Shaolin Temple Abbot
Venerable Grand Monk Master Shi Yong Xin’s birth name was Liu Yin Chun and as such he was known until tonsure. He was born in 1965 in Anhui, Yinshang. Master Yong Xin is the 30th generation Abbot of Songshan Shaolin Temple in China, the vice president of China Buddhism Association, the president of Henan province Buddhism Association, and also the representative of the 9th and 10th annual National People’s Congress of China.
Venerable Master Yong Xin was born into a Buddhist family, who was a child possessing natural Buddhist intelligence, enjoying the peace of nature and thus fell in love with Buddhism. In 1981, his parents following his aspirations, formally acknowledged Abbot Elder Xing Zheng as his master. After Master Yong Xin had the tonsure conferred upon him by formal Buddhist rite, he attended to the Abbot day and night. He diligently studied and developed great wisdom as years passed. Later on, Master Yong Xin had an eye-opening opportunity during his pilgrimage to Mt. Yunju in Jiangxi, Mt. Jiuhua in Anhui, Guangji Temple in Beijing and many others.
In year 1984, Master Yongxin came back to attend to Abbot Xing Zheng once again. In 1987, Abbot Xing Zheng passed away. Master Yong Xin was appointed as the new Abbot and the director of Shaolin Temple Management Committee. Abbot Yong Xin has taken over the resumption of Shaolin culture and reviving of the Chan Sect and its origin as his own responsibility. He undertook the complete renovation project of the temple. With his hard work and dedication, Shaolin Temple has resumed its original Buddhist atmosphere, provides the environment to the monks in Shaolin to cultivate their Buddhist philosophy and to preserve the Shaolin culture.
Shaolin Temple Kungfu Monks Team was founded in 1988, to promote the traditional Shaolin culture. Shaolin Charity and Welfare Fund were established in 1993, with the aim to relieve people from poverty and help those in need. In 1995, the Shaolin Publishing House was established and published the quarterly journal “Chan Dew”, “Collections of Shaolin Kungfu”, “Medical Secrets in Shaolin kungfu”, “Collections of the International Chan Cultural Conference” to promote the understanding of Chan (Zen) culture and its in-depth meaning and secrets. Grand Monk Master Yong Xin was appointed as the Abbot of Shaolin Temple in 1999. Shaolin Kung-Fu seminars were organized to study the cultural treasures of Shaolin Kungfu. In order to protect the Shaolin Kungfu’s profound culture with a history of 1500 years, in 2002 Abbot Yong Xin organized and initiated the registration under the UN Education and Science Organization of Shaolin Kungfu. Shaolin Orphan Center was open in 2003 to support the “Thousand-orphan and Light-opening” project. Upon invitation, Abbot Yong Xin led a delegate team to attend the “Songshan Shaolin Temple Day” ceremony established in San Francisco which is defined and officially recognized by the US California State Congress, in which provides a great opportunity to promote cultural exchange between the two countries.
Source : www.shaolinus.org
