It's my martial arts world

[Drunk Monk]

GM Luo just offered me a mahogany mook jong.

Too bad i don’t need one.

[Drunk Monk]

That was a delightful evening. Good to see some old friends & KF family. And in the end I ate well feasting on a delish mushroom & bok choy dish, plus a spicy battered fried fish. Well worth the 2 hour drive there & hour and a half drive back.

Upon reflection, it was interesting that they seated me separate from Jonny & G2. We were announced separately and presented with commemorative banners separately. I feel good about that.

[Drunk Monk]

Bullwhip fighting!

https://www.tiktok.com/@northeast_ringgi...6531134742

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

That was a delightful evening. Good to see some old friends & KF family. And in the end I ate well feasting on a delish mushroom & bok choy dish, plus a spicy battered fried fish. Well worth the 2 hour drive there & hour and a half drive back.

Upon reflection, it was interesting that they seated me separate from Jonny & G2. We were announced separately and presented with commemorative banners separately. I feel good about that.

Very cool!

[Drunk Monk]

My favorite spicy peanuts has rebranded. I liked the previous title (Huang Wei Hung)

[thatguy]

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

[thatguy]

Fencing vs Champagne Inspection... what's the difference? 



https://www.theatlantic.com/photography/...es/683574/

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

D00M eyes only

Qingliu | Shi Yongxin's Overseas Capital Bureau: At least 46 million Shaolin Temple funds flowed to Australia, leaving ownership of overseas assets a mystery



