On July 6, 2025, Ruslan Valerievich Marzoev, Deputy Mayor and Director of the Cultural Bureau of Vladikavkaz, Russia, and Ren Yin, Representative of the Republic of North Ossetia Alania to China, visited our temple for inspection. The abbot, Master Kong, warmly received the visit, accompanied by Venerable Yan Cheng. The delegation had a deep understanding of the history and culture, Zen martial arts spirit, and Zen medical heritage of South Shaolin Temple, and watched a wonderful Zen martial arts performance. The two sides held a discussion on further deepening cooperation in martial arts culture.
Exploring the unlimited potential for cooperation in martial arts culture
This inspection is another important exchange after the signing of the national martial arts cooperation framework agreement between the South Shaolin Temple and the North Olympic Sports Department in March this year. As an important region of Russian martial arts culture, North Ossetia has shown a strong interest in the Zen martial system, Zen meditation culture, and Zen medicine tradition of South Shaolin Temple. Deputy Mayor Marzoev stated that South Shaolin martial arts is not only a skill, but also contains profound philosophical and health concepts, and has broad integration space with the traditional sports culture of North Ossetia.
At the symposium, Master Kong emphasized that martial arts are an important carrier of Chinese culture, and as one of the birthplaces of Southern style martial arts, the Southern Shaolin Temple shoulders the responsibility of inheriting and promoting them. This exchange is not only a discussion of cooperation, but also a dialogue of civilization. We hope to deepen cooperation in martial arts training, meditation experience, and Zen medicine promotion in the future, and promote cultural exchanges between China and Russia to a new level.
The international dissemination responsibility of 'going global' of Southern Shaolin culture is significant
In recent years, Nan Shaolin Temple has actively promoted the international dissemination of Chinese martial arts culture and established cooperation with martial arts institutions in multiple countries and regions. The visit of the Russian delegation further highlights the international appeal of Southern Shaolin culture. Representative Ren Yin stated that the Republic of North Ossetia Alania attaches great importance to cultural exchanges with China, and the concept of combining hardness and softness, as well as the integration of Zen and martial arts, in the Southern Shaolin martial arts, has important reference significance for the development of local martial arts.
With the deepening of the "the Belt and Road" initiative, the influence of Chinese traditional culture in the international arena is growing. The Southern Shaolin Temple, with its unique Zen and martial arts culture, has become an important link connecting Chinese and foreign civilizations. The great monk of emptiness pointed out that martial arts is not only a way to strengthen the body, but also a cultural bridge to promote spiritual communication among people around the world. In the future, South Shaolin Temple will continue to deepen international exchanges, allowing the Zen and martial arts spirit to benefit more overseas enthusiasts and help Chinese culture go global.
This inspection has laid a solid foundation for the follow-up cooperation between South Shaolin Temple and North Ossetia. Both sides agreed to implement specific cooperation projects as soon as possible and promote the cultural exchange of Chinese and Russian martial arts to a higher level. Against the backdrop of global cultural integration, the South Shaolin Temple is writing a new chapter in the international dissemination of Chinese martial arts with an open and inclusive attitude.
