On September 14, 2018, 18 of a group of abbot of China Songshan Shaolin Temple the Great Monk Yongxin were invited to Canada for visits and exchanges and pray for unveiling the plaque ceremony. Establishing Canadian Shaolin Cultural Center provides an extensive communication platform to carry forward and inherit traditional Chinese culture, which writes a new chapter for China-Canada friendship and received a warm welcome from all walks of life. Canadian Shaolin Cultural Center, a nonprofit organization, was authenticated by China Songshan Shaolin Temple and was registered and established in British Columbia, Canada in December, 2016. The location is in Richmond, Vancouver.

On September 14, at 3 pm local time, Acting Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Vancouver Mr. Kong Weiwei and cultural consul Mr. Hu Xiao met with the group of Abbot Shi Yongxin, highly appraised Shaolin Temple’s important contributions to China-Canada cultural exchanges and offered an enthusiastic endorsement of the establishment of the Canadian Shaolin Cultural Center.

Acting Consul General Kong Weiwei first expressed his welcome to Abbot Shi Yongxin for Shaolin Temple group’s visits and exchanges in Vancouver, Canada. Shaolin cultural center could settle down in Vancouver, which is a milestone in the history of Buddhism of Vancouver. Acting Consul General Kong Weiwei said that firstly, Shaolin Kungfu Monk corps had been to Canada for exchanges by demonstrating Kungfu performance many times since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Canada. That aroused great echoes in Canada and received a favorite and warm welcome from local people and hoped that Shaolin Temple could continue to support Shaolin Kungfu being to Canada for performance, visits and exchanges. Secondly, Shaolin cultural center has settled in Vancouver, Canada. Under the leadership of head of Canadian Shaolin Cultural Center Master Shi Yanhong and Master Shi Yandi, it was hoped that the cultural center could play an active role, inherit and carry forward traditional Chinese culture and Shaolin culture, participating more local large-scale activities and integrating into mainstream society. Thirdly, it was hoped that Henan association could actively cooperate in the primary stage of the Shaolin cultural center and make efforts to develop Shaolin culture in the future.

In the end, Abbot Shi Yongxin presents gifts and books to Mr. Kong Weiwei and takes group photos together.

On September 16, at 10 am, Canadian Shaolin Cultural Center held the unveiling plaque prayer assembly, presided by the Great Monk Yongxin. Acting Consul General of Chinese Consulate General in Vancouver Kong Weiwei, a councilor of Canadian Confederation Su Lidao, head of Child Care Conservation of British Columbia Chen Weizhen on behalf of British Columbia’s provincial governor, councilors of British Columbia province Mr. Li Yaohua and Ms Qu Bingjie, councilors of Richmond Mr. Mai Letian and Mr. Qu Guangze, a councilor of Burnaby Mr. Wang Baijin and others attended the dharma assembly and delivered speeches successively. Leaders at all levels and main community leaders of overseas Chinese groups from Vancouver and representatives of Shaolin organizations from North America, more than 300 people in total, assembled with common happiness and celebration.

Acting Consul General of Chinese Consulate General in Vancouver Kong Weiwei, councilor of Canadian Confederation Su Lidao, head of Child Care Conservation of British Columbia Chen Weizhen on behalf of British Columbia’s provincial governor and Abbot Shi Yongxin delivered speeches on stage and unveiled the plaque together.

Canadian Prime Minister Rt Hon. Justin Trudeau, federal Attorney General and Prosecutor General Wang Zhoudi (Judy Wilson Raybould), British Columbia’s provincial governor He Jin (John Horgan), major of Vancouver, Richmond and other leaders sent congratulatory letters successively. Prime Minister Trudeau said in the letter: “Shaolin culture has a long and colorful history full of spirit of Buddhist mercy and dedication. Shaolin culture will share profound Shaolin Kungfu and Chan culture with Canadian citizens from different backgrounds. There will be to strengthen and enrich Canada’s multi-cultural structures through sharing culture.

