Origin of Shaolin Temple Day
1st China Songshan Shaolin Temple Day, March 21, 2004
In 2004, the California State Assembly proclaimed by resolution March 21 as
"China Songshan Shaolin Temple Day,"
a special day to promote, publicize and celebrate the Shaolin teachings and influence in California.
Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin and Shaolin Monks with State and City officials
after a performance of Shaolin Kung Fu at Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco.
Warrior Monk Shi Yanran (4th right, 1st row), now Executive Director of Shaolin Temple USA,
was a member of the 2004 China Songshan Shaolin Temple Delegation.
Ancestral Home of Chan (Zen) Buddhism • Birth Place of Shaolin Kung Fu
| www.shaolin.org.cn | Videos |
China Songshan Shaolin Temple is an ancient Buddhist monastery located in Henan Province of Central China. Established in 495 AD by the Wei Dynasty Emperor Wendi, Shaolin Temple was the birthplace of Chinese Chan (Zen) Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu (martial arts).
In 517 A.D., South Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidharma arrived at the Shaolin Temple. He spent nine years meditating in a cave behind the temple and founded the Chan (Zen) School of Buddhism that spread to other Asian countries and the West through the centuries. This Zen Buddhism lineage is the largest Buddhist Sect today with over 200,000,000 practitioners worldwide. Shaolin Temple is also famous for Medicine. The Shaolin Pharmacy Bureau dates back to 1217 AD. As a result, Shaolin Kung Fu is not merely a complex martial arts system, it is a comprehensive system for spiritual and physical wellness.
Shaolin Kung Fu is the largest and most complete martial arts and health system in the world with millions of practitioners worldwide. The Shaolin Pharmacy Bureau dates back to 1217 AD. Shaolin Buddhist Medicine has gained wide support and acceptance by medical communities at home and abroad.
Shaolin Warrior Monks are world famous as the embodiment of spiritual cultivation and martial arts prowess. In the modern world, Shaolin Warrior Monks’ mission is to share their 1,500-year old culture with the people of the world through performances, lectures and classes. They have performed for world audiences in over 60 countries, including heads of the State such as Queen Elizabeth II, Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Shaolin Temple is a protected national historic site in China. Shaolin Kung Fu was listed a national intangible cultural heritage by the State Council of People's Republic of China. Shaolin Temple was named “Center of Heaven and Earth” World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2010.
~ from left ~
• Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin presents rare Shaolin classic manuals to former Chinese President Jiang Zemin
• Received by Queen Elizabeth II of England
• Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Abbot Shi Yongxin at Shaolin Temple
Venerable Abbot
Shi Yongxin
Songshan Shaolin Temple
Henan Province, China
Current Offices:
Abbot China Songshan Shaolin Temple
Vice Chair Buddhist Association of China
Chair Henan Province Buddhist Association
Deputy the 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th National People’s Congresses, People’s Republic of China
Director Overseas Communication Committee of Buddhist Association of China
Abbot Shi Yongxin was born in 1965 into a devout Buddhist family. A quiet and intelligent child, he was enlightened and drawn to Buddhism at a very young age. In 1981, his parents granted his wish and sent him to Shaolin Temple. Young Yongxin was personally mentored by the Temple’s Abbot Shi Xingzheng and received full Buddhist precepts at the age of nineteen.
In 1987, at the passing of Abbot Shi Xingzheng, Master Yongxin took the ceremonial alms-bowl and robes on his shoulder (a symbol for the Dharma transmission) and assumed responsibilities as Chairman of Shaolin Temple Management Committee.
In 1999, Master Yongxin was officially inaugurated as the 30th Abbot of China Songshan Shaolin Temple.
Abbot Yongxin has grand visions for Songshan Shaolin Temple. His mission is to reinvigorate Shaolin Temple—the birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, and to propagate Buddhism and Shaolin culture on a far reaching scale. He has made many invaluable contributions to the revival, preservation and elevation of the Shaolin legacy, including major renovation projects at the 1,500-year old monastery, unearthing and compiling precious Buddhist text and Shaolin classic manuscripts of Shaolin martial arts and Shaolin Medicine, the establishment of Shaolin Charitable Orphanage for 1,000 children, and frequent cultural exchange activities with nations worldwide.
Abbot Shi Yongxin’s many publications include: Proven Prescription of Shaolin—Monastery Origin; Chan Dew; Shaolin Kung Fu; China’s national treasure — The Secret Books of Shaolin Kung Fu and Medicine; Chinese Martial Arts Encyclopedia (101 volumes), Shaolin Temple in My Heart, etc. The full collection of Buddhist Medicine Encyclopedia (100 volumes) was officially issued under his general editorship.
