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Shi Dejian, whose legal name is Dejian and whose common name is Ding Hongben, was born in the countryside of Keshan County, Heilongjiang Province in November 1963. He is the 31st generation disciple of the Caodong Sect of Shaolin Temple and the 19th generation successor of Zen martial arts at Yonghua Hall of Shaolin Temple. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, a monk named Wu Zhuolun (his Buddhist name was Ji Qin) broke out of the mountain gate of Shaolin Temple and became the last person to "break out of the mountain gate" in the modern history of Shaolin Temple. He also brought Shaolin Zen martial arts and some Shaolin martial arts that must not be transmitted to outsiders out of the Shaolin area, and from then on they became common among the people. Shi Dejian is the fourth generation successor of Shaolin Zen martial arts and medicine following Wu Zhenlun. Stepping into the mountain gate of Shaolin Temple, turn right and enter the Ciyun Hall with dense bamboos. Zen Master Dejian's monk's room is located in this quiet place surrounded by ancient steles. The Zen master wears robes and shoes, is of medium build, and speaks Northeastern dialect. His modest tone, gentle attitude, kind smile, and yet still retain the simplicity of a man from the Northeast. There was a five-character quatrain in the monk's room that caught the reporter's attention. The poem was written by Zhao Guocheng, director of the Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Henan Province, and was written by calligrapher Zhou Junjie: "Shaolin has three treasures passed down from generation to generation/Zen, martial arts, medicine, and Zen are the foundation of self-cultivation/Martial arts is the technique of strengthening the body/Medicine is the art of healing the world/The three treasures are integrated into one/The monk Shi De / Deep mountains and painstaking concentration / Zen martial arts seek the true meaning / The source of Qi is deep / Determined to promote the three treasures / Zeng Hui Yao Lin of innuendo." People who know Zen Master Dejian say that this is a true portrayal. Promise me to escape into Buddhism and I will teach you Shaolin Kungfu. In 1982, Ding Hong, who was only 19 years old, traveled thousands of miles to Shaolin out of his deep love for Shaolin Kungfu. He had been away from home for 16 years. During the Spring Festival of 1998, the International Department of Henan TV Station produced a special documentary "The Story of the Spring Festival in Shaolin Temple on June 1st". The TV reporter followed Dejian back to his hometown after 16 years to pay New Year's greetings to his parents. Zen Master Dejian said: "Shaolin Temple is my home, and Heilongjiang is just my 'natal home'". When he first came to Shaolin, Dejian was the "artist master". He had learned martial arts from two teachers in Northeast China. In Henan, he successively practiced kung fu with seniors such as Yang Guixun, Chen Jingsu (female), Quan Guangxing, Qiao Heibao, and Zhang Qinghe. The Zen master said: "Meeting my adoptive father, Zhang Qinghe, my mentor, was a big turning point in my martial arts life." It was in 1988, when he and others were setting up a merit monument for Master Dexiang, he met Zhang Qinghe, a lay disciple whom Dechan had taken in his early years. Regarding this seemingly accidental acquaintance, the reporter made a special trip to Gongyi to interview Zhang Qinghe, who was over 70 years old. The old man said: "I have been observing him quietly for a long time. It is definitely not an accident." Zhang Qinghe accepted him as his friend. As his adopted son, he proposed to him: "Promise me to escape into Buddhism and become a Shaolin disciple, and I will teach you the true Zen martial arts and medicine skills passed down from Shaolin." Regarding this condition, Zen Master Dejian said: "After practicing martial arts for so many years, this