Shaolin Temple

Birthplace of Chan Buddhism, Rooted in Songshan Mountain.Founded in 495 AD, Shaolin Temple is the birthplace of Chinese Chan Buddhism. It is where Bodhidharma meditated for nine years and passed down the Chan teachings, preserving centuries of Zen wisdom and spiritual heritage.

Chan and Martial Arts as One, the Origin of Kung Fu

As the saying goes, all kung fu under heaven originates from Shaolin. Rooted in Chan practice, Shaolin Kung Fu is a national intangible cultural heritage. Martial arts serve as a way to cultivate the body, while Chan is the foundation for settling the mind. It does not advocate aggression, but emphasizes self-discipline and constant progress. For thousands of years, Shaolin monks have tempered their bodies and minds in daily practice, blending hardness and softness. They train the physique externally and nurture the mind internally, forging a distinctive spirit integrating Chan and martial arts.

Eternal Cultural Heritage, Benevolence Spread Worldwide

The Shaolin Temple complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in "The Centre of Heaven and Earth". Beyond Chan and martial arts, Shaolin medicine, Buddhist chants, stone carvings and other cultural traditions have been inherited in one continuous line. Today’s Shaolin upholds the original aspiration of compassion and goodness. It crosses mountains and seas to share inclusive, peaceful and resilient Eastern wisdom with the world, keeping the millennial Shaolin cultural lineage alive forever.