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Shaolinlueb
03-21-2005, 12:56 PM
SHAOLIN KUNGFU special 2005.
good read.
for everyone wishing to see whats goingon with the temple, they have article on it.
and just about another dozen shaolin articles. didnt get to read too much of it yet.

GeneChing
03-23-2005, 11:06 AM
Before any subscribers get their silks (http://www.martialartsmart.net/1118.html) in a bunch, Shaolinlueb got an advanced issue for writing an ezine (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=575). :cool:
This issue is being shipped to subscribers now and will be on the newsstand in early April. Thanks for the review, SLL - look forward to more...

Shaolinlueb
03-28-2005, 01:17 PM
there's so many good articles gene its hard to write a review about every one of them. about the new temple, the shaolin medicine, the shi suxi's bday celebration, foriengner in shaolin temple. i highly recommend it. to everyone.

mickey
04-01-2005, 06:05 PM
What I liked...


1- Shaolin Dog Boxing article

2- Shaolin Dog Boxing article

3- Shaolin Dog Boxing article


I hope that you will feature articles and techniques from the Northern groundfighting styles.


What I missed...

The advertisment "Will Break Boards for Food"

mickey

GeneChing
04-05-2005, 11:53 AM
Here's the Table of contents for the new issue (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=590).

mickey: I've already requested more from author Chen Pengcheng on Dog Boxing. Meanwhile, you'll find a lot from Chen on our ezine (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/TOC/index.php#C). And we replaced the 'break boards' ad with the one one page 29. ;)

Shaolinlueb
04-05-2005, 07:59 PM
page 111 and the back page are nice adds. :o :D :rolleyes: :eek: :D

GeneChing
04-06-2005, 10:46 AM
You know, I just got the first complaint about the **** shirt (http://store.martialartsmart.net/8838.html) just this week. He said we were promoting the rape of asian women with that ad....

Shaolinlueb
04-06-2005, 01:14 PM
You know, I just got the first complaint about the **** shirt (http://store.martialartsmart.net/8838.html) just this week. He said we were promoting the rape of asian women with that ad....

tell him to take the plug out of his @$$. thats what i would do. :D you can quote me on that ;)

ewallace
04-06-2005, 01:31 PM
I'm not sure what made me buy that shirt just now...the girl wearing it, what it says on the front, or just supporting Gene's shameless plugs. :)

If I don't get that FREE UNLEASHED poster I'm never buying anything from M.A.M again.

Unless there is another attractive female wearing warm-up pants that say "Entrance" with an up arrow on the right leg and "Exit" with a down arrow on the left leg. Of course only a female friend would be allowed to wear them. :D

GeneChing
04-06-2005, 02:27 PM
We still have plenty of posters. If you don't get one, let me know and I'll go kick the packer's arses and send you one personally. :)

@PLUGO
04-06-2005, 02:28 PM
how about warm-up pants that say "B@D@SS"

ewallace
04-06-2005, 02:33 PM
We still have plenty of posters. If you don't get one, let me know and I'll go kick the packer's arses and send you one personally. :)
Considering I'm a lifelong dallas cowboy's fan I would love for you to go kick the packer's arses. :) Especially that Bret Far vra.

Tanks.

ewallace
04-06-2005, 02:35 PM
how about warm-up pants that say "B@D@SS"
I'd probably stay away from any girlies that had a pair of them babies on.

Now if it said Fresh @SS then I would propose on the spot.

Shaolinlueb
04-06-2005, 08:08 PM
I'd probably stay away from any girlies that had a pair of them babies on.

Now if it said Fresh @SS then I would propose on the spot.

yeah stay away from the ones that say stinky @$$. or on on the front that says smells like dead tuna. :o :(

Shaolinlueb
04-07-2005, 10:49 AM
im still contemplating whether to buy the year of the **** tshirt. gene you ever find out if they have any year of the snake shirts left over?

YuanZhideDiZhen
04-08-2005, 02:20 AM
You know, I just got the first complaint about the **** shirt (http://store.martialartsmart.net/8838.html) just this week. He said we were promoting the rape of asian women with that ad....

Hum Sop Lao say, "just ripe for harvest". Ban lo sik l'ban li hai da. :rolleyes:

so, um, where's the snake shirt?