Produced by Qingliu Studio Author | Wang Xiaoyue Editor-in-Chief | Zhao Yan Contact Us:
stoolpigeon@service.netease.com
The suspected criminal investigation of Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China, has sparked widespread attention both domestically and internationally regarding the temple's assets. The temple currently operates over 40 overseas centers and has acquired land in Australia for the construction of a Shaolin Village. The sources of funding and ownership of these assets, both large and small, have long been shrouded in mystery.
Qingliu Studio discovered that approximately 46 million RMB flowed out of China's Songshan Shaolin Temple to fund the purchase of land and construction for the Australian Shaolin Temple. However, this capital was not injected into the project as equity investment, but rather as a loan to the Australian Shaolin Temple Foundation. The potential risk is that the Songshan Shaolin Temple in China does not hold ownership of the Australian project, making it difficult to determine the ownership of the Australian Shaolin Temple.
Besides Shi Yongxin himself, the board of directors of the Shaolin Temple Australia also includes Shi Yanjie, who was previously reported to be Shi Yongxin's mistress, with the two running a "husband-and-wife business." With the confirmation of Shi Yongxin's "inappropriate relationships with multiple women," the contents of the accusation have been brought up again. So, is the Shaolin Temple Australia an overseas "husband-and-wife business"?
The same hidden dangers also exist in the large number of overseas centers of China's Songshan Shaolin Temple.
Qingliu Studio discovered that some of the Shaolin Temple's branches in the United States may have also obtained related loans from the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China, and used them to purchase land and buildings or build temples locally. The ownership of these overseas assets currently belongs to local overseas centers or foundations.
How much funding has China's Songshan Shaolin Temple lent to overseas cultural centers? How will the ownership of these overseas centers be determined in the future?
At least $46 million flowed to Australia
The notice directly accuses Shi Yongxin of "misappropriating project funds and temple assets," but does not specify the whereabouts of the misappropriated funds. In fact, the funding source for Shi Yongxin's sensational Australian Shaolin Village project was previously questioned. An investigation by the Qingliu Studio revealed that the 46 million RMB invested in the construction of the Australian Shaolin Village was not "raised by disciples at home and abroad," as Shi Yongxin claimed, but rather came from the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China.
In Australia, Shaolin Temple has established Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) Ltd, and has been negotiating the Australian Shaolin Temple project with the Australian government since 2006. Due to controversy caused by the residential project and golf course plan, it was finally confirmed in 2014 that the project would include a Shaolin Temple Australia branch, a four-star hotel, a Shaolin Kung Fu Academy and related teaching facilities.
In 2015, the New South Wales government sold 18,000 acres of land to the Shaolin Temple. Shi Yongxin paid the final land fee with a check for a total of 4.12 million Australian dollars, which was equivalent to more than 20 million yuan at the time.
According to financial records obtained by Qingliu Studio, the total value of the land acquired by Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) Ltd. is not just 4.12 million Australian dollars. Since 2015, the company's accounts have recorded a land value of 5.9968 million Australian dollars. As the project progressed, Shaolin Temple Australia invested in construction on the land. As of June 2024, Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) Ltd. had 3.69 million Australian dollars in ongoing construction. This means that Shaolin Temple Australia has spent at least 9.68 million Australian dollars on land acquisition and construction.
Regarding the source of the project's funding, Shi Yongxin initially told the media that "Shaolin disciples at home and abroad jointly raised funds." However, Qingliu Studio discovered that the majority of the funds for land purchase and construction came from the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China.
Financial reports obtained by Qingliu Studio show that as of mid-2015, the Shaolin Temple in Australia had borrowed AUD 6.0857 million from the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China. This amount has continued to rise since then, reaching AUD 9.4263 million (approximately RMB 46 million) in related-party loans obtained by Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) Ltd from the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China by mid-2019. These loans are interest-free and secured, with no fixed repayment terms.
At least as of June 2024, the loan has not been repaid. The foundation stated that the company's continued operation depends primarily on the continued support of the Songshan Shaolin Temple in China, and the board of directors has obtained a letter of financial support from the Songshan Shaolin Temple to ensure that the company can repay its debts when they mature.
According to the financial report, the amount of funds loaned by Songshan Shaolin Temple to Australian Shaolin Temple has not increased since 2019. According to Richard Payne, the press officer of Shoalhaven City Council at that time, the total cost of the project is expected to be around 360 million Australian dollars, about 1.76 billion yuan. Based on this calculation, the current construction funding gap of Australian Shaolin Temple is still large. After Shi Yongxin was investigated, will China's Songshan Shaolin Temple continue to provide financial support to Australian Shaolin Temple?
The establishment model of the Shaolin Temple in Australia is similar to the Shi Yanlu incident, that is, the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China, lends money to the Shaolin monks to open up the market. However, the hidden danger of this model is - after the project is completed, will the ownership of the project belong to the Shaolin disciples or the Shaolin Temple?
During the dispute between Shi Yanlu and Shaolin Temple, the temple argued that the Warrior Monks' Base, which generated hundreds of millions of yuan in annual revenue, was commissioned by Shi Yanlu, who invested over 10 million yuan. Shi Yanlu, in turn, presented an IOU for approximately 15 million yuan, stating that the Shaolin Temple had provided a loan and had repaid the principal and interest. The Warrior Monks' Base was funded by Shi Yanlu and his brother-in-law and had no connection to the Shaolin Temple.
According to media reports, Shi Yanlu also produced a certificate bearing the Shaolin Temple seal, stating that the Wushu Monks Group was a private school founded by Shi Yanlu and others and had no affiliation or financial relationship with the Shaolin Temple. The certificate was dated 2008, before the fallout between Shi Yongxin and Shi Yanlu. Following the fallout in 2013, the Shaolin Temple issued a statement in September 2014 stating that existing martial arts gyms operating under the Shaolin Temple banner had no affiliation with the temple.
This lending model not only poses a risk to project ownership but also potentially creates space for Shi Yongxin to seek power through rent-seeking. As the abbot, Shi Yongxin holds significant influence over Shaolin Temple funding and trademark licensing, a position he has been accused of profiting from. Shi Yanlu reported that Shi Yongxin repeatedly demanded over 7 million yuan from him in exchange for recruiting students for the Shaolin Temple. He also requested that the interest on the loans be transferred to his personal account, a request he refused, fearing he would be unable to explain himself later.
So, who will own the Australian Shaolin Village project, which has invested 46 million RMB, after it is completed?
As of June 2024, the board of directors of Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) Ltd consists of Shi Yongxin, Qian Daliang, Han Mingjun, Shi Yanjing, and an individual named Lide Rao.
Among them, Han Mingjun is the common name of Shi Yanjie, the "mistress of Shi Yongxin" mentioned in the 2015 report letter. The report letter also stated that Han Mingjun and Shi Yongxin had an illegitimate daughter, Han Jiaen.
Subsequently, officials responded by stating that Han Mingjun had undergone a hysterectomy and was infertile, and that Han Jiaen was adopted. Ten years later, the story took a turn, with Shi Yongxin recently being officially notified of "long-term improper relationships with multiple women and the fathering of illegitimate children." However, the notice did not specify whether the woman with whom Shi Yongxin had improper relationships was Han Mingjun.
Han Mingjun served as an abbot at Guanyin Temple in Shangqiu in his early years. He later served as vice president of the Henan Buddhist Association and director of the Shaolin Charity Home. Currently, Han Mingjun serves on the board of directors of Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) Ltd. and holds a 35% stake in Shaolin Happy Land Co., Ltd., a Shaolin Temple-affiliated company in China.