Abbot Shi Yongxin spoke in his speech Shaolin Temple became attached to Canada 20 years ago. Then Shaolin Temple’s Kungfu monks were organized many times by Ministry of Culture, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and others to visit Vancouver, Canada and other cities for performance and received a warm welcome from local people. Since the beginning of establishing the temple, Shaolin Temple has gradually formulated its own cultural disposition of openness, confidence, harmony and peace. Shaolin Temple is increasingly becoming a representative of culture of cross-culture, cross-race, jointly building society, harmonious coexistence and mankind share after the baptism of a history of more than 1500 years. General Secretary Xi Jinping praised it as “world famous Shaolin Temple” and introduced it to the international community. Shaolin Temple would like to share cultural inheritance and benefit sentient beings with any predestined friends from Vancouver, Canada.

At 3 pm, Canadian Shaolin Cultural Center held symposium. 26 heads of overseas Chinese groups were hired as honorary advisors from Canadian Chinese Association, Canadian Chinese Groups Association, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Henan Association, Hebei Association, Qilu Chamber of Commerce, Shanxi Association, Guangxi Association, Wenzhou Association, Jiangxi Association, Guangdong Association, Zhejiang Association, Hunan Association, Fuqing Association, Sichuan Association, North American Building Council and so on. At the symposium, Abbot Shi Yongxin talked with honorary advisors and community representatives joyfully.

Abbot Yongxin introduced Shaolin Temple’s history of development and Shaolin culture’s propagation situation around the world. As the meeting was coming to an end, Abbot Shi Yongxin awarded plague to advisor of cultural center and gave gifts and the book “Shaolin Temple in My Heart”.

On the morning of September 15, the third council of Shaolin Association of North America was held in Vancouver, Canada. Shaolin Association of North America was built in 2011. At that time, there were only 2 countries and 8 group members. Now it has increased to 8 countries and 19 group members with almost 155 members in total.

The 2018 council of Shaolin Association of North America was presided over by Abbot Shi Yongxin. Firstly, Abbot Shi Yongxin affirmed Shaolin Association of North America playing an active role in carrying forward and spreading traditional Chinese culture and Shaolin culture and deployed to the following work. Then the meeting adopted the pilgrimage group initiative of Shaolin Association of North America proposing that Shaolin Association of North America will organize Shaolin disciples in North America to the Shaolin Temple for visits and exchanges in summer vacation time every year in the name of Shaolin Association of North America. Much more foreign disciples will understand and learn traditional Chinese culture and Shaolin culture by visits and exchanges. Finally, the meeting agreed to hold the 15th anniversary of “Shaolin Festival” celebration in Los Angeles, US, in 2019. “Shaolin Festival” is a legal festival that was adopted at the conference in Virginia, USA in 2004 and was established as a legal festival in the form of law.

On September, 14, at 10 am local time, a 18-group of Abbot Shi Yongxin arrived in Vancouver and received a warm welcome from head of Canadian Shaolin Cultural Center Master Shi Yanhong and Master Shi Yandi as well as respective members of North America, heads of Canadian Henan Chamber of Commerce and Henan Association and many dharmapalas householders.

On September 17, at 10 am, a group of Abbot Shi Yongxin went to Lingyanshan Temple, Richmond for visits and exchanges. Under the leadership of abbot of Lingyanshan Temple Master Xiuqie, the group of Shi Yongxin visited Lingyanshan Temple, offered incense and paid a respect at the Main Hall and elder monk Miaolian’s room. Finally, Shaolin Kungfu monks demonstrated Shaolin Kungfu for both monastics and lay Buddhists in Lingyanshan Temple.

At 6 pm, Canadian Shaolin Cultural Center hosted a charity dinner. Senators of Richmond including Mr. Mai Letian and Mr. Qu Zeguang as well as leaders of the local chambers of commerce and communities attended it joyfully. During this period, Shaolin Kungfu monks put on a Kungfu show for guests and won thunderous cheers from audience.

During the dinner, Shaolin Temple took out some scripts and paintings to put up for auction. Money raised by auction was donated to the local charity. Senators of Richmond Mr. Mai Letian and Mr. Qu Zeguang said that Shaolin cultural center was just the only the beginning of Shaolin culture’s propagation in Canada and it was hoped that Shaolin Temple could build a temple in Richmond. They said that they would bring this into the session and deliver the land and procedure for the Shaolin Temple’s establishment. (Editor: Master Yanyang)