INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Shi Yancong strikes a pose in front of the Shaolin Temple, Zhengzhou City, central China's Henan Province, March 3, 2025
/CGTNShi Yancong strikes a pose in front of the Shaolin Temple, Zhengzhou City, central China's Henan Province, March 3, 2025
/CGTNShi Yancong strikes a pose in front of the Shaolin Temple, Zhengzhou City, central China's Henan Province, March 3, 2025
/CGTNShaolin martial arts embody the balance of softness and strength
Rooted in centuries of tradition, its movements seem fluid and effortless, yet they conceal immense power
Through mastery of techniques, monks turn inner strength into swift sweeps and precise strikes, while flexibility can overcome brute force
The above photos show Shi Yancong, a warrior monk in his 20s, who has been practicing kung fu for over a decade.Shi Yanjie holds a
Spring-Autumn Falchion at the Shaolin Temple, March 3, 2025
/CGTNShi Yanjie holds a Spring-Autumn Falchion at the Shaolin Temple, March 3, 2025
/CGTNShi Yanjie holds a Spring-Autumn Falchion at the Shaolin Temple, March 3, 2025
/CGTNPodao, Spring-Autumn Falchion and double broadswords represent the diversity and complexity of Shaolin weaponry
Both the podao and the chunqiudao, or Spring-Autumn Falchion, demand strength and balance
Their classic moves, including sweeping, lifting and chopping, require waist power and foot stability to control their momentum
Mastering the double broadswords requires practitioners to coordinate both hands and feet, combining swift swings with agile steps
Each weapon embodies the balance of strength and technique at the heart of Shaolin martial arts.(All photos by CGTN's Chen Hongyu)
