January 6th

As abbot Shi Yongxin claimed “Jie!”, Shaolin Temple’s 49-day Chan meditation improving session in Gengzi Year ended up completely on Jan. 6, 2021. During the time a total of 106 people including elders, holy men from mountains, old Chan masters, fresh Chan monastics gathered at the Meditation Hall together, overcoming fatigue, delusion and other difficulties to sit meditation and enlighten themselves as well as achieve realization within a set timeframe.

February 4th

The traditional minor New Year in China is the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month annually, namely Feb. 4 this year. China Songshan Shaolin Temple hosted the global Shaolin charity commendation internet conference this day to award organizations or individuals with special contributions in epidemic prevention and control since the COVID-19 broke out in 2020. Totaling more than 20 Shaolin cultural centers and disciples globally are awarded by Henan Charity and China Songshan Shaolin Temple.

February 6th

It was sunny and had a good breeze on the afternoon of Feb. 6, 2021. The Shanghai Shaolin Kungfu cultural center, located on Wudingxi road of Jingan area in Shanghai, successfully hosted the 2021 Chinese New Year celebration of Shaolin Kungfu with supports of local leaders as well as friends and students actively joining.

February 11th

It is traditional Chinese New Year on Feb. 11, 2021. Under the leadership of abbot Shi Yongxin, Shaolin monks followed the Chinese tradition of thousand of years to review and rate poetic couplet, worship ancestors, stay up late on New Year’s Eve, strike the bell for blessings and welcome the Lunar New Year together.

13 February

On Feb. 13, 2021, or the 2nd day of the first lunar month, China Songshan Shaolin Temple, following the Chinese tradition and family tradition over thousand years, offered sacrifice for blessing, and went forward to the Founder Nunnery to worship Damo, the primary ancestor of Chan sect.

13-14 February

From Feb. 13 to 14, 2021, the American Martial Arts Alliance, Golden Eggroll, and the Shaolin Temple Cultural Center of Arizona donated 235 midday meals to the Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and the Chandler Regional Hospital, to express condolences to the front line medical workers fighting the COVID-19 epidemic.

February 21st to 22nd

The planting of trees benefiting home villages is also an effective method to protect the environment. Planting a group of trees will be able to harvest an endless blessing field. From Feb 21 to 22, 2021, Shaolin monks worked outdoor together to plant the blessing forest of Shaolin Temple.

March 2nd

On Mar. 2, 2021, a group led by Zhang Lei, an aged 93 TCM master, adviser of the second group of national TCM experts’ academic experience inheritance program, lifetime professor of the Henan University of Chinese Medicine, and chief doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, visited Shaolin Temple, watched Shaolin Kungfu performance and recalled his life in Shaolin Temple many years ago together with Shaolin monks, receiving Shaolin monks’ warm welcome.

March 23rd

Toronto Shaolin Cultural Center hosted “Blue Sky, Vast Earth” of the public welfare activities successfully on Mar. 23, 2021. The center successively provided free fresh vegetables and fruits for 200 families by the ACSA Food Bank Scarborough, being recognized and admired by the local government.

March 27th

On Mar. 27, 2021, deputy director Yue Zhiyong of the supervision department of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, deputy director Xin Lujiang of the conservation and archaeology department of cultural heritage and others, accompanied by director Tian Kai of the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage and director Ren Wei of the Zhengzhou Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage, explored the security andconservation of cultural relics in Shaolin Temple, and also shared and discussed experiences about theconservation of cultural relics with Shaolin monks.

April 9th

To deepen exchanges in Buddhism and other areas between China and Sri Lanka, Dr. Palitha Kohona, Sri Lankan ambassador to China, commercial officer Ms. Han Jie, Mr. Rosen and others visited Shaolin Temple accompanied by deputy director Guo Hua of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’ s Government of Henan Province, and communicate with abbot Shi Yongxin friendly.

April 16th

The 5th training courses of the Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin system (junior stage) opened on Apr. 16, 2021. More than 60 Shaolin Kungfu practitioners from all over the country gathered in Shaolin Temple, the holy land of Chan Wu, launching their rise in rank or progress journey for the Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin system.

April 19th

On April, 19, 2021, 72 Shaolin Kungfu practitioners from around the country joyfully gathered in Shaolin Temple, the holy land of Chan Wu. The 5th training courses of Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin system (junior stage) were successfully completed through a 4-day systematic theory and technique training and examination.

April 23th

On April 23, 2021, professor Li Daqing, president of the Japan-China Innovation Association, and adviser of overseas development of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’ s Political Consultative Conference, visited Shaolin Temple meanwhile Mr. Endo, former leader of the Pomeito and president of the Japan-China Innovation Association, contacted abbot Shi Yongxin via video link to exchange with each other.

May 4th

On May 4, “The Most Beautiful Struggle of Youth--2021 Special Programs on China’ s Youth Day”, sponsored by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China, the Ministry of Education, the Communist Youth League and hosted by the China Media Group, were played on CCTV-1 and CCTV-3. China Songshan Shaolin Temple was invited to join the program “The Young Generation Will Surpass the Elder”.

May 10th

A group led by Vladimir Imamovich Norov, secretary general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization visited Shaolin Temple accompanied by the dharma master on May 10, 2021. They know about Shaolin Temple’ s history and culture, visited monastic buildings, inscriptions and murals, watched Shaolin Kungfu performance, and talked with abbot Yongxin joyfully.

May 12th

On May 12, 2021 or the 1st day of the fourth lunar month, alive with the sound of Buddhist music, Yueshan Temple in Jiaozuo hosted the solemn consecration ceremony of the Hall of Patriarch successfully. On this auspicious occasion, Buddhists and lay Buddhists and believers of ten directions came to Yueshan Temple to share dharma benefits and Buddhist glory.