Headquartered in San Francisco, Shaolin Temple USA was founded in 2007 as a California nonprofit organization by 34th Generation Shaolin Monk Master Shi Yanran with the mission to share Shaolin culture with the American people. It has since grown into a vibrant community that spills out from three Shaolin Culture Centers on both American coasts to diverse neighborhoods, schools and universities. Our Culture Centers in San Francisco, Fremont, California and Herndon, Virginia teach Shaolin Kung Fu Chan—the unique Shaolin discipline that integrates Chan Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu for spiritual and physical wellness. Shaolin Temple USA also teaches weekly Shaolin Kung Fu classes at Stanford University School of Medicine Health Improvement Program.
We are delighted that our students aged 4 to 80 from all walks of life and their families have enjoyed the enrichment and benefits of Shaolin Temple’s profound culture.
| Shaolin Temple USA at A Glance |
| Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin | Our Roots | Calendar | Events |
2009 footage of Shaolin Temple USA Warrior Monks
http://shaolinusa.us/ShaolinTempleUSA09.wmv
Team Shaolin Temple USA at
2013 Shaolin Temple Cultural Festival, Los Angele
Students garnered 93 medals including 33 gold at Shaolin Kung Fu Competition
« Photos »
∆ Shaolin Temple USA team members excelled at every division they participated in.
(Top from left): Ryo Egchi (San Francisco), Robert Trinh (Fremont),
(Bottom from left): Tien Fu (Herndon VA), and Jeff Waters (Stanford University)
collectively garnered 6 gold and 6 silver medals.
After the Awards Ceremony and Shaolin Kung Fu Evening Gala on 10/12, Shaolin Temple USA students and Sifus gathered for a group photo, joined by some of the Warrior Monks from the Kung Fu performance.
Participation • Excellence • Team Work
Shaolin Temple USA Annual Kung Fu competition
Students aged 3+ to 77 participated to engaged in a spirited contest as a means to
assess personal training results, build confidence and a quest for excellence.
Dec. 1, Herndon, VA • Dec. 8, San Francisco
« 2013 Intramural Games Main Page »
« Photos & Videos: San Francisco • Herndon »
Shaolin Temple USA 5th Anniversary Celebration, Dec. 2012
« P h o t o s »
Shaolin Temple USA Kung Fu class at Stanford University
since January 2011 « Webpage »
The class was featured by Stanford University online newspaper Stanford Report on 2/28/2012
Seeking harmony of body and mind at Stanford through Shaolin Kung Fu
| Video |
2007
One Song Concert
Featured at the One Song Concert produced by China Central TV, a star-studded
(China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) concert to celebrate Chinese New Year,
at Cow Palace, San Francisco. Audience: 15,000.
Video: Shaolin Temple USA Kung Fu Monks at Cow Palace, SF, 2007 - YouTube
2007
Shaolin Monks
4 full-length performances by Shaolin Warrior Monks Corps of 16 at
Hawaii Theater, Honolulu
Master Yanran and dancer Corey Scott of Lines Ballet
High Sky, Long River
18 Performances with Alonzo King's Lines Ballet in France and across the US
Shaolin Temple Warrior Monks and Lines Ballet dancers in finale sequence.
Dancers practiced Kung Fu with the Monks
Reviews:
San Francisco Chronicle: Lines Ballet with Shaolin Monks
Dance Review Times: Meditation Through Movement
2009
Shaolin Zen Concert
Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra (FYCO) in collaboration with Shaolin Temple USA
California Theatre, San Jose
“ Heavenly music lilting,
Buddha’s disciples through their disciplines revealing;
Wonderous melody and kung fu, both in the spirit of Zen,
Happiness abounds in the mind no longer burdened with worries.”
Video: http://fyco.org/new/live_recordings09.html
2011
1st North America Shaolin Summit
Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles CA
1-hour Shaolin Kung Fu program produced by Shaolin Temple USA for the Summit
Video: Opening Demonstration by Shaolin Warrior Monks at the 1st Shaolin Summit
Taichi Kung Fu Day
June 2012, San Jose
Master Shi Yanran
Founder & Executive Director of Shaolin Temple USA
34th Generation Shaolin Temple Buddhist Monk
Disciple of Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin
Venerable Abbot Shi Yonxin and disciple Shi Yanran proceeding to
a daily Early Morning Sutra Recitation at the Mahavira Hall, Shaolin Temple, 2004.
Leading students in Shaolin Temple USA's presentation at the 2014 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade
 .jpg) 
Kung Fu Magazine 20th Anniversary
Cover Masters Exhibition
Shaolin Temple USA Executive Director Master Shi Yanran performing for fellow magazine cover masters,
dignitaries and martial artists from around the world. • June 9, 2012, San Jose Convention Center
Shaolin Rouxingquan performed by
Master Shi Yanran, Executive Director of Shaolin Temple USA
Video: Shaolin Rouxingquan
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