Songshan Shaolin Temple Day

Wai Jia: The Kung Fu Forum Shaolin Kung Fu
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We’ve covered Songshan Shaolin Temple Day since its inception in 2004. Songshan Shaolin Temple Day was officially declared by California State Assembly’s Speaker pro Tempore, Dr. Leland Yee, on March 21st, 2004. For the whole story, see my article Shaolin Temple in San Francisco Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin, California’s “Songshan Shaolin Temple Day,” UNESCO and a Buddhist Music Concert in our July/August 2004 Shaolin Special.

This year, the Abbot is returning to California for Songshan Shaolin Temple Day. We’ve discussed this a little on some other threads (I dropped by the new Shaolin Temple USA school & Shaolin Shows near SF) but now it deserves its own thread. Songshan Shaolin Temple Day is now being supported by the Friends of Shaolin, a special committee of the Tiger Claw Foundation.

I’ll be reporting on the progress of this project here as it happens. I hope to see some of you in Union Square on the 21st and at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts on the 22nd.

Here’s the official website flyer.

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Press Conference Tomorrow

Pass this along to any S.F. Press people you might know…:smiley:

Contact:
Adam J. Keigwin,
(916) 651-4008
(916) 256-5758

PRESS CONFERENCE

Senator Yee to Announce Historic Visit of the Abbott of Shaolin

World famous martial artists from Songshan Shaolin Temple, China to perform in California

Who:
Senator Leland Yee
Shi Yanran, Director
Shi Yansong
Shi Yanyong
Shi Yanxing
Shi Yanlei
Shi Yanjia

When:
Friday, March 6, 2009 at 12:30 pm

Where:
Senator Yee’s District Office
455 Golden Gate, Suite 14200
San Francisco, CA 94102

What:
On March 18th, Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) will welcome to California the highest figure in Chinese Zen Buddhism, the Abbott of Shaolin, along with a delegation of monks from the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China. The historic visit will be only the third time in which the Abbott has come to California.

Tomorrow, Senator Yee will discuss the upcoming visit and announce several events and performances of the Shaolin.

The Shaolin Temple, renown for its 1500-year-old martial arts and Buddhist scholars, is the birth place of Zen Buddhism. The monks of Shaolin have won fame and prestige for creating Shaolin Kung Fu, the most well known Chinese martial arts. These teachings are taught throughout the world, with several schools and teaching centers located in California.

Adam J. Keigwin | Chief of Staff
Office of Senator Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D.,
Assistant President pro Tem
California State Senate | District 8
(916) 651-4008 | www.senate.ca.gov/yee

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you going to post up links to the pictures and photo’s from the day when it is over?

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Of course!

I’ll be covering it as much as I can for both KungFuMagazine.com and Kung Fu Tai Chi. It’s a historic event for Shaolin and you know I’m on top of that.

I’ll be blogging developments here on this thread. The schedule is in constant flux, so stay tuned…

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are you going to be twittering it as it happens?

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Southern California Events

Abbot Shi Yong Xin will also be traveling to the Los Angeles Shaolin Temple Cultural Center. http://www.shaolinus.org

March 24th and 25th There will be seminars and demos as well as Buddha Hall Inauguration and Taking Refuge Ceremony.

The Los Angeles Shaolin Temple Cultural Center was established in 2007 and is currently located at 9143 La Rosa, Temple City, CA

Also, Master Shi Yan Xu will be holding workshops at the Disneyland Martial Arts Festival on Saturday March 28th. The workshops will cover Zhang Hu Xin Yi Men and Da Hong Quan as well as real world combat applications.

http://www.tournament.info/da-seminar.htm

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Funny you should mention twitter, SLL

I’ve just signed up on twitter and I’m trying to figure it out. It’s part of our viral campaign, along with the MySpace and Facebook sites (I’d link the Facebook site, but I haven’t figured out how to do that neatly yet - it’s a business site). Anyway, right now I have like an audience of 2 on twitter, so I doubt I’ll be twittering it. :o

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The official press release…

…from just a few hours ago at S.F. City Hall (too long to twitter ;))

Abbot of Shaolin to Make Historic Third Visit to California

Senator Yee hosts world famous martial artists from Songshan Shaolin Temple, China

SACRAMENTO – On March 18th, Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) will welcome to California the highest figure in Chinese Zen Buddhism, the Abbot of Shaolin, along with a delegation of monks from the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China. The historic visit will be only the third time in which Abbot Shi Yong Xin has come to California. Previous Abbots had never visited the United States.

The Shaolin Temple, renown for its 1500-year-old martial arts and Buddhist scholars, is the birth place of Zen Buddhism. The monks of Shaolin have won fame and prestige for creating Shaolin Kung Fu, the most well known Chinese martial arts. These teachings are taught throughout the world, with several schools and teaching centers located in California.

