail at JUSTINMEEHAN@AOL.COM.
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