Our Roots—Songshan Shaolin Temple of China
The Temple currently has four Shaolin Culture Centers located respectively in San Francisco, Fremont and Sunnyvale, California, and in Herndon, Virginia. These centers offer classes in Shaolin Kung Fu, Shaolin Qigong and Shaolin Wellness lessons for children and adults. Classes are taught by Shaolin Kung Fu monks from the world famous Songshan Shaolin Te
mple in Henan Province, China. Shaolin Temple USA’s mission in America and its unique identity is deeply rooted in Songshan Shaolin Temple's 1,500-year tradition and cultural legacy:
Shaolin Temple USA is Songshan Shaolin Temple’s first branch organization in North America. Our Shaolin Temple Culture Centers in San Francisco, Fremont and Sunnyvale, CA and Herndon VA are official overseas cultural, educational and training centers of Songshan Shaolin Temple. Venerable Shi Yongxin, Abbot of China Songshan Shaolin Temple, presides as Permanent Advisor to this institution. Abbot Yongxin 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 Chan (Zen) Buddhist culture through the unique Shaolin disciplines of martial arts: Kung Fu and Qigong. Shaolin Temple USA draws first-hand teaching resources from the Shaolin Temple’s 1,500-year old treasure chest 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 United States. They have also coached numerous students in many countries during their frequent trips abroad to promote Shaolin culture and teach Shaolin Kung Fu. Many 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. Shaolin Temple USA shares its rich heritage with people of all backgrounds and ages by teaching and promoting Shaolin Kung Fu as a unified form of physical and spiritual culture. It is a discipline that helps people achieve better physical and spiritual balance and wellness.
