At 9: 30 on the morning of August 26, 2023, the Shaolin Science Seminar grandly kicked off at the Enlightenment Hall of Shaolin Temple. The Grand Monk Shi Yongxin, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, president of the Buddhist Association of Hennan Province and abbot of Shaolin Temple, section chief Sun Ruqi from the Ethnics and Religious Affairs Commission of Henan province, Wu Song, section chief of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Zhengzhou, Zhang Yumin, deputy section chief and primary inspector of the Budget Working Committee of the People’ s Congress of Henan Province, He Congdao, member of the standing committee of the Dengfeng Committee and chief of the United Front Work Department, professor Huang Xia’ nian of the religious institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, professor Ma Mingda of the Jinan University, Ding Haibin and Qin Zhaogui, famous archival experts, and other guests as well as more than one hundred scholars, monks of the Shaolin Temple permanent residence compound, attended the opening ceremony.

The scene of the opening ceremony

The Grand Monk Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin Temple, gives a speech

Director Sun Ruqi addresses the ceremony

Secretary He Congdao addresses the ceremony

Professor Ma Mingda addresses the ceremony

Professor Huang Xianian addresses the ceremony

Abbot Minghan of the Kaiyuan Temple in Xingtai addresses the ceremony

Master Shi Yange presides over the meeting

Students from Africa attends the opening ceremony

Watching Shaolin Kungfu performances

The Shaolin Culture and Health Sciences forum

Shaolin Inscriptions Study in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and beyond Forum

Archives and Shaolin Culture Heritage forum

Taking a group photo to mark the occasion

After the opening ceremony, present guests watched wonderful Shaolin Kungfu performances at the Kungfu Hall of Shaolin Temple. The atmosphere of the scene was warm and applauds and cheers continued. The three forums of the Shaolin science seminar were launched simultaneously. (Edited by Zou Xiang and pictures from the Shaolin Temple official website)