Shaolin monk Qiu Feng passes away at 21 in traffic accident

According to The Paper, the accident occurred in the early morning of August 7, instantly killing the driver. Qiu Feng succumbed to his injuries on August 8 despite rescue efforts. His body is now being transported back to his hometown.

Shaolin monk Qiu Feng. Photo from Weibo

Qiu Feng's sudden death has shocked millions of fans and Shaolin martial arts practitioners. The Shaolin Temple, a Buddhist monastery with a 1,500-year history and UNESCO World Heritage status, expressed profound sorrow, recognizing Qiu Feng's important contributions to promoting Shaolin culture. On social media platforms Douyin and Weibo, hundreds of thousands of fans shared their condolences.

Qiu Feng, known by his Dharma name Yan Heng, was a 34th-generation monk of the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province. He had resided at the Shaolin Temple since he was 12 years old, dedicating his life to mastering martial arts and sharing Shaolin teachings.

He rose to fame on platforms like Douyin, where his martial arts skills, engaging performances, and commitment to Shaolin culture earned him a large following. His Douyin account boasted 1.5 million followers, with his videos garnering hundreds of thousands to millions of views.

In an April interview with Shangguan News, Qiu Feng humbly referred to himself as just an ordinary martial artist, crediting the appeal of his short films to the captivating nature of Shaolin martial arts.

Beyond his social media influence, Qiu Feng also took on a role in the upcoming television drama "To Mountain and Sea," where he played a Shaolin monk. Filming for the series wrapped up in June, and it is set to be released in 2025.