On August 7th, Zhengzhou, Henan Province was hit by sudden heavy rain, but the monks at the Shaolin Temple used the excuse of “no entry to heritage sites” to prevent visitors from seeking shelter inside the hall, causing nearly 50 tourists to huddle under a narrow eave less than a meter deep to avoid the rain. After the incident was exposed online, the Shaolin Temple once again became the focus of public opinion.
Midday on the 7th, strong rain hit Zhengzhou, Henan, covering the Shaolin Temple scenic area. The visitors in the area were instantly drenched, desperately searching for shelter. However, when the visitors tried to enter the temple hall to seek shelter, they were stopped by the monks.
According to a tourist who spoke to the “Sanxiang Metropolis Daily,” at the time, nearly 50 people were crowded under a narrow eave less than 1 meter deep, with elderly and children also being denied entry, while the monks were able to freely go in and out of the temple.
The angry tourist stated, “We paid hundreds of yuan for admission, and there’s not even a place to shelter from the rain.”
The video sparked discussion online. Netizens expressed their opinions, commenting, “The monks have no compassion. How can they save all living beings?” “Keeping up with the times, modern monks lack compassion and even have wives.” “They still make plenty of money.” “It’s fine to donate money but get out if you want to hide from the rain.” “They are all fake monks.” “The Shaolin Temple has now become commercialized.” “The new abbot is even harsher.” “A few days ago in Shanghai during the typhoon, the hotel lobby allowed migrant workers to seek shelter from the wind and rain.”
Facing criticism, Shaolin Temple staff responded, saying that visitors wanting to seek shelter were trying to enter the temple’s heritage sites, which was not allowed. However, this explanation did not quell the controversy.
Many netizens said, “What heritage? In the 1970s and 1980s, the Shaolin Temple was left with just a broken house. Do you think there are collections of heritage items stored in that broken house?” “It’s just a forced excuse. Would a museum put heritage items on display without protection? If displayed with protection, what impact does seeking shelter from the rain have?” “The Shaolin Temple is not like a real temple, more like a commercial company! Speak honestly, that place is not where Buddhas and Bodhisattvas reside. If you must go to the Shaolin Temple, it’s better to advocate not going there at all. Just practice well on the mountain, let’s not disturb their meditation, or better yet, just close the mountain. This way, it would better protect the heritage, and no one can approach it!”