释永信方丈，俗名刘应成，生于1965年，安徽颍上人。1981年到少林寺，礼第二十九代方丈释行正长老为师。1987年，行正长老圆寂，承师衣钵，接任少林寺管委会主任，全面主持寺院事务。1999年，荣膺少林寺方丈。
1998年7月至今，当选为河南省佛教协会会长。2002年9月至今，当选为中国佛教协会副会长。1998年3月至今，连续当选为第九届、第十届、第十一届、第十二届全国人大代表。
释永信方丈住持少林寺以来，带领少林僧团，坚守正信正行、深入经藏、广播法雨；整修寺院，重整纲纪；先后组建少林寺武僧团，成立少林慈善福利基金会，创办《禅露》杂志，开设少林寺网站，创立少林慈幼院；整理、挖掘少林文化，创立“少林学”；在大力弘扬佛法的同时，注重恢复佛教传统文化，恢复少林药局，恢复少林寺禅堂，举办禅七法会、少林问禅、三坛大戒传戒法会、佛医论坛、水陆法会等；开展各类文化交流活动，推动少林文化“走出去”等，为少林寺的发展和少林文化的传播做出了重大贡献。释永信方丈严持毗尼，精进不懈，解行并重。为培养年轻僧才，先后输送数百位僧人到海外及全国佛学院、大学学习进修，参学各地寺院、住山修行，成就了诸多佛教后学。为进一步恢复河南佛教，法师积极筹资修建少林寺下院，重建新密超化寺、荥阳洞林寺、商丘观音寺、登封水峪寺、巩义慈云寺、三门峡空相寺等下院已颇具规模及影响力。在对外交流方面，释永信方丈提倡“中国佛教走出去”。在德国柏林、英国伦敦、美国洛杉矶、纽约、澳大利亚等四十多个国家和地区建立海外文化交流中心，让世界各国人民了解少林，认识少林。释永信方丈还以慈悲喜舍的四无量心，开展不同宗教之间的对话，积极参与国际宗教交流，也让不同宗教信仰的人得益于中国佛教的智慧。
Abbot Shi Yongxin
1981: Entered Shaolin Temple, became disciple of the 29th Abbot Venerable Shi Xingzheng
1987: Succeeded his master as Director of Shaolin Temple Management Committee after Xingzheng's parinirvana
1999: Enthroned as Abbot of Shaolin Temple
President, Henan Buddhist Association (July 1998 – present)
Vice President, Buddhist Association of China (September 2002 – present)
Deputy to the National People's Congress (9th–12th terms, March 1998 – present)
Since assuming leadership, Abbot Shi Yongxin has:
Guided monastic community in orthodox practice, scriptural study, and Dharma propagation
Restored temple infrastructure and reestablished monastic discipline
Established:
Systematized Shaolin culture by founding "Shaolin Studies" academic discipline
Revived Buddhist traditions:
Chan Seven Retreats
Shaolin Chan Dialogues
Triple Platform Ordination Ceremonies
Buddhist Medicine Forums
Grand Compassionate Water-Land Dharma Assemblies
Advanced global cultural exchange through "Bringing Shaolin Culture to the World" initiatives
Maintains strict Vinaya observance while balancing wisdom and practice
Cultivated next-generation monastics:
Revitalized Henan Buddhism by reconstructing branch monasteries:
Pioneered "Bringing Chinese Buddhism to the World" through:
Promoted interfaith dialogue through Four Immeasurable Minds (loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity)
Shared Chinese Buddhist wisdom in international religious forums
Secular name: Liu Yingcheng
Born: 1965, Yingshang County, Anhui Province
Monastic Journey
Leadership Roles
Transformative Contributions to Shaolin
› Shaolin Monk Martial Arts Troupe
› Shaolin Charity Welfare Foundation
› Chan Dew magazine
› Official Shaolin Temple website
› Shaolin Orphanage
› Restored Shaolin Medicine Center
› Reopened meditation halls
› Organized:
Spiritual Leadership & Legacy
› Sent hundreds of monks to study at Buddhist colleges/universities worldwide
› Facilitated monastic training across temples and mountain retreats
› Xinmi Chaohua Temple
› Xingyang Donglin Temple
› Shangqiu Guanyin Temple
› Dengfeng Shuiyu Temple
› Gongyi Ciyun Temple
› Sanmenxia Kongxiang Temple
Global Engagement
› Cultural centers in 40+ countries (Germany, UK, USA, Australia, etc.)
