On September 26, 2015, the signing ceremony to merge two weiqi teams between Zhejiang Non-Olympic Game Management Center and Lingyin Temple was held at Lingyin Weiqi Center. Zhejiang Non-Olympic Weiqi Team officially changed its name to Zhejiang Yunlin Chan & Weiqi Team.

The attendees included the Chairman of Chinese Weiqi Association Wang Runan, the Party Secretary of Sports Bureau of Zhejiang Province Sun Guangming, the Director of Zhejiang Non-Olympic Game Management Center Mao Zhaoping, China’s first weiqi championship winner Ma Xiaochun, the General Secretary of Zhejiang Weiqi Association Chen Yong, persons-in-charge and instructors of subordinate community centers of Lingyin Yunlin Academy, journalists from new media of Zhejiang and over one hundred young weiqi enthusiasts. The signing ceremony was presided over by Master Huicheng of Lingyin Temple.

The Monastery Supervisor of Lingyin Temple Master Kuoren made a speech on behalf of Ven. Abbot Guangquan and pointed out, ＂Chan Buddhism represents the mainstream of Buddhist culture and shares a common cultural basis with Chinese traditional culture, especially the culture of Weiqi. The theory of Weiqi and that of Buddhism share many similarities. I hope that people can learn how to control their minds and understand the philosophy of life by playing the game of Weiqi.＂

Since ancient times, Weiqi has been closely related to Buddhism for it has been a teaching device for Buddhist masters to cultivate and enlighten their disciples during the localization of Buddhism in China. Buddhist venerables practice and teach Buddhism by playing the game of Weiqi. It is the intention and expectation of Lingyin Temple to attach importance to the culture of Weiqi and cultivate Weiqi players so as to promote the traditional culture.

Ven. Kuoren and Mr.Mao Zhaoping signed the contract

Chairman of Chinese Weiqi Association Wang Runan gave a speech

Mr.Sun Guangming announced the change of name of Zhejiang Non-Olympic Weiqi Team

Monastery Supervisor of Lingyin Temple Ven. Kuoren gave a speech.

Lingyin Temple sent the calligraphy of Ven. Guangquan as a gift to Zhejiang Weiqi Team.

Ven. Huicheng presided over the ceremony.

Attendees at the ceremony

Weiqi championship winner Ma Xiaochun took up the post of the head coach of Zhejiang Yunlin Chan & Weiqi Team.

The cultivation of professional Weiqi players starts young – over one hundred children played Weiqi after the ceremony.