“I am honored to welcome the Abbot and the 1500-year old Shaolin martial arts and culture to our state,” said Senator Yee. “Today, thousands of Californians, of diverse cultural, religious, racial, economic, and social backgrounds, study the teachings of Shaolin.”

In 2004, Senator Yee authored a resolution that proclaimed March 21st as Shaolin Temple Day in California.

This year, along with the China Songshan Shaolin Temple, the Shaolin Temple USA, and the Shaolin Cultural Center, Senator Yee will host a variety of events for Shaolin Temple Day. The 1-1/2 week-long celebrations begin with a welcome for Abbot Shi Yong Xin and his delegation at San Francisco International Airport on March 18; an all-day event at Union Square on March 21; a performance at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts on March 22; a visit to the Capitol and a performance in Sacramento on March 23; and ending with a variety of activities in the Los Angeles area between March 24 and March 29.

The following events are planned for Shaolin Temple Day in California:

Welcoming Abbot of China Songshan Shaolin Temple
Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 1:30pm-2:30pm
San Francisco International Airport, Reflection Room

Shaolin Temple Day Performance – San Francisco
Saturday, March 21, 2009, 10:00am-5:00pm
Union Square Plaza, San Francisco

Shaolin Temple Day Performance – San Jose
Sunday, March 22, 2009, 3:30pm
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose

Shaolin Temple Day Welcome and Performance – Sacramento
Monday, March 23, 2009,
12:30pm, Performance at the Masonic Temple, Sacramento
2:00pm, Welcome in the Senate Chambers

Shaolin Temple Day Celebrations in the Los Angeles Area
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 through Sunday, March 29, 2009
Various venues in Santa Ana, Temple City, Montebello, Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Anaheim

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“the highest figure in Chinese Zen Buddhism, the Abbott of Shaolin,”

really:rolleyes:

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I’ve been pondering that one, ngokfei, since you brought it up…

Can you think of someone higher?

If memory serves, Shi Yongxin holds a seat on People’s Congress and is one of the vice-directors (that’s probably not the proper title) of the Chinese Buddhist Association. There are higher Chinese Buddhists, but I don’t think they are of the Chan (Zen) school. What’s more, given the vast public image of Shaolin, I think it’s safe to say that they are better known worldwide than any other Chinese sect. I’m guessing that most people on this forum can’t even name another Chinese Chan Buddhist abbot. I couldn’t do it off the top of my head. I’d have to plumb my notes and articles. It’s particularly challenging when you narrow the field to Chinese Chan. I can think of plenty of Buddhist leaders, several Zen leaders and a few Chinese leaders, but Abbot Yongxin is the only one that comes immediately to mind that combines all three.

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I’m guessing that most people on this forum can’t even name another Chinese Chan Buddhist abbot.

Venerable Sheng Yen from Dharma Drum

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1 point for Shaolindynasty…

…however I thought Sheng Yen was no longer in China. Isn’t he in Taiwan now?

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Unfortunatley. . .

Master Sheng Yen has passed on.

http://www.ddm.org.tw/event/master_shengyen/en/index.html

Respect.

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there is the dhali lama, thats the same as shaolin buddhism right?

[puts on flame coat]

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too many suplexes, SLL…

…way too many suplexes. :stuck_out_tongue:

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[QUOTE=GeneChing;922982]…way too many suplexes. :p[/QUOTE]

good thing i gave it up. :wink:

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Shaolin Cultural Journeys Press Conference

The Shaolin cultural center had a press conference at Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena on March 13, 2009. I have uploaded an hd video of the conference. It’s about a half hour long with a short martial arts demonstration at the end performed by Shi Yan Xu and his brother.
Shaolin Press Conference

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Once more, with feeling

Due to our little forum blip yesterday, my posts on this thread were lost. Impermanence…:smiley:

Thanks for that vid, enoajnin. That was a lot of speeches for the first lines of dahong and some wushu shuangdao. :rolleyes:

I’m about to leave for a press conference at Yanran’s place here in Fremont. It’s open to the public so come on down! It starts at 10:00am. 4343 Peralta Boulevard (at Dusterberry), Fremont, CA 94536 Tel: (510) 818-9966 Fax: (510) 818-9960 Email: ShaolinUSA@yahoo.com.cn. This is the place described in my article The Temple and the Auto Shop in our 2009 January/February Shaolin Special.

