Tai Ji Men’s Journey: A Fight for Conscience and Justice

Tai Ji Men is a menpai (similar to a school) of qigong, self-cultivation, and martial arts, rooted in Taoism but open to students of all faiths, with academies in several countries, including the United States. At the center of its teachings is the notion of conscience, as a moral compass that has been lost by many but should be recovered if a civilization of peace should prevail. The primacy of conscience is affirmed and presented through lectures and performances of martial arts, which have reached more than 100 countries. Tai Ji Men was also instrumental in creating the movement that led the United Nations to proclaim 2019 April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. At the same time, Tai Ji Men has encountered in Taiwan problems connected with its tax status, which has led it to create a broader movement for tax and legal reform. The session explores Tai Ji Men’s fight for conscience as well as its efforts to promote tax justice.