Travel News
- Beijing News
Date: 8-Oct-2007 Sources: (Shenzhen Daily)
DESPITE the recent announcement that wushu, known in the West as kung fu, would be showcased at the Beijing Olympics, Shaolin Temple, China's most renowned home of martial arts, has said its monks will not be taking part.
Shaolin Temple will not be sending people to take part in the wushu competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, State media quoted Qian Daliang, general manager of the Henan Shaolin Temple Development Co. Ltd. as saying.
'Chinese wushu belongs to competitive sports, whereas Shaolin wushu belongs to traditional martial arts. The two have different natures, standards and connotations,'said Qian.
'Performance in Chinese martial arts can be quantified but Shaolin wushu cannot be measured in that way as it contains Buddhist elements and showcases a harmonious combination of Buddhism and kung fu,'Qian added.
'Shaolin wushu, as a cultural heritage, cannot be equal to competitive sports. They are two completely different concepts. They are all monks at Shaolin Temple, we cannot send them to take part in competitions,'he said.
Chinese Olympic Committee Vice Chairman Zhang Faqiang confirmed earlier this week that wushu would be featured at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Zhang was quoted as saying that it will neither be a medal sport nor a mere demonstration.
Qian said Shaolin Temple would support the event 'in a cultural and spiritual way?and it would definitely send monks to the opening ceremony of the Olympics if it received an invitation.
The 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng City, in Henan Province, is also China's most renowned home of Zen Buddhism
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