The Shaolin Monastery
Shaolin Monastery or Shaolin Temple is a Chán Buddhist temple on Mount Song, near Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, Henan province, China. It is led by Abbot Shi Yongxin. Founded in the fifth century, the monastery is long famous for its association with Chinese martial arts and particularly with Shaolin Kung Fu, and it is the best known Mahayana Buddhist monastery to the Western world.
(above left - Monk performing Kung Fu at the entrance to The Shaolin Monastery)
(Above middle - Pogada forest within the Shaolin Temple grounds)
Above right - Picture taken inside Shaolin Temple walls)
(Above middle - Pogada forest within the Shaolin Temple grounds)
Above right - Picture taken inside Shaolin Temple walls)
Shaolin Music Ceremony
The Shaolin Music ceremony is a beautiful visual display of Shaolin Monks performing Buddhist music and Kung Fu to the theme of the five elements - Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, Metal. It takes place outdoors with the magnificent Song Shan Mountain range as a back drop. The ceremony is performed every night in Summer and is a short distance from the centre of Deng Feng CIty.
(above left - Monk performs solo as part of Music ceremony)
(above right - Monks perform together as part of spectacular visual display)
(above right - Monks perform together as part of spectacular visual display)