May 19th

It was Buddha’ s Birthday on May 19, 2021 or the 8th day of the fourth lunar month. Shaolin Temple, the ancestral monastery of Chan sect, hosted the assembly of Buddha’ s Birthday to commemorate the 2565th anniversary of Buddha day that very day. Merits and virtues of the assembly were straightforwardly transferred to pray for the permanence of Buddhist dharma, world peace, prosperity and security of the country and people, good weather for the crops as well as that the COVID-19 outbreak would end as soon as possible.

May 19th

On May 19, 2021 or the 8th day of the fourth lunar month is Sakyamuni or Buddha’ s birthday. To honor the country, benefit sentient beings and pray for the people, Shaolin Temple’ affiliated temple--Ciyun Temple in Qinglong Mountain of Gongyi city hosted the celebration of the Resurgence of Ancient Temple • the 20th Anniversary, and the blessing assembly of the Buddha’ s Birthday.

19-26 may

On May 19, 2021, to benefit dharma realms of the ten directions, ghosts and sentient beings of the dead and the living, China Songshan Shaolin Temple sponsored the 7-Day Land and Water Dharma Assembly to pray for world peace, good weather for the crops, the country’ s prosperity, people’ s well-being and staying away from suffering; pray for benefactors to get rid of disasters and prolong life, and families auspicious and safe; release ancestors of generations, clan relatives, karmic creditors for many generations, infant spirits and others from suffering to rebirth in the Pure Land. The first day of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly in Shaolin Temple in Xinchou Year was on May 20, 2021. Six shrines including the Great Shrine, the Lotus Shrine, the Sura Shrine, the Huayan Shrine, the Nengyan Shrine and the Pure Land Shrine were pure and solemn. Dharma masters led all benefactors to chanting and repentance solemnly and transferred all merits and virtues to all sentient beings. The Yoga yankou rite of the five Bodhisattvas was sponsored that evening. On May 21, 2021 or the 10th day of the fourth lunar month, Shaolin Temple’ s Water and Land Dharma Function in Xinchou Year entered a second day. Buddhist activities included chanting, repentance, extension and dedication, offering food for Buddha, rebirth and dedication and others. The Water and Land Dharma Function of Shaolin Temple in Xinchou Year entered the 3rd day on May 22, 2021. The inner shrine was sponsored the building of boundaries for the dharma session and the issuance of invitations meanwhile the outer shrine was conducting as scheduled the same day. The Water and Land Dharma Function of Shaolin Temple in Xinchou Year entered the 4th day on May 23, 2021. The ceremonies of the invitation and offerings to the Triple Gems, the Heaven and holy ones were hosted at the inner shrine. The Water and Land Dharma Function in Shaolin Temple in Xinchou Year entered the 5th day on May 24, 2021. Buddhist activities included asking for pardon, offerings to Buddha, inviting all spirits or beings from the lower world, and conferring precepts of the nether world were hosted at the inner shrine mean meanwhile offerings to the Heaven, offerings to holy ones, chanting sutra and repentance, extension and dedication were hosted at the outer shrine. The Water and Land Dharma Function of Shaolin Temple in Xiuchou Year entered the 6th day. The Eighty-eight Buddhas Repentance ceremony, offerings to Buddha and all beings or spirits from the lower world at the inner shrine while chanting sutra and repentance and dedication were conducted at the outer shrine respectively. Then Yoga yankou was put at the Great Shrine in the evening. The Water and Land Dharma Function of Shaolin Temple see holy ones off on May 26, 2021. Buddhist activities including providing offerings, burning incense, seeing judges off and freeing captive creatures were held at the inner shrine while life extension and rebirth to the Pure Land were hosted at the outer shrine. All monks together with the dharma function’ s benefactors, volunteers and so on saw holy ones off that afternoon.

May 22nd

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the CPC and glorious history and immortal exploits the CPC get by in the form of calligraphy and paintings, Shaolin Temple held the grand Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition for the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the CPC on May 22, 2021. The opening ceremony was held on the tablet porch of Shaolin Temple permanent residence compound.

May 23rd

The UK Shaolin Xiu Centre hosted the sutra chanting prayer under the organization and guidance to celebrate the Buddha’ s Birthday on May 23, 2021. The assembly and related activities were conducted from 10 am to 5 pm when there were more than one hundred people present. The assembly was presided over by master Jingtong, master Guangde and master Yuanzhou.

May 24th

The 3rd training courses of the Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin System (the middle stage) opened on May 24, 2021. 43 Shaolin Kungfu practitioners of the middle stage gathered in Songshan Mountain again to study and explore Shaolin Kungfu theories and standard of movement in the Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin System (the middle stage). Master Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin Temple, director Zheng Shumin of the office of the Shaolin Kungfu Duanpin system committee, abbot Yanpei of the Northern Shaolin Temple in Tianjin, master Yange, head of the Sutra-Keeping Pavilion, dean Hong Hao of the martial arts school of Henan University, Ma Lianzhen, master supervisor of South China Normal University were present at the opening ceremony.

23-28 may

46 gainers of the third stage certificated by the Shaolin Kungdu Duanpin System committee, were promoted to the middle stage of Shaolin Kungfu through a 4-day hard training from May 23 to 28, 2021. There were 45 students promoted to the sixth stage and 1 student to the fifth stage among them.

June 8th

On the morning of June 8, 2021, a group led by master Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin Temple, visited Shaolin Temple’ s affiliated temple--Panshan Northern Shaolin Temple in Jizhou district of Tianjin to investigate the project progress, receiving a warm welcome from temple’s chief monk Yanpei and benefactors.