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| Introduction | Contest Rules | Entry Form | Entry Submission by Email |
| Origin of Shaolin Temple Day | 2009 Shaolin Temple Day |
| 2010 Shaolin Day | 2011 Shaolin Day |
| Chinese Press Release |

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Entry Submission Deadline:
Extended to
May 1, 2012

Awards Ceremony will be held at:
Shaolin Temple USA 5th Anniversary Celebration Kick-Off Party
Sunday, June 24, 2012 • 11 am - 3 pm
Sutro Heights Park, Pt. Lobos (48th Ave. & Geary), San Francisco

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5th Anniverary Kick-Off Party Webpage »

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In response to muiltple requests, we have extended the entry submission deadline for the contest from Friday, April 20 to Tuesday, May 1, 2012, to allow students and parents more weekends to work on their entries and submit the finished works when they come in for weekend classes at our Shaolin Culture Centers. We are delighted to see the creativity, quality and variety of entries that we have received so far. If you have not started on your project, it's not too late to start NOW!






2012 Shaolin Temple Day
Art Poetry Essay Contest
Theme:
Shaolin In My Heart



Call for Entries
from Shaolin Temple Students, Alumni and their Families

This year, Shaolin Temple USA commemorate this special occasion with art, poetry and essays. We call for entries from all our current and former students and their families. From March 21, the proclaimed Shaolin Temple Day to April 20, 2012, we are accepting entries of artwork, poetry and essays with the general theme of Shaolin in My Heart. They can be work that you have previous done, or wthat your aregoing to create.

We have discovered that there are “Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons” amongst our students and their families. Our young students have vivid imaginations and love to draw. They have presented us with the most interesting depictions of Shaolin Kung Fu and their Sifus. Other students are accomplished artists, poets and writers in their own right.

All entries must be original work inspired by the theme Shaolin in My Heart. You can create artwork, poetry or essays around your personal knowledge, experience and aspirations about Shaolin culture and Shaolin spirit. Your work can be in
English or Chinese.

Be creative, scholarly or humorous, all are welcome.

Entry Submission Deadline:
April 20, 2012
Extended to May 1, 2012

Why this Contest?

Since 2009, every year in March, Shaolin Temple USA has been celebrating China Song Shaolin Temple Day in different ways. In 2009, we produced a 6-day multiple-city celebration with the theme of: 1,500 Years of Cultural Heritage: Shaolin Chan Buddhism, Kung Fu and Medicine. Events included a whole-day celebration at San Francisco Union Square that began with a Buddhist Morning Prayer presided by Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin of Songshan Shaolin Temple; a large scale Shaolin Kung Fu Performance at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts; and a full day of celebration in Sacramento with official ceremonies at the State Senate and Assembly. In 2010, Shaolin Temple USA Culture Centers in San Francisco and Fremont, CA celebrated Shaolin Temple Day with Kung Fu Performances, Chan meditation and vegetarian food tasting. In 2011, we celebrated Shaolin Temple Day with a Student Kung Fu Competition in the Shaolin Warrior spirit of “Valor, Diligence, Grace and Open Mindedness.” .

Now in 2012, we are highlighting “
The Arts” as in four different areas of accomplishments that made Shaolin Temple famous for over a millennium: Chan Buddhism, Kung Fu, Medicine and the Arts. Songshan Shaolin Temple has been the home of many of China’s most distinguished poets, calligraphers and painters. Shaolin Temple and Shaolin Culture have inspired many brillant literary and artistic masterpieces throughout Chinese history. It is Shaolin Temple USA’s mission to carry on the tradition and promote Shaolin arts in America.

Who can participate:
All current Shaolin Temple USA students, alumni and their families

Age Divisions:
Youth: Up to 14 years old
Adult: 15 years & older

Awards:
First 3 places of the Youth and Adult Divisions
for Art, Poetry and Essays.
1st Place: Ink rubbing of the famous Shaolin Temple stele “Bodhidharma Crossing the River on a Stalk of Reed.”
2nd Place: Blessed Jade Buddha Amulet
3rd Place: Theraputic Charcoal Neck Pillow

Awards Ceremony:
Sunday, June 24, 2012 • At Shaolin Temple USA’s 5th Anniversary Celebration kick-off event, at Sutra Heights Park, 48th Ave. & Geary Blvd., San Francisco.

Display of Award Winning Work:
Digital representations of artwork, poetry and essays selected for awards will be exhibited on Shaolin Temple USA’s website. Original artwork or copy will be displayed at Shaolin Temple USA Culture Centers.

How to submit your work:
  • Digital review file of artwork: You may send a review version of your original art in jpg format no larger than 2 MB in size to: ShaolinTempleUSA@ShaolinUSA.us. If your submission is selected for an award, we may request the original artwork or higher resolution digital copy.
  • Original artwork: Submit to Shaolin Temple USA headquarters in San Francisco, 5509 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94121.
  • Poetry and Essays: Email with with entry form to ShaolinTempleUSA@ShaolinUSA.us.
Entry Form:

Download the Entry form (MS Word Doc) or request for one at the front desk. The form must be completely filled out and signed by the artist/author, or by a parent/guardian if participant is under 18 years old. The signed Entry Form can be in hard copy and delivered with your work, or in digital form submitted with your work by email.

CONTEST RULES

All entries shall be treated as being free of restrictions and limitations on their use, reproduction, and publication.

Entry Specifications

  • Title of Work: Give your work a unique name or title. “Shaolin In My Heart” is the theme.
  • Artwork (illustrations, drawings, paintings, etc. NO photographs please) must meet size requirements:
    — Email submission for review: 2 MB
    — Original art: 8.5"x11" to 24"x36"
  • All artwork must be signed and properly labeled on the back with:
    — artist’s name
    — title of work
    — age range
    — contact phone number
  • Poems: 30 lines or less.
    Essays: 300-1,500 words in English; 500-2,000 word in Chinese.

Artist/author statement of originality:
Confirm that the entry is your own orginal creation. Describe your work and explain in 50-100 words what inspired the work.

Copyright release:
Artist/author grants full right to Shaolin Temple USA to use the submitted work in any manner it deems appropriate.

Submitted work will NOT be returned.



Origin of Shaolin Temple Day in the United States

On March 21, 2004, a China Songshan Shaolin Temple Delegation led by the Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin was honored by the California State Assembly with the proclamation of “China Songshan Shaolin Temple Day.” A full scale Shaolin Kung Fu Performance by the world famous Shaolin warrior monks followed at Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco. The Legislative Resolution leading to this historic event was authored by California Senator Dr. Leland Yee (then Speaker pro Tempore of the California Assembly), an avid supporter of Chinese culture.

On March 21, 2009, China Songshan Shaolin Temple Day was again celebrated in San Francisco, followed by another breathtaking Shaolin Kung Fu Performance at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts on March 22, 2009, and a visit to the State Capitol five years after the 2004 proclamation of Shaolin Temple Day. The 6-day event was attended by thousands of local residents, honored guests and friends from around the world.

A large scale celebration is planned for the 10th Anniversity of Shaolin Temple Day in 2014 at multiple locations throughout the United States.




Copyright © 2012 Shaolin Temple USA, San Francisco - Fremont, California • Herdon, VA. All rights reserved.