Shaolin Temple prepares 'Great Meeting'

![]() |
A kung fu practitioner smashes bricks using one hand in Luoyang, Henan province, early this Month. XU JUNWEN/CHINA DAILY |
The first "Great Meeting Open to All" will be held at the Shaolin Temple from July 29 to Aug 4 in Dengfeng, Henan province.
The 1,500-year-old temple will welcome kung fu masters and enthusiasts from home and abroad to share their skills and views on kung fu.
Shi Yongxin, the abbot of Shaolin Temple, came up with the idea of holding the "Great Meeting Open to All" in August 2016, said Zou Xiang, website manager for Shaolin Temple.
The meeting welcomes people of any social status and identity who will be treated equally through diverse forms of cultural exchanges, including Chan (Zen Buddhism), martial arts and medicine, Zou said.
The events date back to the late 4th century, according to historical records.
"Besides the martial arts, Chan and medicinal culture are regarded as the essence of Shaolin culture, and the contests involving the traditional 72 Shaolin kung fu arts can also be seen during the seven-day event," Zou said.
In addition, many foreign disciples are welcome to join in events such as the lamp transmission ceremony, and take part in the "Shaolin Temple and the Northern Buddhist" academic seminar.
- Science Talk: Quality control key to solving 3D printing pain points
- China sees over 33.7 billion inter-regional trips in H1
- China launches Level-IV emergency response for flood control in eastern Zhejiang, Fujian
- Chinese space firm unveils rollable solar wing as compact as water bottle
- Record deluge floods Hebei villages; emergency response upgraded
- Guangdong children's art gala finals begin