is the first time I heard Buddhism from my adoptive father. Now I fully understand how terrible it is for a martial arts practitioner to not have noble moral character, but Buddhist teachings can achieve Superior virtue." It turns out that Zhang Qinghe is the third generation Shaolin Zen martial arts successor of Wu Zhenlun. Shaolin traditional medicine follows the old tradition - it is passed down from the inside. Shaolin medical skills mainly focus on qi therapy, orifice therapy, and dietary regimen. It highlights eight words: breathing, guiding, acupuncture, and acupuncture. Many clinically proven secret recipes have been handed down. When Zhang Qinghe was 9 years old, his father died of illness. His last words were that his son should study medicine to help the world. The poor boy followed his father's instructions and begged for food to find famous teachers. Finally, he found Zen Master Chunquan, the abbot of Jingang Temple in the lower courtyard of Shaolin Temple - he was the successor of Shaolin medicine. After learning medical skills, Zen Master Chunquan told Zhang Qinghe, who was reluctant to learn martial arts, that in order to master medical skills, he must be familiar with the mysteries of the human body's Qi, meridians and meridians. He recommended Zhang Qinghe to Mr. Wu Shanlin to learn martial arts. Wu Shanlin was the second generation successor of Wu Zhuolun and his son. Zhang Qinghe told reporters: "I learned martial arts to improve my medical skills." The old man Zhang Qinghe sighed: "It is difficult to become a master, and even more difficult to become a famous teacher; it is difficult to recruit a disciple, it is difficult to recruit a high-ranking disciple, and it is even more difficult to find a successor!" He was very happy! I was relieved to find Shi Dejian and returned the traditional Shaolin Kungfu I had learned throughout my life to the Shaolin Temple. In 1990, Ding Hongben followed the instructions of his adoptive father Yin Yin and became a master of Shi Suxixiang, the 30th generation abbot of Shaolin Temple, and became a monk. Zen Master Suxi gave it a Dharma name: Shi Dejian. Later, he received the "Three Altar Precepts" from a bhikkhu and became a Zen monk who strictly observed the precepts. Zen Master Dejian took the reporter to the merit monument of Master Wu Shanlin. Here, he told the reporter the legendary tortuous story of his predecessor. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the world was in turmoil, and the pure land of Buddhism was not clean. As a direct descendant of Shaolin's internal martial arts and an inheritor of Zen martial arts and medicine culture, Wu Xianlun was jealous and persecuted by some people because he was unwilling to join forces with evil forces. In order to preserve the precious essence of Shaolin Temple's internal martial arts and Zen martial arts culture, Wu Xianlun's elderly master decided to let his disciples break out of the Shaolin Temple. Before leaving, Master earnestly warned Wu Xianlun: The true Kungfu of Shaolin is hard to buy, so we must protect it and pass it on from generation to generation. In the original words of Master Xiang, "You must not break the roots of Shaolin." The old man repeatedly warned: When the time is right, this Shaolin treasure must be returned to Shaolin. The year when he broke through the gate of Shaolin Temple, Zen Master Wu Xunlun was 40 years old. He did not go far, but lived in seclusion in the countryside near the Shaolin Temple. He followed his master's teachings and dreamed of returning everything he inherited to Shaolin one day. He passed his skills and dreams to his son Wu Shanlin. When Master Wu Shanlin was in his prime, at the invitation of Shaolin Temple Supervisor Zen Master Shi Zhenxu, he took his eldest son Wu Qianyou to Shaolin to revive his martial arts and taught kung fu to more than 40 monks including Shi Zhenxu, Shi Dechan, Shi Degen, and Shi Xingzhang. Public.

