Shi De Yang
| File:Shideyang.jpg Grand Master Shi De Yang | |
| Born | Shi Wanfeng 1968 |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Website | www |
Shi De Yang (释德杨), born Shi Wanfeng (史万峰; Taikang, 1968) is a Chinese Buddhist priest, and the 31st Grand Master of the fighting monks (wǔsēng 武僧) of the Shaolin Monastery.[1][2] Shi De Yang is globally considered one of the greatest present exponents of traditional Shaolin culture.
Talking about the Great Master Shi De Yang is talking about one of the greatest exponents of Shaolin traditional culture nowadays, and he is one of the most respected Masters around the globe. Disciple of Venerable Shi Suxi for almost 30 years, Shi De Yang is one of the Masters of Shaolin who has studied profoundly “The three Shaolin Treasures” (Chan (religion),Wu (martial arts) and Yi (traditional medicine)). His aptitude for the study and teaching , his exceptional martial abilities and philosophical vision have allowed him to have one of the most important tasks in the Shaolin Temple, for example being the director of the warriors at the same Temple. At thepresent time Shi De Yang carries forward his school Wuseng Houbeidui[3] located in Deng Feng, in the province of Henan, land of the same Shaolin Temple and cradle of martial arts. He is also the vice president of the Association of study of Shaolin Kung Fu in China. Assessor and chief of the International Shaolin Kung Fu & Wushu Federation and in the University Of Martial Arts Of Wuhan. Since years ago the Master has been carrying out the work of transmitting the traditional kung fu to all the world some of the countries that he has visited are Italy,England, Hungary, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Canada among others in order to become the epitome of Shaolin culture globally.
Biography
Infancy
Shi de Yang was born in a town called Taikang, located at the Henan province in China. His infancy was like the one of a regular kid, except for his neighbor who used to be a monk at the Shaolin Temple, this elder was always telling stories of his life at the temple, and it was him who introduced him to the Shaolin Kung Fu, thereafter his heart would fill with desire to become a monk and practice the Kung Fu at the temple more often. Despite his family's negative, De Yang was admitted at the Shaolin Temple. The first days at the temple were really hard, many hours meditating and repeating over and over again "Amituofo" ( transliteration of the sanscrit of "infinite life" or "infinite wisdom", is also a way of greeting between the temple monks and the shaolin practitioners around the world). The training at the temple were harder everyday, leading him to think of leaving the Shaolin many times, had it not been for his Master Shi Su Xi he would have done it.
Master Shi De Yang tells that when his master wasn't practicing Kung Fu or teaching he was very kind but when he taught he was very demanding to the poing of hitting them each time they showed apathy in their training. The Master says that one time he was practicing "mabu" (rider position) and he was feeling very tired because of his practices, so taking advantage that his master was not present he began to rest, unfortunately his master saw him and he hit him with a stick, enraged because of his master's action De Yang returned to his bedroom, he packed his clothes and disposed to leave the Shaolin Temple, but just when he was leaving his master encounters him, hitting him again, his Shaolin brothers took him to the Chan room to meditate and reflect fo what he had done and there is when he remembers his master teachings and realizes that he really wants to continue with the Shaolin tradition and develop the kung fu so more people can know about it.
After reflecting for a long time he goes to his master's room asking for forgiveness, Shi Su Xi happily says: "He who becomes aware of his mistakes will succeed in what he wants". After these he promise himself to center in the practice so he can improve and achieve a high Kung Fu level.
Practicing at the Temple
Every morning to run outside he carries with a vest and two bags of sand on his feet, while other times he tied his feet until reaching the Damo's Cave to then lower it face down crawling. From Damo's cave up to the base at the mountaing there are 300 steps. Other times he carried food and aisolated at the mountain to train alone, he got to spent half month aisolated feeding himself only with bread and water of the mountain.
He got harmed many times practicing with the saber or the sword but he never thought of leaving the practice or the temple. Once practicing Mei Hua Zhuang from 2 meters high he fell leaving a wound on his chin of 4 stitches. Other time practicing sword with a shaolin brother he harmed his arm but he didn't minded and tied a cloth to his arm to continue practicing, nowadays you can see a big scar on his right arm.
Present
In August 1991 he begins to exert as Chief of Warrior Shaolin Monks, every day apart from training his disciples he find time to teach foreign that visited his school to learn the authentic Shaolin.
In the last years Shi De Yang with the commitment of transmitting the shaoling kung fu to the world several schools from around the world have associated to the Shaolin Temple and to Shi De Yang's purpose.
When asking Shi De Yang about his labour in the kung fu's legacy and its philosophy the master says:
"Because I want people to benefit with shaolin kung fu and in the other hand because many westerns don't know really what shaolin kung fu and its philosophy is"
He also says:
"The real kung fu is not pretty but is very practical, I once visited America and realized americans do not like exhibition kung fu because they say it is like dance, they are really interested in learning traditional kung fu and that's what I want to teach"
References
- ^ Livres de France - Numéros 306 à 309 2007 - Page 164 "224 p. ; 24 x 17 cm ISBN 978-84-96492-24-0 Br. 23€ Présentation des arts du shaolin, l'interview du vénérable Shi Xushi, l'abbé du temple ainsi que des collaborations du moine guerrier du temple, le maitre Shi De Yang."
- ^ Tricycle: the Buddhist review - Volume 17 2007- Page 92 "the striking image adorning the book's cover of the monk Shi De-Yang practicing a gravity-defying sequence called "big hong fist" "
- ^ Shaolin Traditional Culture Center http://www.shaolinspirit.org/master.asp?classid=18