Shaolin Temple is under the leadership of Venerable Abbot Shi Yong Xin in Songshan, China. The Abbot was born in 1965 in An hui, Yin Shang and is the 30th generation abbot of SongShan, Shaolin Temple, China.  Venerable Abbot Shi Yong Xin was born into a Buddhist family. As a child, he was intelligent, enjoy the peace of nature and fell in love with Buddhism. In 1981 Abbot Elder Xing Zheng was his master. The Abbot Elder performed the rite of tonsure for Master Yong Xin. Once again in 1984 master Yong Xin came back to attend further studies with Abbot Elder Xing Zheng. In 1987, the Abbot Elder passed away.  In 1988 Shaolin Temple kungfu monks team was founded and promoted the traditional Shaolin culture. In 1993, Shaolin Charity and welfare fund were established with a mission to relieve people from poverty. In 1995, the Shaolin publishing house was established and published the quarterly journal "Chan Dev", "Collection of Shaolin kungfu", "Medical of Shaolin kungfu", and "Collections of the International Chan Cultural conference" is to promote Chan culture.

In 1991, Master Shi Yong Xin was appointed as a new abbot and the director of Shaolin Temple Management committee. As a new abbot, he has many great responsibilities. The new abbot undertook the complete renovation project of the Shaolin Temple. He revived the Chan sect and Shaolin Temple has resumed its original Buddhist atmosphere. Abbot Yong Xin is the president of Henan Province Buddhism Association, and the representative of the 9th and 10th annual National People’s Congress of China. In 2002, the abbot organized and initiated the registration of Shaolin kungfu is to protect the Shaolin kungfu culture’s 1500 years history. In 2003, Shaolin orphanage center was open to support the ‘Thousand orphan & light opening” project. The same year the abbot led a delegate team to attend the “Songshan Shaolin Temple day” ceremony established in San Francisco. It is recognized by the U.S California State congress. The ceremony provided a great opportunity to promote cultural exchange between the two countries. In 2007, Abbot Shi Yong Xin appointed Master Shi Yan Xu as the director of Shaolin Temple Los Angeles Cultural Center.

     Master Shi Yan Xu was born in a secluded and distant farming village in Henan Province. From an early age, he showed a fondness for martial arts and is reflected in his immersement in the world of batons and fighting poles.  When he was young, he joined the Shaolin Temple in Mt. Songshan, and had the great fortune and fate to worship under the close scrutiny and guidance of the Grand Abbot of the Shaolin Temple, Master Shi Yong Xin. During this time he also studied Kung-Fu under various local famous martial arts masters such as Diao Shan Duo, Fu Zhi Qian, Beijing martial arts Master Zhu Sheng An, Dong Bei, Master Gao De Jiang and several other reknown masters.

     Under the tutelage of various famous teachers, Master Shi Yan Xu learnt various fist and weapons fighting techniques. He attained skills and knowledge beyond a mastery of handling and dispensing moves with swords and Shaolin fighting poles. In time, he became proficient in the study of general health cultivation and various Shaolin Kung-Fu styles such as the Shaolin’s Xiao Hong Chuan, Lo Han Chuan, Tong Bei Chuan and Qi Xing Chuan. Furthermore, Master Shi’s competency in the study and practice of Damo’s Yin Jin Xi Sue Jing moved into an elevated arena. After long years of living, breathing and being inducted in an environment overflowing with the thousand years Shaolin Chan (Zen) culture, Master Shi Yan Xu achieved an in-depth understanding and finally a total enlightment of what the Shaolin culture embodies.  Fate intervened in due time and he answered the call and became an ordained Shaolin monk ensuring a path that allows him to learn and become a devout follower of China’s greatest Zen teacher, Master Heng Tong.

     After more than ten years of practicing and perfecting his study of Shaolin gong fu and Chan (Zen) in the Shaolin Temple, Master Shi Yan Xu was bestowed the opportunity to aid and serve the Grand Abbot in assisting him in receiving distinguished guests from all over the world that came thru the gates of the Shaolin Temple.  Additional duties include organizing Shaolin gong fu classes and training. He was given widely acclaimed reviews when performed and demonstrated Shaolin Kong Fu in the presence of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, American Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Switzerland’s Defense Minister and several other foreign dignitaries.  On many occasions he accompanied delegations of martial arts monks abroad to visit and give Kung-Fu demonstrations. Among countries traveled to includes the United States, Switzerland, Thailand, Brazil, Italy, Australia, and other countries.

     In 2007, the Shaolin Temple in Mt. Songshan China planned for 2 Shaolin monks to travel to the United States to setup a Shaolin Cultural Center to spread the teachings and principles of the Shaolin Temple.  The Abbot, Master Shi Yong Xin, personally appointed and dispatched Master Shi Yan Xu  to the United States to carry out the preliminary groundwork And laid the foundation for the future Shaolin Cultural Center.  With that in mind, the two mentioned monks are presently in Southern California bringing, sharing and spreading more than One thousand years of Chan (Zen) meditation, Shaolin Kong-Fu and culture. At the same time, these 2 monks are making and meeting new friends.