In the 1950s, the elderly Wu Shanlin was afraid that the monks he taught "were already old and might not be able to continue. He was especially concerned that they would be lazy but ineffective, learn poorly, and not pay attention to their habits." The one who taught him the law at noon——" [Excerpted from the inscription on Master Wu Shanlin's Merit Monument written by Zhang Qinghe]. He had great ambitions, and regardless of his age, he once again helped teach disciples. In addition to strictly teaching his second son Wu Youde and his grandson Qiao Heibao, He also passed on kung fu to younger generations such as Zhang Qinghe. Among them, the disciple he was most satisfied with was Zhang Qinghe. He regarded Zhang Qinghe as the successor of Shaolin's Zen martial arts. Because among the disciples he has taught in the past, few have fully developed Zen, martial arts and medical skills and have a profound understanding. Most of them only chose martial arts or medicine, and Zen, which belongs to the advanced cultural and artistic field, can only scratch the surface of it. It is even rarer, and besides, it is the kind of subtle skill that can only be understood, cannot be expressed in words, and is connected from heart to heart. Zhang Qinghe studied medical Zen with Zen Master Shi Chunquan since he was a child. Chunquan's master Jihuan and Jiqin (Wu Zhenlun) were from the same school. Master Wu Shanlin died at the age of 97 on the 14th day of the second lunar month in 1927. Just before the old man passed away, on the fourth day of February, he made an agreement with Zhang Qinghe: "At the temple fair on February 19th, we will go back to the temple for business." The old man wanted to take his disciple Zhang Qinghe to pay homage to the then head monk of the Shaolin Temple on this day of the traditional temple fair. Shi Xingzheng and Shi Dechan confessed that they had passed on the true Shaolin skills to Zhang Qinghe. Unexpectedly, the old man walked away the day before the appointment. Before he died, he repeatedly told Zhang Qinghe, "Shaolin's true Kungfu is rare and unique. It is hard to buy with a thousand stones. You must practice continuously and never give up. Don't forget that this is the root of Shaolin..." He told Zhang Qinghe that he must return Shaolin's Kungfu. To Shaolin Temple, we must pass it on forever. Zhang Qinghe could not become a monk for various reasons. In order to realize his master's dream, he simply moved from his hometown of Gongyi to a rural area near Shaolin to rent. He wanted to find a suitable successor among the monks in the temple, but he has been unable to do so. It wasn't until a few years later that he discovered Ding Hongben and made the harsh request to him, that he finally fulfilled the dream of the third generation ancestor.

Zen Master Dejian said that he was very lucky to be able to inherit the essence of Shaolin Zen, martial arts and medicine in the Shaolin Temple in such a peaceful and prosperous age with good government and people. He understands the weight of the burden on his shoulders. Whenever he encounters difficulties or confuses himself, he must cherish everything that has been hard-won, carry it forward and pass it on. He told reporters: At the same time as him, Wu Nanfang, the great-grandson of Wu Shanlin, received the true inheritance of Shaolin martial arts. He is a lay disciple of Shaolin. He studied martial arts with his second grandfather Wu Youde since he was a child, and he has learned martial arts from his family. Later, he studied with Zhang Qinghe. The Mountain Monk Eating Grass

In order to deeply understand what he has learned, Dejian has often stayed at Sanhuangzhai, the lower courtyard of the Shaolin Temple, since 1992. The altitude there is as high as more than 1,300 meters, and there is 4 kilometers of uninhabited land nearby. It is located at the southern foot of Shaoshi Mountain, 8 kilometers away from Shaolin Temple. It is a dangerous scene in Songshan National Forest Park. On the side of the cliff at the commanding heights of Sanhuangzhai, there is a 10-meter-square cave. Dejian named it "Longyang Cave". This is where he often retreats and meditates. There are Buddhist niches, Buddha statues, Zen beds, Zen seats and other furnishings inside the cave. A chart of human body veins and acupuncture points commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine hangs on the wall inside the cave. The most eye-catching thing is a pair of couplets on both sides of the Buddhist niche. The first couplet is "All dharmas are empty and return to the sea of ??nature", and the second couplet is "A spotless and pure Zen mind." The cliff in front of the cave was where he practiced martial arts.

The cliff opposite the cave is often infested with pythons and animals, and the herbs and flowers planted by Dejian are often eaten by groups of naughty little squirrels. There is also a natural stone Buddha standing on the wall on one side of the cave. The folds of his hat, clothes, ears, eyes, mouth and nose are clearly distinguishable. Over the years, Dejian has been living an almost reclusive life. He is familiar with every plant and tree here, and he likes the simple interpersonal relationships here. Wild birds, trees, flowers, grass and rocks are his closest companions. He believes that this is his true home. To be honest, reporters would not dare to stay alone in this cave even during the day, and Zen Master Dejian often practices here day and night.

