Shi Yanyu, whose secular name is Liu Yong, was born in June 1974 in Taihe county, Anhui province. He is the 34th-generation disciple of the Songshan Shaolin Temple, apprenticed to Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple. He once served as the head of the Shaolin Monk Corps and the chief instructor of Shaolin monks. He is also the founder of the Hangzhou Manda Hermitage Cultural Communication Center. Over the years, he has led the Shaolin Monk Corps to visit various countries around the world for tour performances, cultural exchange visits and so on, actively promoting the international development of the traditional Chinese Zen and martial arts culture.

Shi Yanyu practices martial arts in Shaolin Temple. Photo provided to ZICC

Shi Yanyu has been influenced by Shaolin culture since childhood. Under the guidance of many famous masters including his master Shi Yongxin and the grandmaster Liang Yiquan, he soon became an outstanding monk who cultivated both Zen and martial arts. Later, he integrated the Zen and martial spirit of Shaolin culture into his work and shouldered the important task of international dissemination and went global.

Shi Yanyu (left) and his master Shi Yongxin. Photo provided to ZICC

Shi Yanyu said, "Shaolin culture is not just martial arts, but also a way of spiritual cultivation." He hopes that through his own efforts, the Zen and martial spirit of Shaolin culture can become a bridge connecting the world. Since 2002, Shi Yanyu has accompanied his master to lead the Shaolin Monk team to visit dozens of countries and regions such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan, to perform martial arts, conduct cultural exchange and dissemination, and hold academic seminars. In April 2006, during the First World Buddhist Forum, Shi Yanyu served as the chief director of the martial arts section of the evening party and also participated in the performance. From 2007 to 2008, Shi Yanyu led the Shaolin Monk Corps to go abroad to participate in the promotional performances for "Welcoming the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games". Meanwhile, he also participated in the art performance activities during the holding of the Beijing Olympic Games and served as the chief director of the martial arts section. These activities have not only enhanced the international popularity of Shaolin culture but also promoted the global understanding and recognition of traditional Chinese culture.

Shi Yanyu (monk with palms together) and Shaolin Monk team in New York in 2015. Photo provided to ZICC

Shi Yanyu is not only limited to martial arts performances but also actively promotes the systematic dissemination of Shaolin martial arts. In Zhejiang, Shanghai, Shandong and other places, he has taught martial arts skills to police officers and held seminars combining Zen and martial arts to popularize the connotations of Shaolin culture to more people. He also attaches great importance to cultural inheritance and education. He has established several cultural communication centers in Hong Kong, Hangzhou and other places. Through teaching and interactive activities, he enables more teenagers to understand and love Shaolin culture. He said, "The inheritance of culture requires the participation of young people. Only by letting them feel the charm of culture can traditional culture be rejuvenated."

Since 2014, Shi Yanyu has been still engaged in the work of promoting and spreading Shaolin culture at home and abroad. During this period, he established the Hangzhou Manda Hermitage Cultural Communication Center. In 2020, he was rated as the most influential Shaolin Zen and martial arts master in China. Meanwhile, he was hired as a consultant and tutor by many institutions in the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries. He is willing to work hand in hand with all sectors to spread the Shaolin Zen and martial spirit to all corners of the world.