Qian Daliang, another director of Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) Ltd., is also a prominent figure in the Shaolin Temple. Within the Shaolin Temple, Qian Daliang has served under the Buddhist name Shi Yanchong as the abbot. Within the Shaolin Temple's commercial empire, Qian Daliang holds shares under his name, currently holding a 10% stake in Shaolin Joyful Land Co., Ltd., and serves as an executive in at least 14 Shaolin Temple-affiliated companies.
The Shaolin Temple Foundation (Australia) Ltd. financial report shows that a director provided the foundation with an interest-free loan of 602,200 Australian dollars. The report does not specify the identity of the director who provided the loan to the Shaolin Temple Australia. However, rather than repaying the Shaolin Temple loan, the Shaolin Temple Australia Foundation chose to repay the director's loan early. Information shows that the loan was due in January 2025, but the Shaolin Temple Australia Foundation had repaid it in full by June 2024.
To whom does the American dream of Shaolin Temple belong?
"For example, when setting up Shaolin overseas centers, the Shaolin Temple lends money to Shaolin monks to help them develop centers and run schools overseas. If the overseas centers develop well, the money is returned to the Shaolin Temple."
In a report on the whistleblower incident in 2015, a person from Shaolin Temple, commenting on the ownership dispute of the Shi Yanlu Wushu Monks Group, said that one cannot say that the overseas centers are no longer run by Shaolin Temple (just because the money has been paid back), after all, they are all opened in the name of Shaolin Temple.
Qingliu Studio discovered that the Shaolin Temple has numerous branches in the United States, and that some of the funds used to purchase land and buildings in the United States may have come from loans related to the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China. If these branches operate normally and repay their loans in the future, who will own them?
Shaolin Temple USA, the largest branch of the Shaolin Temple in the United States, operates Shaolin Cultural Centers in San Francisco, Fremont, California, and Vienna, Virginia. It claims to be the official overseas cultural, educational, and training center of the Songshan Shaolin Temple. The registered president of Shaolin Temple USA is an administrator named Xiaolong Li, and the organization's official website lists its executive director as "Yanran," a member of the Shaolin Temple "Yan" generation name. Public reports indicate that Shi Yanran is a disciple of Shi Yongxin and the executive director of the Shaolin Temple Cultural Center USA.
The registered operating address of Shaolin Temple USA is 4343 Peralta Avenue in Fremont, California, USA. Street view maps show it as an institution called "SHAOLIN KUNG FU" with a banner reading "Shaolin Temple Cultural Center" next to it. According to Qingliu Studio's investigation, Shaolin Temple USA purchased a property at 633 28th Avenue in San Francisco, California in 2023. The property has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a total area of 1,245 square feet, or approximately 112 square meters. It also comes with two terraces, a backyard, and a garage. Financial reports obtained by Qingliu Studio show that Shaolin Temple USA purchased the property for $1.25 million in 2023 and invested another $30,000 in renovations. As of the end of 2023, the property's book value was $1.28 million. Following this investment, Shaolin Temple USA's cash on hand decreased from $1.74 million at the beginning of 2023 to $230,000 by the end of the year.
It's worth noting that Shaolin Temple USA likely funded the purchase with funds from a Shaolin Temple affiliate. Its 2023 financial report shows other liabilities totaling $1.0859 million, likely including federal income taxes, payables to related third parties, and other liabilities not listed in the liability table. The report doesn't specify the specifics of this liability.
Mei Guo Shaolin Si is another Buddhist organization established by Shaolin Temple in the United States. According to promotional materials, on September 3, 2010, Shaolin disciple Shi Yanming obtained a deed for 80.88 acres of land in Middletown, Delaware County, New York. This land will become the permanent birthplace of Zen philosophy or Shaolin martial arts in the United States.
According to documents, Mei Guo Shaolin Si owns land and property at 381 and 383 Breeze Hill Road in Middletown, New York, with market values of $350,000 and $490,000, respectively. Maps show the land as the location of the Shaolin Temple of America. Qingliu Studio discovered that Shi Yanming established a nonprofit organization called "USA SHAOLIN TEMPLE," which may have received loans related to the Shaolin Temple. The organization's financial reports show that other liabilities were $514,900 at the end of both 2021 and 2022. These liabilities include federal income taxes, accounts payable to third parties, and other liabilities not listed in the liability table.
Another larger branch of Shaolin Temple in the United States is Zhong Yue Shaolin Temple Inc., which was founded by Shi Deshan, the 31st-generation Shaolin monk. The organization owns a property at 6707 Wilcrest Street in Houston, Texas. Street view maps show a Chinese-style building with a red main body and yellow walls, and a plaque with the Chinese characters "Shaolin Temple" written on it. Qingliu Studio learned that the property was purchased by Zhong Yue Shaolin Temple Inc. in 2019 and is still held. According to Zhong Yue Shaolin Temple Inc.'s 2024 financial report, the land had a book value of $86,000 and the building had a book value of $737,500, for a total of $823,500.
Zhong Yue Shaolin Temple Inc.'s funding comes from loans from executives or shareholders. According to its financial report, the organization received $750,000 in loans from an executive or shareholder in 2022, but the specific information of the executive was not disclosed.
The ownership of a large amount of overseas land and real estate remains a mystery
There are also a large number of real estate investment institutions and martial arts training institutions in the United States that bear the name of "Shaolin Temple". These institutions have also purchased land and real estate, but it is not yet known whether their funds come from the Shaolin Temple in China.
Qingliu Studio discovered that in 2016, a California company called "Shaolin Temple Group LLC" purchased six parcels of land in Los Angeles from several trustees for $1.27 million. The largest parcel of land is 1.4 million square feet, and the remaining parcels total nearly 2 million square feet, covering an area of over 15 hectares, equivalent to more than 20 football fields.
In 2016, Shaolin Temple Group LLC also spent US$725,000 to purchase a plot of land in San Dimas, Los Angeles County, California from another company. The land area also reached 1.7 million square feet.
Unlike numerous Shaolin Temple foundations or nonprofit organizations, Shaolin Temple Group LLC is registered as a real estate investment company. Its executive officer is "Ling Zhang" and its CEO is "Zhixue Li," both distinctly Chinese names. While the company's name includes the Shaolin Temple, it's unclear whether its operational staff are also from the temple.
In New York State, a Shaolin disciple named Shi Guolin founded the Society of Shaolin Temple Inc. In August 2012, he used a mortgage to purchase the 9,000-square-foot office building at 351 Larkfield Road in Northport, New York. The building, with 40 ground-floor parking spaces, cost $1.75 million, and he spent over $70,000 on renovations. After being purchased by the Society of Shaolin Temple Inc., the building was given an orange sign that read "SHAO LIN TENPLE." Online leasing information suggests that some of the office space may have been sublet. In 2021, the Society of Shaolin Temple Inc. put the building up for sale, possibly for $1 million, significantly less than the purchase price.
In addition, the Society of Shaolin Temple also owns a home in Huntington Station, New York, which has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and three parking spaces. The property was purchased for US$740,000 in 2023. In Texas, Shaolin disciple Shi Yanxiu founded the kung fu school Usa Shaolin Xiu Culture Centre LLC. In 2017, the company bought 21732 Provincial Avenue in Katy, Texas as its school location, and the current market price is US$476,000. This is just a partial inventory of Shaolin Temple's assets in the United States. According to media reports, Shaolin Temple has established more than 40 overseas centers in places like Berlin and London, and has more than 130 martial arts schools in the United States alone.
These companies or institutions that use the "Shaolin Temple" banner to purchase properties in the United States have unclear sources of funds, and it is difficult to verify the exact relationship between their managers and the Shaolin Temple.
Did the Shaolin Temple provide funding to these overseas companies? If so, has the loan been repaid? With Shi Yongxin under investigation, how will the ownership of these overseas centers be determined?