GeneChing
04-08-2005, 10:03 AM
KungFuMagazine.com has been doing a special annual zodiac shirt every year since 2001 - the year of the snake. We only do the shirt for that year. The **** shirt is this year. We did snake, horse, and monkey. We skipped ram for some reason - that was 2003 - we just couldn't think of a good concept. They've all been my conception, more or less. Snake was the weakest of the line. I'm not sure what I was thinking - green lantern or something. Oh well, I can't hit all of the time. The horse was fairly sucessful since we did a play on Fubu with Mabu (horse stance). Monkey didn't actualize well since we were experimenting with a silver metallic ink. Unfortunately a lot of the detail of the monkey's face makeup (based on the monkey king opera figure) was lost and the color didn't hold well. It's still available since we have some leftovers.

We carry a full line of traditional zodiac shirts (http://www.martialartsmart.net/zodiactshirts.html) and our TN office graphic designer usually does something that's more generic for Tiger Claw (http://www.martialartsmart.net/8837.html), our parent company, which wholesales to all styles of martial arts. We do a special line that has the KungFuMagazine.com logo on it, which is the green lantern snake, mabu, and monkey king versions that I mention above. The KFM **** has been the most successful of all our zodiac shirts so far.

I already have an idea for next year, year of the Dog... :cool:

ewallace
04-08-2005, 10:34 AM
A play on words usually makes for good shirts. For instance, a buddy of mine has a shirt that says "Green Piece", which has a picture of a green .45 on it. I've tried to steal it on a couple of occasions but he also has a steel piece that he shows me when I am about to get away with it. :)

PangQuan
04-08-2005, 12:18 PM
Oh of course you have to skip the ram. Well maybe I can get one next time 'round....in 2015!!

I did enjoy the article on Monk Shi Sugang, very intersting read.

GeneChing
04-08-2005, 01:12 PM
...I was beginning to give up hope. I mean when we go from Shaolin to ****s... :rolleyes:

I'm very fond of Shi Sugang. He's always been very generous with his knowledge with me. I remember one year, some one had given him this Metallica shirt, and for some unknown reason, he loved the design, even though he had no idea what it was. He wore it all the time. I have a pic of him somewhere, wearing it right in front of the temple. I'm sure slamming your head through a block of granite sounds just like a whole Metallica concert compressed into a single moment of impact. ;)

PangQuan
04-08-2005, 01:21 PM
I bet Metallica would love to see him in a picture smashing granite blocks with his head while wearing one of their shirts. I bet they would want it on an album cover.

BTW: nice belt buckle you have there in the shot of you and Gigi Oh with Shi Yanfeng. Dont take that the wrong way, im not checkin' you out, I just notice details.

GeneChing
04-08-2005, 02:17 PM
You know, I've always thought that exact same thing about Sugang and Metallica. Unfortunately he only wore the shirt casually. If he was goind to demo - and he didn't always demo - Sugang's iron head was only trucked out for the big demos because granite slabs are expensive - he wore his formal monk robes.

It's an odd thing to notice, but I've had that belt buckle for years - I think I got it at the flea market. I thought it matched Yanfeng's jacket nicely - a pleasant coincidence. The embroidery on his jacket was really fine - that photo doesn't do it justice.

PangQuan
04-08-2005, 02:43 PM
Looking at that picture again I can see some of the detail on that emboidery, it has the air of a nice suit anyhow. I think the main reason I noticed your buckle was because you had your hands behind your back in that picture.

Is there any online documentation you know of about that Puyang archeological dig? It is just a very interesting topic I would enjoy reading about.

Gotta give you props on the Shaolin Trilogy cover Gene. And Thanks. You know with your position you have there you did alot for the promotion of Shaolin Kung Fu. I may not study at Shaolin but I do study a system Shaolin kung fu and if it were not for people like you, (and my Sifu of course), I would not have had the opportunity to enter into the world of Shaolin Kung Fu. So again Thanks for all the hard work and dedication you have put into delivering correct information on Shaolin to the world!

oasis
04-08-2005, 03:05 PM
i mentioned this before, but i just hate the fact that i ALWAYS end up looking at the new issue in store before it comes to my apt 2 days later :mad:

anyway, is july/august the first 'summer' issue?

i also mentioned this before gene, but again, when i got my magazine yesterday, one side was opened, as if with a letter opener. my brother asked me if i was being watched for terrorist activity :o i know things get damaged in the mail, but for the magazine wrapping to always be opened on the side... :confused:

Shaolinlueb
04-08-2005, 10:24 PM
oasis,

its funny you mention that. this issue was the first one i had come in the mail that wasnt opened. all the other envelopes are opened like someone went through it and read it. but the magazine wasnt opened. the thing was jsut torn open./ idk. its probably some ****ed off postal worker who does karate.

