shaolin monk corps-金沙1005

january 31 in 2022 is traditional chinese new year’ s eve. under the leadership of abbot shi yongxin, shaolin monks followed the tradition over thousands of years, pasting the couplets, worshiping ancestors, stayed up all night on new year’ s eve, striking the bell for blessing and welcoming the lunar new year of the tiger together.

the shaolin temple compound, the pagoda forest, the second-master nunnery and other spots reopened according to uniform arrangements of epidemic prevention and control efforts on january 30.

the spring festival couplets with full buddhist mood had been pasted at all halls of shaolin temple on the new year’ s eve. shaolin temple successively received more than 200 the spring festival couplets from around the country through electronic networks from december 27 in 2021 to january 14 in 2022. there were 58 antithetical couplets chosen to be used at the halls through carefully reviewed by the committee. 

on the noon of the new year’ s eve, the meditation hall prepared hot pot for everyone and dumplings on the evening, enriching shaolin monks’ meals of the new year. shaolin temple hit the board to gather monks at 3:30 pm. abbot shi yongxin guided disciples did evening reciting at the mahaviro, subject to the rules of the epidemic prevention and control efforts. after that, shaolin monks went toward the founder hall, the ancestral hall and other halls worshiping founders of past dynasties and praying for permanence of buddhist dharma of shaolin temple.

shaolin temple hosted the grand prayer assembly at the mahaviro hall and the abbot hall on the new year’ s eve. abbot yongxin burned incense and presided over the dharma assembly to pray for our country’ s good weather for the crops, security of our country and people, removing disasters and sufferings.

then karmadana guided masters toward the abbot hall to bid farewell to the outgoing year. abbot yongxin gave a dharma teaching to everyone and explained the tradition over thousands of years to people and stressed the shaolin family tradition of loving the country and religions and abiding by the old doctrine. it was also hoped that shaolin sangha could be diligent in striving for salvation in the new year.

at 11 pm, abbot yongxin and shaolin monks offered sacrifice to pray for the world peace, security of our country and people, harmony of the society and the end of the outbreak. in the meantime, prayed for front-line workers to release from suffering of illness and get freedom.

at 0: 0 on the first day of the first lunar month in renyin year, abbot yongxin amounted the bell tower and stroke it ringing in the new year to bless the world and peoples.

all shaolin cultural centers abroad also celebrated chinese new year’ s coming in various forms that day. (edited by zou xiang and pictures from shaolin temple)