Here’s the schedule for the Abbot’s visit up in the Bay Area:

[URL=“http://www.shaolinusa.us/event_09shaolinday2.html”]Shaolin
1,500 Years of Cultural Heritage
Chan Buddhism • Shaolin Kung Fu • Shaolin Medicine

Program
March 18 - 23, 2009
San Francisco - Fremont - San Jose - Sacramento

March 18, 2009 • Wednesday

San Francisco International Airport
Airport Welcome for The Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin and China Songshan Shaolin Temple Delegation

9:00 am
Arrival of Abbot Shi Yongxin and Delegation
San Francisco International Airport
United Airlines Flight 888 from Beijing
You are welcome to join us in greeting the Abbot at the arrival.
To check status of a flight online, go to http://www.united.com. Or call United International at 800.538.2929.

10:00 am
Press Conference at Reflection Room at Airport

Group photo with the Venerable Abbot

March 19, 2009 • Thursday • 9:30 - 11 30 am
Shaolin Temple USA Culture Center
5509 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 9121
Grand Opening

9:30 am
Buddhist Ceremony presided by the Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin of China Songshan Shaolin Temple, the Venerable Master Ru Xiu of Da Bei Temple and the Venerable Master Chi Hoi of Foshan Monastry: Consecration of Triple Gem Buddha Statues and and blessings for the new Cutlure Center.

10:00 am
Guest Speakers

10:30 am
Shaolin Kung Fu Demonstration

11:00
Buddhist Offerings. To make offering, please contact Amy Tung at 408-472-2530.

March 19, 2009 • Thursday • 2:00 pm
East Asian Library, UC Berkeley
The Abbot and Delegation visit the East Asian Library and Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative.

March 20, 2009 • Friday

Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
Guided tour of exhibits for Abbot Shi Yongxin and Delegation. The Abbot meets with Executive Director and Museum Board Members on future collaborations.

Osher Institute of Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
Abbot Shi Yongxin meets with Medical and Department Heads on fusion of East-West Medicine.

March 21, 2009 • Satruday • 10 am - 5 pm
Union Square, San Francisco
Shaolin Temple Day Celebration
1,500 Years of Cultural Heritage
Chan Buddhism • Shaolin Kung Fu • Shaolin Medicine

10:30 am
Spring Prayer for World Peace and the American People presided by
Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin of China Songshan Shaolin Temple

11:00 am
Greetings from the Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin, Senator Leland Yee and Shi Yanran, Director of Shaolin Temple USA
Guest Speakers
Lion Dance
Ribbon Cutting

12 noon, 3 pm
Shaolin Kung Fu Demonstration

Free Lessons:
Shaolin Kung Fu, Qigong, classic Shaolin Wellness Exercises

Photo Display:
History of Shaolin Temple, Shaolin Culture: Chan Buddhism, Shaolin Kung Fu, Shaolin Medicine, Shaolin Temple cultural exchange activities abroad

Shaolin Cultural Booths:
Shaolin Medicine, Chan Tea & Cuisine, Shaolin Monk Attire, Shaolin Weapons, Books & Arts & much more…

March 21, 2009 • Saturday 6:30 pm
Ming’s
1700 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Vegetarian Banquet honoring the Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin.
More information: 510-818-9966

March 22, 2009 • Sunday 10 am - 12:30 pm
Shaolin Temple USA Fremont Culture Center
4343 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536
Abbot Shi Yongxin meets with students, parents and local residents
Group photo with the Venerable Abbot

March 22, 2009 • Sunday 3:30 pm
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose, CA 95113
Magnificent Shaolin
Spectacular Shaolin Kung Fu • Breathtaking Qigong Feats
The splendid harmony of Shaolin Martial Arts & Chan Buddhism
that inhabits the ancient monastery comes to life on stage.
Performed by Kung Fu Monks of the visiting China Songshan Shaolin Temple Delegation & Shaolin Temple Kung Fu Monks stationed at Shaolin Temple USA
Abbot Shi Yongxin conducts blessing ceremony

For more information:
Please call 415-666-9966
Email: ShaolinUSA@yahoo.com.cn

Tickets: $28, $48, $68, $98 (VIP)

March 23, 2009 • Monday
California State Capitol, Sacramento
China Songshan Shaolin Temple Day celebration

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News on the Abbot

““hi-ya!” their way into your heart” :rolleyes:

Shaolin Temple Abbot - Venerable Grand Monk Master Shi Yong Xin & Shaoling Temple Kung Fu Monks Team
Date/Time:Tue., March 24, 7:00pm

Typically, the thought of monks brings forth images of peace and tranquility—not supreme kung-fu beat-downs. For 1,500 years, the monks of China’s Shaolin Temple have been guardians of two of the country’s greatest customs: Buddhism and kung fu. The temple is the birthplace of some of the most famous martial arts, devised to protect the grounds from bandits and later becoming one of the monks’ strongest traditions—and lucky to be here today. The Communist regime declared war on all old ideas and closed the country’s monasteries during the Cultural Revolution. But Jet Li helped to breathe new life into the temple after filming the 1982 classic Shaolin Temple there. It was the first martial-arts film to be shown in mainland China and sparked an international interest in the monks’ unique practices. Witness Venerable Grand Monk Master Shi Yong Xin and the Shaoling Temple Kung Fu Monks Team as they “hi-ya!” their way into your heart.