There are also two bhikkhunis who have been cultivating here since childhood - 85-year-old Shi Yongyue and 76-year-old Zen Master Shi Yonglian. They are The thirty-third generation disciple of Shaolin Temple is a disciple of Zen Master Xingzheng. They are still a combination of farming and Zen, and they work hard. They are quite similar to the Zen tradition of the Tang Dynasty Zen Master Baizhang Huaihai, who "does not work for a day and does not eat for a day". Zen Master Dejian praised them as "models of bhikshuni". Because the Zen that Dejian advocates is "life Zen", that is, speaking, doing things, and thinking about it in daily life are all "Zen". The key depends on how you understand it with your heart. Dejian said that he was deeply touched by a few words of Mr. Zhao Puchu: promoting humanistic Buddhism, enlightening wisdom and purifying people's hearts. Mr. Pu once wrote a poem about Shaolin Temple: "It is Zen, not boxing." Dejian believes that Shaolin Kung Fu is not only a formal performance, using fists and sticks to develop well-developed limbs, but the most important thing is inner cultivation and enlightenment. Zen martial arts are inseparable. It is the spiritual and cultural heritage of Shaolin masters of all generations, and it is also a superb art. It must be understood carefully. Any thoughts and actions that are eager for quick success will make Shaolin treasures lose their luster. He advocates "the world is for the common good" and wants to carry forward the fine traditions of Shaolin and benefit human society. "But in order to save others, you must first save yourself. If your own awareness and cultivation are not perfect, how can you benefit others?" Dejian said. Legend has it that Bodhidharma, the first ancestor of Zen Buddhism, meditated in Shaolin for nine years facing a wall. Didn't he make us all like that? Instead of facing the wall, keep your spirit and will to inspire people and make their lives happier and more perfect.

Zen Master Dejian likes to say that he is a "lonely Zen practitioner" and a "mountain monk eating grass" because "the secret of Zen lies in self-enlightenment", and enlightenment requires "solitude" to truly "digest" what you have learned and carry it forward. , passing it on to Shaolin descendants, this is his sacred mission. In a scenic tourist area like Shaolin Temple, staying in the temple is such a "blessing", going up the mountain to "eat grass" and contacting nature will often touch his inspiration and make him realize something. He said: "Shaolin Temple is a prosperous home, and Sanhuangzhai is a pure home." Obviously, the straightforward and simple Dejian prefers the life of mountain residence, and this quiet valley is also an excellent place for him to practice martial arts. Speaking of "eating", in the eyes of ordinary people, his diet is an ultra-low-level, almost "masochistic" diet, but Dejian is content with himself. He said that he was a monk who kept the precepts. All monasteries in China had the same vegetarian diet. Shaolin monks were no exception. They also had to wear monastic attire, be vegetarian, and be celibate. A light diet is very helpful for his meditation and martial arts practice. Whenever people asked him what to do if his diet lacked nutrition, he always answered with laughter. His red face and bright eyes silently explained such "why". Dejian believes that thick food is harmful to people. His dishes only require a little salt and vegetable oil. Not only does he like a simple and light diet, he also often tells his friends to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which is good for health. Dejian is deeply saddened by people's bad habit of eating wild animals. As early as 2001, the CCTV Sports Channel filmed the first, middle and second episodes of the documentary "Dejian" and broadcast it in the "Sports World" column. I remember that at the end of this film, when talking about "protecting wild animals" and other topics, Dejian said this: "——They were living quite well, why should we kill them? Why should we——take their lives? If you want to kill them, eat their meat! When they die, they should be buried. Then, they are also good fertilizers and can grow good crops." In a sense, Dejian is a wildlife protector. , one of his favorite poems by Bai Juyi: "I don't know that the lives of all living things are as small as bones. I advise you not to kill birds on branches. The son is in the nest looking forward to the mother's return." He believes that if people want to be kind to themselves, they must first treat them kindly. Friends all around, including wild animals. Traveling Thousands of Miles and Reading a Book Zen Master Dejian said that in recent years, some countries in Europe and the United States have continued to explore the secrets of Zen martial arts and Shaolin health care. He just sent away two German scholars a few days ago. Italy and other countries have also come to shoot some documentaries named after "Zen". A French organization once wanted to hire him with a high salary to teach Shaolin martial arts in Paris; the Japanese also sincerely invited him to come to Japan to give lectures and preside