The 2020 Symposium on Science of Shaolin Completed Successfully

On Oct. 18, 2020, the symposium on science of Shaolin continued being held. All dharma masters, experts and scholars expressed their own views freely and drew on the wisdom and the masses, interpreting the supreme charm and internal, profound connotation of Shaolin culture, and obtaining phased achievements on the symposium on the afternoon of Oct. 17. Dharma masters, experts and scholars present continued discussing its rich connotation of science of Shaolin from different angles and directions, and offering advice and suggestions for inheriting and carrying forward Shaolin culture on Oct. 18 all day.

Honorable guests present analyzed contents and value of inscriptions from professional angles on the sub-forum of “study on inscriptions of Shaolin Temple before Song Dynasty”, promoting the exploration and arrangement of Shaolin culture. 

On sub-forum of Buddhism and traditional Chinese ecological ideas, honorable guests discussed its positive role of Buddhism in promoting the construction of ecological civilization in terms of dependent origination, ahimsa and protecting beings, equality, eco-environment protection and so on.

On the sub-forum of big data of documents and Shaolin culture, the guests extensively and deeply communicated with each other about Shaolin Temple’s archives resource’s position, construction, exploration, protection, development, etc. on that morning; that afternoon, guests interpreted the construction of Shaolin Temple’s archives from angles of digitization and law. The guests also put forward practical proposals, for example building GIS of Shaolin Temple, constructing digital museum, improving display online and so on.

The two-day symposium on science of Shaolin was completed successfully in Chan Wu Hoteld at 5:30 pm that day. The present guests included: master Shi Yongxin, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, president of the Buddhist Association of Henan Province and abbot of Shaolin Temple, Sun Peixin, formal director-general of the Civil Affairs Department of Henan Province, professor Huang Xianian of the institute of world religions of Academy of Social Science and so on. Master Yange, head of the Sutra-Pavilion in Shaolin Temple served as host of the closing ceremony.

Professor Huang Xianian first concluded the sub-forum of study on inscriptions of Shaolin Temple before Song Dynasty. He mentioned: Firstly, on the sub-forum, all scholars totally shared research achievements of more than 40 inscriptions, among which 80 percent of inscriptions are the first study; then all scholars involved engage in Buddhist research and are clear about historical records and developing clue of inscriptions. The researches of scholars are very helpful to improve academic level of Shaolin Temple and also establish a sound foundation for further study of science of Shaolin.

Professor Ding Haibin summarized the research results of the sub-forum on big data of archives and Shaolin culture. He expressed: after two days of intense discussions, the sub-forum on big data of archives and Shaolin culture has made serious studies in the following three aspects: firstly, composition and value of archival documents of Shaolin Temple; secondly, do the job well, for example, the work of archive collection, archive arrangement and big data technology; thirdly, build top-level archives and documentation services in religious circles around the world, which is also responsible for the history and science of Shaolin.

Professor Qiao Qingju summarized the sub-forum on Buddhism and traditional Chinese ecological ideas, and concluded remarks of the symposium on science of Shaolin as a representative of scholars. He said: “Academic exchange of the sub-forum on Buddhism and traditional Chinese ecological thoughts referred to General Secretary Xi Jinping’s ideas of ecological civilization namely schools of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism whose ecological thoughts communicated and emerged with each other. Scholars believe that science of Shaolin is an important component of Shaolin culture, Yellow River culture and traditional Chinese culture. The great rejuvenation of Chinese nation need s the revival of Chinese culture which needs the revival of local characteristic culture like Shaolin culture at the same time. Therefore, carrying out the research of science of Shaolin is very necessary while science of Shaolin should also be carried forward, having a widespread, sustainable influence around the world.

Finally, abbot Yongxin expressed the gratitude to all experts and scholars, and gave a dharma teaching at the closing ceremony. He noted: ecology is very close to us. If there were not a good attitude, there would be no good ecology. The construction of ecological civilization is a global issue and holding a symposium on Buddhism and ecological civilization is very necessary; the speed and ranges of research on inscriptions should be accelerated and extended; in terms of archives and big data of Shaolin Temple, combination of Shaolin archives and big data can provide the first hand information for the study on science of Shaolin, which is very significant and meaningful.

So far, the 2020 symposium on science of Shaolin has been completed successfully. (Edited by Zou Xiang and photographed by Wang Haitao, Yue Long and Gong Wuwei)