Vash
04-10-2005, 06:22 PM
its probably some ****ed off postal worker who does karate.

No, if he did karate, then the envelope would have been fukcing wrecked.

So far, this has to be my second or third favorite issue since I started reading.

Excellent work!

doug maverick
04-11-2005, 09:31 AM
how come you guys are always doing shaolin issue's, and never wu dong issues, i mean much can you say about shaolin, i know there's alot going on but **** let's get some variety.

GeneChing
04-11-2005, 10:33 AM
The opened envelopes are really weird. I have no idea why that's happening. Bush did name China as one of the nations that might require nukular attention, but that was way back in 2002 and I really doubt that would have an effect on our little mag.

As for Puyang - dang! - you know I have this mental picture of the cowrie-shell dragon and tiger and I don't think it's from a book - I think it's off the web. I just googled it for a while but couldn't turn up the pic. I'm sure it's out there. If anyone finds it, do post it here. You know, I got to thinking about Sugang some more after PangQuan's post - those people who always decry Shaolin as being just wushu should spend some time with Sugang. He's strictly traditional. I've never ever seen him do any wushu, ever. The only thing he demonstrates is hard qigong, usually his iron head, but he also walks on swords and such. But his real treasures are his traditional Shaolin forms and his qinna. I've been wanted to cover him for years for this reason.

And as for Wudang issues, we've done two. Our 'official' Wudang Special was our Sep Oct 2003 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=377). Our earlier unoffical special was Sep Oct 2002 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=235) - hmm, that's funny, I never noticed that both were Sep Oct issues. They were both well received and we are certainly open to doing another. The downside is that no good researchers have stepped forward yet. I do have several that have made me promises, but promises and a dollar might buy you a cup of coffee. I was in Wudang in '99 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=5). That was my only trip and I've pretty much published all the research I got out of that. Maybe it's a tai chi thing - comes from moving so slowly all the time... ;)

oasis
04-11-2005, 08:15 PM
gene,

interesting that in your interview yong xin mentioned China's application for unesco recognition of ughur maqam (http://www.cleo.ucsm.ac.uk/content/music/world_music/uighur_music/uighur_musicians.htm) . the music style of maqam (http://www.aramusic.com/maqam/) is popular in most arabic and islamic countries, but it sounds like china wants special recognition for the style in xinjiang province. you would think if that were the case it wouldnt be making such efforts to change the status quo by sending han to 'dilute' the uighur population there ;)

oasis
04-11-2005, 08:21 PM
okay, a little off/on topic (given my previous post :) ) but i just posted about the article i read in kfm, and then ironically two minutes later i go to bbc and read this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4435135.stm) :eek:

what a coincidence...
back on topic, i like the 2 year special renewal rate gene. this is my last issue, so i will be taking care of that tomorrow!

doug maverick
04-12-2005, 12:18 PM
i read both those issue's and they were really good, i guess i just want more but if there know one writing the stuff i guess you can't publish it! thats cool i'll wait.

word of honor
04-12-2005, 01:22 PM
hi- when will this issue hit the newsstands? thanks

SimonM
04-12-2005, 03:02 PM
It's already out now; has been for a little bit.

Chapters was late phoning me about this issue; they know to call me when Kung Fu Tai Chi comes in but not when Shaolin Kung Fu Tai Chi does. Stupid stupid bookstore. :D

Anyway, it was an exemplary issue, even the letters to the editor were page turners. Gene, what is the score with the "controversial" sword dealer?

