The Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre brought together an international team of teachers in London for a two-day programme featuring assessments, internal cultivation and cultural experiences, drawing more than 70 participants.
Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre and the Medicine Buddha Foundation Gather in London
In April 2026, the Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre, in partnership with the Medicine Buddha Foundation, successfully held a two-day Shaolin Xiu cultural event in London.
The programme combined formal assessments, internal-cultivation experiences and cultural showcases, bringing together students from a range of backgrounds to practise, exchange and deepen their understanding of Shaolin culture.
The event was coordinated by the Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre, founded by Shi Yanxiu, and received strong support from mural artist Wang Mouyunchi.
Founded through the joint efforts of ShifuYanxiu and fellow senior practitioners, the Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre in the United Kingdom has continued to operate steadily, sharing the traditional cultural of Chan, Kung Fu and medicine for the benefit of the wider community.
Guest teachers and international representatives
The event welcomed a number of guest teachers and international representatives who offered guidance throughout the programme:
Venerable Jingtong — Da Jue Temple, California, USA
• Venerable Guangde — Medicine Buddha Foundation
• Shifu Shi Yanhe — Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre Germany
• Shifu Shi Yanyu — Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre USA
• Shifu Shi Yanpeng — Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre
• Shifu Shi Yanwu — Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre
• Shifu Shi Yanxiao — Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre
• Shifu Shi Yanfeng — Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre
• Shifu Robert — Shaolin Wulong Culture Centre (Netherlands)
• Shifu Mark Brown — Shaolin Dao Lu (UK)
• Shifu Shi Hengwei — UK Chan Wu Yi
• Shifu Yang — Shaolin Culture UK
The invited teachers and guidance team for the two-day event.
Day One: Duanpin and Qigong Exam
The first day was dedicated to the Shaolin Duanpin exam and qigong examinations, with 40 participants taking part.
The exam covered structure, body movements, breath control and concentration, reflecting the Shaolin training system’s progression from external form to internal awareness, and from physical movement to intention.
During the Duanpin assessment, students were required to complete routines, essential techniques and paired practice. The process offered a comprehensive review of their technical standards, practical understanding and ability to coordinate with a partner in applied training.
The qigong assessment included:
●Qigong Baduanjin, which emphasises the coordinated unity of movement, breathing and internal awareness.
●Hard qigong stick-breaking practice, conducted under strict control and supervision, in which wooden sticks were struck against specific parts of the body to test the students’ foundational physical conditioning, resilience and focused willpower.
Students took part in Duanpin and qigong level exam, presenting forms, paired practice and foundational training.
Foundational qigong practice highlighted the coordination of movement, breath and internal awareness.
Day Two: Internal Cultivation Experience
The second day focused on internal cultivation and welcomed 30 participants. The programme included qigong, tai chi, meditation practice, tea ceremony and calligraphy.
Through a blend of dynamic and still practices, participants experienced physical and mental balance, focused awareness and the deeper meaning of Shaolin culture’s principle that cultivation is the foundation of practice.
Participants explored the inner dimension of Shaolin culture through internal-cultivation practice.
The tea ceremony combined stillness, mindfulness and awareness.
Calligraphy, as a form of cultivation, expressed the unity of mind and form.
Cultural Displays and Artistic Support
The venue also featured thangka artworks provided by Wang Mouyunchi, together with displays of Chinese teaware, various Chinese teas, medicinal herbal bracelets, and other traditional cultural objects.
These cultural elements enriched the event and reflected the close connection between spiritual practice and daily life. Through both observation and hands-on experience, participants were able to appreciate the Eastern cultural idea that inner and outer cultivation are interconnected, and that form and spirit can be united.
Traditional art and objects provided cultural context and an aesthetic experience for participants.
Participation and Impact
Across the two days, more than 70 people took part, demonstrating the continued growth of interest in Shaolin practice and culture both in the United Kingdom and internationally.
The event was more than a combination of examinations and experiential classes; it also provided a platform for students and participants to exchange ideas, practise together, and develop a shared sense of cultivation.
The Three Therapies and Seven Cultivations System
三疗七修
The Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre has long inherited and practised the “Three Therapies and Seven Cultivations” system. The “Three Therapies” comprise:
• Dietary therapy (食疗)
• Practice-based therapy (功疗)
• Chan therapy (禅疗)
Together, these three approaches support the holistic balance of body and mind through dietary nourishment, physical and energetic training, and meditative inner observation.
The “Seven Cultivations” further extend this framework into a systematic path of practice, connecting external training with internal refinement. The system reflects the Shaolin cultural spirit of entering the mind through the body and pursuing steady, continuous progress.
Collaboration with UCL
The Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre has also established cooperation with University College London (UCL), offering internal-cultivation experience courses.
Through this collaboration, traditional Shaolin practice has been introduced into a modern academic environment. Participants are able to understand cultural meaning through direct practice and experience physical and mental transformation through participation, helping to promote the development and transmission of Shaolin culture in international society.
The Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre will continue to uphold the Shaolin spirit through systematic training and cultural practice, promoting physical and mental cultivation, encouraging cultural exchange and helping people move away from suffering toward well-being and joy.
This two-day event was not only a presentation of progress achieved so far, but also a strong foundation for future development.
By Liao Jia and Fan Qiang
reporter :news
