In Unity with the Shaolin Chinese Cultural Festival 2014

The spectacular event will see the presence of Shaolin Abbot Shi Yongxin who is the Ambassador of the Buddhist Association of China and the 29th Abbot in the history of Shaolin Temple. The Shaolin Temple is one of the oldest is China dating back 495 AD. Shi Yongxin, has travelled the world to promote Shaolin philosophy and martial arts as a social and spiritual path for wellbeing, equality, benevolence and world peace.

Nelson Mandela stated that ‘The Shaolin culture, is of value to humankind. It should be respected and praised by every single human being.’ Pope Benedict XVI, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Brazilian footballer Pele and many other world leaders and icons have met with Abbot Shi Yongxin to help progress the work of wellbeing and world peace.

Unity of Faiths Foundation was asked to get involved as it specialises in bring people of different backgrounds to come together for the greater good. “We would like to encourage people from all parts of our society to experience the Shaolin philosophy of peace and wellbeing. We are happy to help in any way we can to make the festival a success,” added the co-founders of the Foundation, Anna Prior and Shamendar Talwar.

Shi Yanzi, Chairman of Shaolin Temple UK added that “We are deeply honoured that the Shaolin Cultural Festival is going to be held in London. We would like to show the people of Britain the wonderful relationship that exists between our people. The Festival will offer an insight into the Shaolin philosophy of peace and its value to our wellbeing in a modern chaotic society.”

The Shaolin Cultural Festival will be held in London and Oxford with an inspirational opening ceremony to be held on 10th October at the London O2 Soccer Dome. The whole event will be marked by spectacular martial art performances, seminars on Shaolin culture, Buddhist medicine, exhibitions and Chinese astrology. There will also be a special conference on Chinese Buddhism and Christianity to be held by the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Theology and Religion.

The festival will include the Chinese Zodiac Exhibition, which will display precious Chinese arts and treasures that have rarely been seen by the public outside China. This is a wonderful opportunity for the people of UK to see the real ancient Chinese treasures.

The 1st Shaolin Cultural Festival was held in Berlin and Vienna in September 2012. The 2nd Shaolin Cultural Festival was held in Harvard University, the headquarters of United Nations and Los Angeles Convention Center in October 2013.

The Cultural Festival is organised by The China Shaolin Temple, the European Shaolin Association and Chinese Twelve Zodiac Cultural Relics Protection Foundation in conjunction with the Shaolin Temple UK (China Cultural Funds) with support from The Unity of Faiths Foundation.