GeneChing
04-13-2005, 09:59 AM
oasis: Good follow up - I had no idea. UNESCO's involvement with China is fascinating. It struck me as very unusual when Beijing was declared as the UNESCO Geopark office; China was applauded for her "outstanding contributions in geological heritage protection" (to quote my own article (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=564)) - I thought that was a surprising opinion in lieu of the Three Gorges Dam project.

doug maverick: I think that Wudang and Emei, and possibly Shandong, are the next big frontiers awaiting anyone looking to do CMA research. They are all pretty wide open. I'm glad you enjoyed our Wudang issues. We also did an Emei issue in Sep 2000 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=124) and a Shandong issue in July August 2002 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=234). That pretty much depleted all of my research. I was only in Shandong once in '91 and Wudang once in '99. I've yet to go to Emei, but that's the style I currently study. I suspect we'll be able to put together another Wudang before we can do another Emei, but there are more and more Emei masters coming out, so you never know. As for Shandong, well, there are more Shandong masters coming out too, but that issue didn't do very well, so I doubt we'll invest in another for some time...

SimonM: That's funny about the special title confusing Chapters. At least that's a bookstore. As for the sword dealer letter, that's a big complicated answer, and I just got called by the Boss for a meeting ;) Let me get back to you on that later. :p

GeneChing
04-13-2005, 10:51 AM
So, that "controversial" sword dealer is Wang Sheng Ji, a well respected antiques dealer in Taiwan. He just did an antiques weapon exhibit for the The First Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Exposition in Taiwan, which we covered in the Mar Apr 2005 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=578) issue after the Sword Special (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=567). Personally, I've never met the man nor handled his product. I only know what I've seen in photos and it's pretty interesting stuff - we have scads of unpublished photos of his collection. I would love to go to his shop someday. Is he doing 'chop' jobs like Phillip Tom accuses in his letter? I don't know. I do know that the tone of Tom's letter was rather condescending, as if he was looking down his nose at CMA. Now I respect Tom and his co-author Scott Rodell and personally asked them to participate in this issue because I know their expertise. I even bought an antique off Rodell many years ago. They are both very active on SwordForum.com - Rodell moderates there. But if you read his letter carefully, there's a persistent tone that sounds as if he's saying he's too good for our magazine. Personally, I don't know how to take that. Surely, we are not as scholarly as the Metropolitan Museum Journal - we're a newsstand magazine and would lose half our readership if we started throwing around too many $10 words. So I found his accusations a little questionable.

Now I've mentioned before that there is a martial myopia - a shortsightedness amongst our community that forgets that most people don't know the difference between karate and kung fu (much less wushu) and they don't really care. In the sword world, it's worse. As many of you know, I worked as a professional swordmaker for a half decade and by professional, I mean that I earn all my income just from making swords. I've only dabbled in antique dealing, but I feel I know enough to survive there. And I am all too familiar with sword myopia, which I think Phillip Tom is guilty of in this situation.

We openned this year with a grand experiment - a new special issue just focused on swords. I've never seen that done in the martial arts world before. And I'm pleased to report that this issue drew tremendous positive response. It find it a bit distressing that Tom felt he had to rain on our parade with that letter (and Bian is correct pinyin - check it for yourself), however, I felt he did have some worthy comments and still respect his research. I hope that if we do another sword special, he'll be able to participate, even if it is slumming for him to come down to the world of CMA.

As for Wang Sheng Ji, as you probably know, we've changed the format of our Featured Weapon article to showcase antiques. We've invited anyone who has a nice antique piece to participate. They just need to send us a pin-up quality shot and a short description. It's a major opportunity for any anituqes dealer, since we are essentially giving them a full-page color ad. So far, Wang has been the only one to accept our offer. I'm hoping we get more input soon, though, not so much out of skepticism of Wang, but more just for diversity's sake.

SimonM
04-13-2005, 12:44 PM
Thank you for the in-depth reply Gene. I really like what you have done with the featured weapons section; my brother was almost drooling over the antique Monk's Spade in the new Shaolin issue, he is very fond of polearms (probably to the same extent that I am of swords).

GeneChing
04-13-2005, 05:31 PM
That sucker was heavy too. I really respect anyone who would compete with something like that. Check out chapter 5 of my Shaolin Trips column (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=588) - you'll see a pic of Gigi (our publisher) trying to hold that monk spade up.
Thanks for your support of the featured weapons. I hope it catches on. There are plenty more where that came from, we just gotta find 'em... ;)

nugentch
04-17-2005, 08:50 AM
I am a new subscriber. Has the May/June issue been mailed yet. :confused: I recently subscribed for two years. The T-Shirt arrived, but so far no magazine. Thanks in advance for any info on this subsription and issue! :)