[Greg]

Ruh roh. Is Yan Xu involved?

[Drunk Monk]

[thatguy]

Eric Trump vs Sumo

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/2N0jf8lT5TA



--tg

[Drunk Monk]

[Drunk Monk]

Sadler’s Wells and Shaolin Temple present
Sutra
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui / Antony Gormley / Szymon Brzóskawith the Monks of Shaolin Temple
Cal Performances Company Debut
Bay Area Premiere

• About this Performance
  
• Program
  

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, choreographerAntony Gormley, visual creation and designSzymon Brzóska, composer
Contemporary dance and ancient martial arts combine in this award-winning collaboration between Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, sculptor Antony Gormley, composer Szymon Brzóska, and 20 Buddhist monks from the Shaolin Temple in China’s Henan Province.
Sutra explores the Shaolin kung fu tradition in the context of contemporary culture, inviting a cadre of modern-day practitioners to lend their skills—the flying kicks, backflips, and shadow-boxing practiced as part of their spiritual discipline—to a humorous fable about a European outsider learning about their monastery. With clever set design by Gormley and a chamber music score by Brzóska performed live, the production has earned rave reviews across the globe.
“A brave, thrilling, elliptical piece…[an] odyssey into the mind of a Zen Buddhist” (The Telegraph, UK).
? This performance features live music.
Co-produced with Athens Festival, Festival de Barcelona Grec, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, La Monnaie Brussels, Festival d’Avignon, Fondazione Musica per Roma, and Shaolin Cultural Communications Company
Run time for this performance is approximately 1 hour without intermission

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[Drunk Monk]