This is somewhat related since Abbot Yongxin is here to visit the two American Shaolin Cultural Centers. I was going to ask how many there are worldwide now - this article reports 28 - I’ll probably still ask, just to double check.

Kungfu shrine monastery planning new tourism scheme amid financial crisis

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China's Shaolin Temple and the global financial crisis, far-fetched? The abbot of the legendary kungfu shrine believes otherwise.

The temple is planning a new tourism project aimed to inspire more confidence into people struggling in the prevailing financial crisis, through "perception of Zen's wisdom and power", said Shi Yongxin, the abbot.

"The plan is to let tourists have a taste of living as followers of Zen Buddhism," said Shi, "and people can come to meditate sitting cross legged and eat vegetables only like other monks."

The financial crisis has not impacted people's spending on culture and tourism, he told Xinhua on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislative body.

The number of visitors was unaffected and even increased by about 10 percent since the unfolding of the crisis, according to Shi, also an NPC deputy.

The 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple in China's central province of Henan on average receives more than 2 million tourists every year.

"Shaolin Kong Fu can make people physically stronger, and living the life of Zen followers can lead them to the perception of Zen's wisdom," he said, "such practices are both very popular among tourists."

The famed Shaolin temple has been frequently in the spotlight of media under the leadership of Shi, as the temple developed business ventures include kungfu shows, film production and online selling.

The latest commercial move of Shi is to open franchised "offshoot" outside Henan Province, such as in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Shi said the temple is also planning to open a branch in Hong Kong, in a move to promote the Shaolin Kungfu and Chinese culture globally.

His undertakings aroused controversy among the Chinese public. Some accused him of running Shaolin like a business, giving him the nickname of the "CEO monk".

Others said it is a good way to develop Shaolin in such a brand-oriented society because commercialized operation helps protect and spread Chinese kungfu further.

The Shaolin temple has so far set up 28 overseas centers in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and other countries to promote Shaolin kungfu and Chinese culture.

I found this amusing since the So.CA portion of the Abbot’s trip involves Disneyland in a peripheral way.

80 percent of netizens strongly support Shaolin Temple’s rivalry of Disneyland
12:54, February 25, 2009

After the article about the Shaolin Temple planning to build a branch in Hong Kong was published on February 23, it drew attention from readers nationwide. Over 50 websites in China quoted the full text.

How do netizens feel about Songshan Shaolin Temple’s plan to build another Shaolin Temple in Hong Kong? To understand their opinions, Sohu.com launched a large-scale opinion poll on its website, entitled “Do you support the Shaolin Temple building a branch in Hong Kong costing 420 million HKD?”

The supporting side argues to “support the construction of the Hong Kong Shaolin Temple” in order to better promote Shaolin culture among the people of Hong Kong, and so they can learn the secrets of Shaolin kung fu right on their doorstep. At the same time, it will become a new scenic spot to attract tourists and garner economic benefits. One netizen in Shanghai said, “Now that western culture is spreading everywhere, building a Shaolin Temple in Hong Kong means that Asian culture, represented by Shaolin, can fully rival Disneyland, which represents western culture.”

Those who “oppose the construction of the Hong Kong Shaolin Temple” say forking out such a huge sum of money to build a branch temple is an expensive waste. The significance of the Shaolin Temple lies in Buddhist spirituality, not in martial arts tips and commercial expansion.

By 7:00 pm on February 23, a total of 7,703 people have participated in the opinion poll. According to the results, 6,679 people voted in favor of the Shaolin temple plan, while merely 1,024 people voted against it. The results showed a great disparity between the two opinions, which shocked even Abbot Shi Yongxin of the Shaolin Temple. “That is not easy! (Zhen bu rong yi!),” Shi commented using four Chinese characters when he was informed of the results.

Considering the plan for the Shaolin Temple and opinions from netizens, Xia Wanqun, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Folk Literature and Art Society, said, “After reform and opening-up, traditional Chinese culture has continuously been on the defense. The Shaolin Temple, however, has actively spread traditional Chinese culture to the world while revealing the value of traditional Chinese culture. Their efforts are worthy of praise.” He added that Shaolin culture implies universal values, which are a part of traditional Chinese culture. The construction of a branch temple in Hong Kong is not only an opportunity for the Shaolin Temple to spread its culture to the whole world, but also a platform for it to spread the culture of China’s central plains. “I believe most netizens are aware of this point. That is why they support the Shaolin Temple’s plan to build a branch temple in Hong Kong.”

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28 huh…so how many are there in the usa that he authorizes
and which ones? not really important..but just curious