over temples, but he refused them all. He said that as a monk, he was not suitable to participate in any commercial activities or groups. He could not leave China or the Shaolin Temple. Since last year, people in the Hong Kong Buddhist community in China have wanted Dejian to go to Hong Kong and serve as the abbot of a temple. The other party was sincere, and Dejian declined after careful consideration. He said that his heart was in the Central Plains, in Shaolin... Southeast Asia, especially Japan and South Korea, have a long history of enthusiasm for Zen martial arts. In November 1998, Zen Master Dejian was invited to Japan to discuss and exchange Shaolin martial arts with the relevant departments of the Henan Provincial Government. He showed the traditional and rare martial arts of the Shaolin Temple to the Japanese "Shaolin Alliance", thereby dispelling some of the Japanese Zen martial arts circles' concerns about the traditional Shaolin martial arts. questions, and further deepened the understanding of Shaolin traditional culture. Subsequently, the Japanese visited the Shaolin Temple twice for exchanges and discussions and filmed two documentaries. Zen Master Dejian visited many countries by chance. As a Chinese and a Shaolin disciple, he felt proud and responsible. He will never regret his original choice. A monk from the Shaolin Temple told reporters: "It's rare to see a person like Master Dejian who is able to achieve a career, but he is not suitable for today's economic society." Dejian treats people for free, and teaches disciples for free. There were many people at home and abroad who wanted to give him money, cars, and religious status, but he refused to accept them. He believes that he is a monk who is studying. In terms of material things, he can only meet his daily needs. There is no end to his pursuit and enlightenment of Zen, martial arts, medicine, culture and art. In the gap of self-improvement, extend a kind hand to relieve the pain of the destined person, do something for the society, and make him feel at ease. He believes that helping others will bring happiness, and only kindness can help others. Buddhism pays attention to "great compassion without preconditions and great compassion in the same body." He said that great compassion and great compassion are the realm of Buddha and Bodhisattva. As an ordinary person, all he can have and believe in is kindness. Zen Master Dejian said that the nature of Zen is natural, incomprehensible, and cannot be explained. It does not establish words, does not separate from words, and does not create words in vain. This is the so-called "teachings that are passed on to outsiders and enlightened by the heart." Walking, standing, sitting, lying down, talking and doing things, in daily life Everything is full of Zen inspiration. Zen machine is the machine of Qi. The mind should be smooth and the Qi should be harmonious. Do everything with a calm mind and live a good life every day. If you keep your body and mind quiet and have no desires, then you will be at ease and liberated. As the old saying goes: "Traveling thousands of miles, reading thousands of books." Zen Master Dejian believes that in the course of a limited life, reading "one book" is enough! Everything in front of you and below your feet is the saying, cherish every minute and every second. When you speak, you must express a state of mind, and when you do things, you must do them perfectly and thoroughly. When you realize something from the words and deeds in daily life, don't say that word, "Zen cannot be said, it will be broken as soon as it is said." Dejian has several mantras, such as "before your eyes and under your feet", "everything It’s all up to chance,” “It changes, it changes,” and so on.

The Pure Land Sect in Buddhism focuses on the "Western Paradise", but Zen Master Dejian said, where is the Western Paradise? In front of you, under your feet! Every step you take before you determines the direction of your life. The step you take before you is the accumulation of life choices and the dividing line between heaven and hell. As far as he is concerned, since he has chosen Shaolin's Zen martial arts medicine, he understands how to take every step of the way. For this reason, he is destined to give up many things that ordinary people dream of... He said that he would spend his whole life studying the great book of Shaolin Zen and Martial Arts. He would always be a monk in a state of learning, because there is no end to learning. The interview was over. Unfortunately, after several consecutive days of interviews, I never saw Zen Master Dejian’s "boxing and kicking skills" with my own eyes. Even my request to take photos of martial arts was rejected because "that would be too fake." Dejian's explanation for this is: "The opportunity has not come yet, and nothing can stop it when it comes." Moreover, Buddhism has rules and regulations. Sakyamuni said: Those who show supernatural powers are not my disciples, and I require my disciples to follow the opportunity. Zen Master Dejian sent reporters eight words: "Before your eyes and your feet" and "Purify your body with meditation."