GeneChing
04-18-2005, 09:48 AM
Sorry, you missed May June. It was mailed out a month ago. You'll have to pick it up on the newsstands, I'm afraid. :o

Shaolinlueb
04-18-2005, 07:34 PM
man, i jsut got my issue in the mail for my subscription. lol

Mr. Ban
04-22-2005, 07:54 PM
I suggest that ShaolinJOJO and Shaolinlueb go at it what do ya say Mr. Lueb :)

Shaolinlueb
04-25-2005, 12:51 PM
I suggest that ShaolinJOJO and Shaolinlueb go at it what do ya say Mr. Lueb :)

how about you and jojo go at it. cause i am the amster you are the apprentices. :p :rolleyes:

GeneChing
04-26-2005, 09:28 AM
The Hamster? Like in a gerbil? Is Shaolinlueb into gerbils?

I am the Walrus. Koo Koo Ka Choo.

Shaolinlueb
04-26-2005, 09:05 PM
The Hamster? Like in a gerbil? Is Shaolinlueb into gerbils?

I am the Walrus. Koo Koo Ka Choo.


**** it. now your knocking on my crappy spelling :p

MASTER!!!! I am the master gene!! MASTER SHAOLINLUEB!!!! MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

okay back to reality.

i had a hamster once, his name was gizmo, i fed him a lot and he got really fat. then he developed tumors and died. he was soo cute though. i loved him a lot. i will never have another hamster though cause gizmo was number 1 in my book.

GeneChing
04-27-2005, 09:17 AM
....you'll always be hamster to me. It helps remove the image of you in a jog bra. Do you know how much therapy I had to go through for that? ;)

Shaolinlueb
04-27-2005, 12:38 PM
....you'll always be hamster to me. It helps remove the image of you in a jog bra. Do you know how much therapy I had to go through for that? ;)

hahahahaha
hey the job bra picture was genius ;)

by no means am I a proffessional therapist,
but my therapy suggestions gene, get some hot chicks and do another photo shoot for the new tiger claw bikini's ;) :D oh be sure to invite me too ;) :D

GeneChing
04-27-2005, 01:56 PM
We have a standing rule here - no hamsters on kungfumagazine bikini shoots. :p

Shaolinlueb
04-27-2005, 05:22 PM
We have a standing rule here - no hamsters on kungfumagazine bikini shoots. :p



hahahahahahahahah oh :(


how about masters? :p :rolleyes:

GeneChing
04-28-2005, 10:48 AM
Of course masters are allowed. In fact, that's alll we shoot - masters and the occassional nacho ninjette. ;) But after the kung fu hamster (http://shopping.yahoo.com/search;_ylc=X3oDMTFlOGdwa2hrBF9TAzk2MDc5MjYwBGsDa3 VuZyBmdSBoYW1zdGVyBHNlYwNrYgRzbGsDdGl0bGU-?p=kung+fu+hamster) we had to ban hamsters from the studio. It was that kung fu fighting song (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36347&page=2) that sent us over the edge. Sorry lueb....

Shaolinlueb
04-28-2005, 02:06 PM
Of course masters are allowed. In fact, that's alll we shoot - masters and the occassional nacho ninjette. ;) But after the kung fu hamster (http://shopping.yahoo.com/search;_ylc=X3oDMTFlOGdwa2hrBF9TAzk2MDc5MjYwBGsDa3 VuZyBmdSBoYW1zdGVyBHNlYwNrYgRzbGsDdGl0bGU-?p=kung+fu+hamster) we had to ban hamsters from the studio. It was that kung fu fighting song (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36347&page=2) that sent us over the edge. Sorry lueb....


ooooh. wrecking my dreams like that.

GeneChing
03-19-2024, 09:38 AM
Shaolin pivots to a future beyond kung fu (https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202403/19/WS65f8bfaba31082fc043bd4dd_1.html)
While mountain temple is globally famous, other cultural attractions are also gaining foothold
By Wu Yanbo in Dengfeng, Henan | China Daily | Updated: 2024-03-19 06:26
https://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202403/19/65f8bfaba31082fc2b6aa984.png
The heads of the St. Petersburg Shaolin Culture Center practice their moves in the Russian city. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Fourteen years ago, Australian cancer sufferer David Ian Burn visited Songshan Mountain in Henan province to learn Zen techniques to try and improve his chances of beating the disease.

