Shaolin Temple USA
Our Roots—Shaolin Temple of Song Mountain, China

Shaolin Temple USA is a newly established institution of learning for Shaolin Kung Fu culture and Ch’an Buddhism. Headquartered in Fremont, California, the Temple has additional instruction locations in San Jose and Millbrae. Classes are taught by 16 Shaolin Kung Fu monks from the world famous Shaolin Temple of Song Mountain in Henan Province, China.

Shaolin Temple USA’s mission in America and its unique identity is deeply rooted in Shaolin Temple's 1,500-years tradition and cultural legacy:

• Shaolin Temple USA is Shaolin Temple’s first branch organization in North America.
  
  
• Venerable Shi Yongxin, Abbot of Shaolin Temple of Song Mountain, presides as Permanent Advisor to this institution. All 16 Kung Fu Monks at Shaolin Temple USA are disciples of the Venerable Abbot who personally founded and headed the world renowned Shaolin Temple Kung Fu Monks Corps over a decade ago.
  
  
• The mission of Shaolin Temple USA is to spread Shaolin Ch’an (Zen) philosophy through the core Shaolin disciplines of martial arts or action meditation: Kung Fu (Gongfu) and Chi Kung (Qigong). 
  
  
• Shaolin Temple USA is the only Shaolin Kung Fu institution in the United States where all instructors are ordained Buddhist monks from Shaolin Temple of Song Mountain—the birth place of Ch’an Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu. These monks, aged from 19 to early 30s are spectacularly adept in the 1,500-year old art of Shaolin Kung Fu and well versed in Buddhist teachings.
  
  
• Shaolin Temple USA draws first-hand teaching resources from the Shaolin Temple’s 1,500-year old treasure chest full of traditional Shaolin Kung Fu training manuals and physical wellness classics that have never been revealed to the outside world, and from a long lineage of Kung Fu masters who personally pass their mantle to this younger generation of Shaolin Kung Fu Monks.
  
  
• Shaolin Temple USA’s instructors are seasoned teachers of Shaolin Kung Fu. Many were coaches of the Shaolin Temple Kung Fu Monks Corps at Song Mountain before arriving in the Bay Area. They have also coached numerous students in many countries during their frequent trips abroad to promote Shaolin culture and teach Shaolin Kung Fu.
  
  
• Most of the Kung Fu Monks at Shaolin Temple USA have toured the world with theatrical productions featuring Shaolin Kung Fu such as Shaolin: Wheel of Life and performed in more than 1,500 productions for audiences in over 40 countries, including many heads of states and dignitaries such as Queen Elizabeth II of England, President Vladimir Putin of Russia and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger of the United States.
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• Shaolin Temple USA shares its rich heritage with people of all background and ages by teaching and promoting Shaolin Kung Fu as a unified form of physical and spiritual culture. Shaolin Kung Fu is more than martial arts. It is a discipline that helps people achieve better physical and spiritual balance and wellness.
  
  

Curriculum

• Shaolin Temple USA’s curriculum includes traditional Shaolin fist and weapon forms, qigong, Shaolin Wellness Exercises and Ch’an (Zen) meditation, with comprehensive, well-balanced programs designed for people of different ages and physical aptitude. Adults aged 60 and over are welcome to Shaolin Wellness Classes free of charge.
  
  
• Besides Shaolin Kung Fu classes seven days a week, Buddhist studies classes are conducted by Master Shi Yanjia every Sunday morning at 10 am. The goal is to offer more opportunities for people to further study the art and wisdom of Shaolin Kung Fu and Ch’an.
  
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The Origin of Shaolin Temple

Shaolin Temple was established in 495 A.D. during the Northern Wei Dynasty of China. The Wei Emperor Xiaowen built the temple on Song Mountain of Henan Province to host the Indian high monk Batuo. In 517 A.D., South Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidharma landed in Shaolin Temple. He spent nine years meditating in a cave on Mount Wuru behind the temple and founded the Ch'an School of Buddhism. For physical fitness between his long meditation sessions, Bodhidharma created a series of exercises to stretch his limbs and strengthen his body. These exercises were taught to Shaolin monks to improve their health and thus began tradition of Shaolin Kung Fu and Shaolin Kung Fu monks. Shaolin Temple is credited and revered as the birth place of Ch’an Buddhism, known to the Western world as Zen (Japanese name for Ch’an), and the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Shaolin Kung Fu and Shaolin Kung Fu Ch’an

For 1,500 years, Shaolin Kung Fu was passed down from generation to generation as a unique cultural and spiritual system manifested in the form of martial arts. It embodies not only the essence of Chinese martial arts but also the wisdom of Ch’an Buddhism. It is a treasured child of the cultural exchange between ancient China and India — two great ancient civilizations of the world. It is a unique cultural phenomenon founded on Buddhist teachings of “no self” and “inconstancy.” The wisdom and courage inhabited in Shaolin Kung Fu is widely understood and respected by people of different cultures all over the world. Shaolin Kung Fu has become an integral part of mankind's spiritual civilization. Shaolin Temple monks emphasize that Ch’an and Kung Fu are the two integral aspects of their Buddhist regimen: Ch’an meditation leads to spiritual enlightenment, while Kung Fu maintains physical health for the pursuit of Ch’an. They call their training “Shaolin Kung Fu Ch’an.”

Sharing Shaolin Kung Fu with the World

Stepping into the 21st century, under the leadership of Abbot Shi Yongxin, the Shaolin Temple embarked on the monumental task of unearthing and compiling precious Shaolin classic manuals such as 72 Shaolin Supreme Teachings, Shaolin Medicine, Shaolin Wellness Kung Fu, Yin Jin Jing (Change of the Sinews) and Xi Sui Jing (Marrow Cleansing) that have never been revealed to the world. The purpose was to preserve and elevate these treasures for the benefit of the world in improving the people’s health and building a harmonious society.

Today, Shaolin Temple is the only temple in China that trains martial monks. The world rediscovered Shaolin Temple through the popular kung fu movie Shaolin Temple starring Jet Li in 1982. Since then, tens of thousands of martial arts enthusiasts visit Shaolin Temple every year to learn kung fu from the masters. In recent years, many masters of Shaolin Kung Fu have been contracted to teach classes in universities all over the world. Teams of monks have toured over 60 countries and performed their art as a world spectacle for world audiences and many heads of states.
[Souvenir Brochure Covers]