Photo:Fu Wenlong

Zhengzhou,a well-known national historic city and one of the eight ancient capitals of China,is an important cradle of Chinese civilization.As the only national central city located along the Yellow River,it has played a key role in ecological protection and promoting high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin.

郑州是华夏文明的重要发祥地、国家历史文化名城、中国八大古都之一。郑州作为黄河沿线唯一的国家中心城市，在“黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展”国家战略中发挥核心示范作用，彰显文化魅力。

The Yellow River is regarded as the mother river of the Chinese nation because it has nurtured Chinese civilization for 5,000 years.The Zhengzhou section of the Yellow River gave birth to Yellow Emperor Culture,the Shangdu Culture,and the Shaolin Culture,with Shaolin Culture in particular becoming a significant example of Chinese culture to share with those around the world.

黄河是中华民族的母亲河，哺育了5000年的文明，尤其是黄河郑州段孕育了黄帝文化、商都文化和少林文化。而少林文化更是充分展现着一幅幅中华文明与世界各国文明交流互鉴的生动画面。

Photo:Fu Wenlong

The Shaolin culture is thriving

郑州助推少林文化发扬光大

Since ancient times,Songshan Shaolin Temple has been famous at home and abroad.It gave birth to a broad and distinctive Shaolin cultural system,including Shaolin Kung Fu,Shaolin Changong,Shaolin Stick Technique,and Shaolin Pharmacy Bureau.

嵩山少林寺在古今中外都享有“名刹”的美称，还形成了博大精深、个性鲜明的少林文化体系。少林寺的创新性实践成果目前包括了少林功夫、少林禅弓、少林棍法、少林药局等。

Martial arts around the world originated in China,and Chinese martial arts started in Henan.Zhengzhou,the birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu,is seeking to advance the art.

世界武术看中国，中国武术看河南。俗话说“天下功夫出少林”。一直以来，郑州在塑造“中国功夫”品牌中尽显文化魅力。

The Shaolin Zen Music Ritual presented a world-renowned musical performance,while the Zhengzhou Song and Dance Theater staged performances of Fengzhong Shaolin and Shaolin Heroes,and the Henan Broadcasting System created the program Wulin Feng.With branches of the Shaolin Temple established all over the world,Shaolin martial arts are becoming more and more popular.In addition,Shaolin cultural institutions have been founded in the United States,Germany and Russia,etc.Shaolin Cultural Centers can be found all over the world,and the Shaolin Kung Fu world tour is bringing Chinese Kung Fu popularity overseas.

嵩山《禅宗少林•音乐大典》利用声光电效应，打造出享誉世界的音乐盛宴；郑州歌舞剧院相继上演《风中少林》《少林雄风》；河南电视台开办了《武林风》……少林武术日益受到世界人民的喜爱，少林寺下院遍布世界各地，目前在美国、德国、俄罗斯等国家设立了各种机构，少林文化中心遍布世界各大洲。少林功夫表演团队的世界巡演，在海外掀起了一波又一波的中国功夫热。

Exchanges keep cultures alive

唯有交流才能使文化永葆活力

In recent years,the Shaolin Temple has placed great importance into spreading Shaolin culture around the world.At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is posing serious challenges to nations all over the world,the Shaolin Temple,as the spiritual center for Shaolin disciples and followers of the Shaolin culture worldwide,works to advance world harmony,friendship,and health via the aesthetic value and practical application of martial arts,which transcends the barriers of language.

近年来，少林寺非常注重在世界各地传播少林文化，尤其是在世界各国遭受新冠肺炎疫情巨大挑战的情况下，少林寺作为世界少林弟子和少林文化爱好者的精神家园，以无语言障碍的禅武身体语言和具体行动，增进人类和平、友谊、健康。

Photo:Fu Wenlong

On February 9th,2022,the Chinese New Year World Shaolin Kung Fu Online Games was held at Songshan Shaolin Temple.This is the first Shaolin Kung Fu online competition hosted by Shaolin Temple,which attracted worldwide attention.With a motto of"Peace,Friendship,Health,Happiness,Inheritance and Sharing",this competition gathered more than 5,000 Shaolin Kung Fu practitioners from over 200 Shaolin cultural centers and martial arts training institutions in 89 countries and regions.It can be called the"global carnival"for Shaolin disciples and Shaolin culture lovers.

2022年2月9日，快乐中国年•世界少林功夫考功网络大赛在嵩山少林寺开幕。作为少林寺在全世界范围发起的首创性“少林功夫网络考功大赛”，备受全球瞩目。大赛以“和平、友好，健康、快乐，传承、共享”为主题，来自世界五大洲89个国家和地区200多个城市的少林文化中心、武术培训机构的5000余名少林功夫习练者，通过视频方式比武论道，共赏少林功夫，传承弘扬少林文化。这是一次前所未有的少林弟子和少林文化爱好者的“全球合家欢”。

In this same year,the 11th Vienna Shaolin Culture Week&European Shaolin Culture Festival was held at Bach Square in the Fifth District of Vienna in June,organized by the Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center.Upholding the principle of"Shaolin culture is shared by human beings",this Cultural Center holds Shaolin Culture Week every year,to spread a healthy Shaolin culture and the Shaolin spirit.

2022年6月，由奥地利少林文化中心举办的“第十一届维也纳少林文化周暨欧洲少林文化节”在维也纳第五区巴赫广场圆满举行。为将健康的少林文化理念与有益身心的少林禅武精神带给更多人，奥地利少林文化中心秉承“少林文化，人类共享”的理念，坚持每年举办少林文化周活动。

In Zambia,children visit the Shaolin Cultural Center every weekend,to learn Chinese culture,Chinese Kung Fu and traditional Chinese medicine.There are four Zambian Shaolin disciples performing Shaolin Kung Fu,two of whom are"Chu San"and"Beijing",orphans adopted by the Center.The two are well-liked for their Kung Fu skills,even though they have only been practicing for about four or five months.

每逢周末，在非洲赞比亚少林文化中心，附近的学生就会来这里学习中国文化、中国功夫以及中医术。瞧，四名黑色皮肤的少林弟子在表演少林功夫，名叫“初三”和“北京”的两个孩子是该中心收留的孤儿，虽然学习少林功夫才四五个月，但已成了当地的“小明星”。

From July 14th to 15th,2022,China Daily's"Belt and Road"Youth English Speaking Competition was held at the Shaolin Temple in Zhengzhou.Here participants from France,Pakistan,Kiribati,Somalia,Morocco,the United States,and China,delivered their speeches,and learned Shaolin Kung Fu and Central Plains culture.

2022年7月14日至15日，中国日报社“一带一路”青少年英语演讲比赛的优秀选手来到郑州走进少林寺，开展了为期两天的“一带一路”青少年英语演讲比赛文化行。来自法国、巴基斯坦、基里巴斯、索马里、摩洛哥、美国、中国等7个国家的选手零距离体验魅力独特的少林功夫与博大精深的中原文化。

In terms of friction caused by cultural differences between China and foreign countries,Shaolin culture offers a solution through active communication with other cultures.The diversity of Chinese civilization itself can only be preserved through exchanges.While improving the culture system and strengthening its religious beliefs,Shaolin culture actively exchanges with other cultures and contributes to the society.It will surely become one of the most brilliant Chinese cultures.

面对中西文化差异所产生的矛盾与冲突，少林文化以创新性实践阐释出“交流可以调和差异性造成的张力”。中华文明本身就是多元的，唯有交流才能使文化永葆活力。少林文化积极交流互鉴，创造社会价值，必将成为中国文化的一道奇光异彩。

Photo:Fu Wenlong