While the area is famous around the world for Shaolin Kung Fu, it is also becoming known for other cultural aspects including Chan Wu Yi, which combines Zen meditation, kung fu and traditional Chinese medicine, and has been promoted by Master Shi Dejian for 30 years.

In 2010, Burn stayed for two weeks on the steep mountain and learned about Chan Wu Yi from the master.

"This time was really important to my recovery," said the Australian, now aged 72. "His (Shi Dejian's) counsel and support enabled me to go into the hospital well-prepared, confident and relaxed. He also provided me with some herbal medicine, which was very useful to me after the surgery."

Since then, Burn has continued to live as a vegetarian, and still practices Chan Wu Yi.

"Practicing internal cultivation has become a normal part of our lives, and it can be said that Chan Wu Yi is our basic way of life. I am grateful for the connection with the masters and their continuous kindness," he said, adding that he is writing a book to provide an understanding of Chan Wu Yi culture to more Westerners.

Stretching from east to west for over 60 kilometers, Songshan Mountain is eulogized in folklore as the "origin of all mountains "and according to ancient script has "72 peaks on the mountains and 72 temples below".

Its spectacular, well-preserved angular rock shapes were formed by three violent movements in the earth's crust, the most recent 570 million years ago, when the Himalayas and the entire Qinling Range were submerged under the sea.

However, it is the 1,529-year-old Shaolin Temple, nestled in a mountain forest near Dengfeng, and its style of kung fu that has left the biggest impression on the world. Today, 162 Shaolin cultural centers have been established in over 50 countries and regions, while the Shaolin Temple attracts nearly 7 million Chinese and international tourists and martial arts enthusiasts every year.

https://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202403/19/65f8bfaba31082fc2b6aa986.png
A view of Songshan Buddhist Academy in Henan province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

But located 8 km from the temple is Songshan Buddhist Academy, the main practice center for Chan Wu Yi. Chan means Zen, Wu means kung fu, while Yi means medicine.

In 1994, Master Shi Dejian, under the guidance of his mentor, initiated the restoration of the academy's dilapidated buildings to help promote Chan Wu Yi. Eleven years later, the Songshan Chan Wu Yi Research Institute was established near Songshan Buddhist Academy, with Shi Dejian serving as its director.

Shi Xingjia, a disciple of Shi Dejian, said the institute also operates an official website to provide free public education on Chan Wu Yi culture, which has attracted nearly 1 million followers.

Chen Ruiyan, a professor and clinical psychologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong who specializes in the brain and nervous system, is one of Master Shi Dejian's disciples. She has set up a research team that has found indications that practicing dan tian breathing enhances brain function, and eases emotional, sleep and gastrointestinal problems.

"The practice of dan tian breathing is the foundation of Songshan internal cultivation, the basic method of Shaolin Chan practice, and is also a good way to improve people's psychological and physical condition," Chen said.

She has been practicing Chan Wu Yi for over 10 years, and her research results have been published in several international academic journals. Chen has also written two books on the subject — The Way of Mind Peace and Dejian Mind-Body Therapy.

Songshan Buddhist Academy has established an ecological health culture base at Lingnan Chan Temple in Luhe county, Shanwei, Guangdong province, to provide information on Chan Wu Yi culture to the public.

https://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202403/19/65f8bfaba31082fc2b6aa98c.png
A performer demonstrates moves at the Shaolin Zen Music Ritual performance. [Photo by Lu Ping/China Daily]

Largest live stage

Every evening from late February to early December, in Daixiangou, 7 km from Shaolin Temple, a large-scale live-action performance captivates thousands of tourists from home and abroad.

The Shaolin Zen Music Ritual performance takes place deep in a canyon surrounded by slopes, streams, waterfalls, bridges, boulders, trees and temples.

The performance area covers nearly 3 square km — with the highest point 1,400 meters above sea level — making it one of the largest live stages in the world. The audience members sit on 3,000 cushions provided for them.

The show mainly focuses on Shaolin history, culture and martial arts, and incorporates traditional Chinese music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Eighty-eight traditional zithers are used in the show and nearly 600 martial artists participate. The performance depicts the seasonal changes of spring, summer, autumn and winter, to the accompaniment of Buddhist music.

"We need to find a new way to showcase the charm of Songshan Mountain to the world, breaking away from the monotonous tourism concept of 'climbing mountains and visiting temples'," said Zhou Dingjun, the deputy general manager of the show.

Most of the performers are students from martial arts schools and professional dancers from art schools, along with some local theater troupes and part-time actors. continued next post

GeneChing
03-19-2024, 09:39 AM
https://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202403/19/65f8bfaba31082fc2b6aa990.png
Two students practice martial arts at Chanxinju Homestay. [Photo by Lu Ping/China Daily]

Homestay havens

In Yangjiamen village, 5 km from Shaolin Temple, residential courtyards with old brick and mud walls, small bridges, flowing water, and scattered rocks, trees and fields create a picturesque rural landscape.

In 2018, Yangjiamen was listed in the fifth group of China's traditional villages.

Much of the village is now Chanxinju Homestay, or Zen Mind Homestay. Chanxinju has established a traditional cultural study center that integrates food and lodging, Shaolin Kung Fu and a rural lifestyle. It has also co-founded the Qingnong School (Songshan Mountain) Rural Development Research Institute in conjunction with Tsinghua University.

Liu Shaoli, manager of Chanxinju, said before 2011 it was a desolate and abandoned village. Due to its location in a hollow of the mountain and inconvenient transportation access, the villagers had gradually moved out and left behind the dilapidated old buildings.

The founder of Chanxinju, Lu Hailong, is from a rural family in Liyang, Jiangsu. Lu spent over 10 years repairing the old village houses with the idea of preserving the past for future generations to enjoy.

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Two students practice martial arts at Chanxinju Homestay. [Photo by Lu Ping/China Daily]

The first completed courtyard, Chongshan Academy, began operations in 2014, offering enrollments to students from Lu's martial arts school and organizing a series of traditional cultural experience courses and summer and winter study programs. The renovated buildings opened in 2018, with 13 guest rooms for visitors.

"The interiors feature simple Zen-style modern facilities, along with a vegetarian restaurant, a cafe, and a camping and barbecue area, attracting many young people from nearby cities such as Zhengzhou and Luoyang to visit, take photos, experience nature, and enjoy the quiet and old-style rural life," said Liu, the manager.

Historically, the village was an important stop on the way to Shaolin Temple and Luoyang, she added. "The village has a long history, and there are many ancient trees and buildings around it worth exploring. It is even more beautiful on rainy days when the mountain villages are shrouded in clouds, it's like a fairyland," Liu said.

During long holidays like Spring Festival, Chanxinju receives many tourists from across the country. Every summer, Lu Hailong's foreign martial arts disciples bring their friends who love Shaolin Kung Fu to study in the village, said the founder.

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[Photo by Lu Ping/China Daily]

Russian disciples

While changes are happening on the ground, Shaolin culture is also strengthening its foothold overseas.

In January, Russian Oleg Gizatullin, or Shi Yanfu by his monastic name, returned to Shaolin Temple to participate in a Shaolin Kung Fu examination. The 56-year-old has practiced kung fu for more than 30 years.

Gizatullin was accompanied by his 36-year-old wife Svetlana Vsemirnova, or Shi Yanbin, who has practiced Shaolin Kung Fu for 13 years. The pair have established the St. Petersburg Shaolin Culture Center at a sports school in St. Petersburg, which currently has over 30 students.

"Every morning we practice Shaolin Kung Fu by the banks of the Volga River, starting with qigong and meditation," Gizatullin said.

Vsemirnova, who spent four years studying at the Harbin Institute of Technology and is fluent in Chinese, said Shaolin Kung Fu culture has helped her spiritual cultivation. She said everyone encounters different issues and finds their own way to heal themselves.

"Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, practicing qigong regularly has been greatly beneficial in improving our lung and heart functions, enhancing our immunity and alleviating anxiety caused by the pandemic," Vsemirnova said.

"Now, every friend around us has been influenced by Shaolin culture. They come to us for help when facing problems, and we teach them qigong to relieve depression and stress, promoting self-cultivation."

She said she hoped to eventually live in Dengfeng for a lengthy period and further her studies of Shaolin culture.

I reported on Shi Dejian in our May+June 2005 issue (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/index.php?p=magazine&article=590) cover story: Shaolin Trinity: Shaolin Monk Shi Dejian Discusses the 3 Treasures (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=589)

Shaolin-Journeys (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?49520-Shaolin-Journeys)
may-june-05 (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?36010-may-june-05)