Abbot stands by commercialization
By Dong Zhen |
December 3, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE controversial abbot of the world-famous Shaolin Temple has said in a media interview that he is determined to continue with ongoing commercial developments in the future to revitalize the 1,500-year-old monastery and conserve its rich Buddhist and cultural heritage.
Renowned for its Shaolin kung fu and Zen Buddisim, the ancient temple was built in the fifth century and nestles in the Songshan Mountain in Dengfeng City, in central China's Henan Province. Since taking his position in 1999, the temple's 30th abbot, Shi Yongxin, has started a campaign of commercial development of the temple in a variety of fields.
He initiated the opening of a Shaolin pharmacy and Shaolin monks have visited many overseas countries and regions to perform commercial kung fu shows and have also starred in kung fu movies.
Shaolin martial art institutes have been established to admit both Chinese and foreign students. The temple is now planning to open a Zen hospital soon and is seeking for legal approval so they can put its brand "Shaolin Medicine" on instant foods such as coffee and noodles.
Many have said it is inappropriate for a temple to engage in such money-generating and publicity-gaining activities. The abbot responded in an interview with Guangzhou Daily, saying the temple is "far from over-developed commercially" as alleged by some critics, but instead is in need of more steps to °?increase its commercialization initiatives.
When he became a monk at Shaolin about three decades ago, the temple was an aging complex and the monks did not have enough food, the abbot said.
However, with gains through commercial operations, the buildings have been refurbished and consolidated, attracting a steady annual average of 1.5 million visitors from both home and abroad, who come to the temple to experience Shaolin culture, according to the abbot.
These are positive outcomes that the abbot believes have been made possible through commercialization and are very important factors to help the continuing renaissance of the temple, he said.
"The world is changing and we should adjust our lifestyles accordingly. It's impossible for the temple to maintain sustainable development relying solely on government subsidies (as before)," the abbot said.
Renowned for its Shaolin kung fu and Zen Buddisim, the ancient temple was built in the fifth century and nestles in the Songshan Mountain in Dengfeng City, in central China's Henan Province. Since taking his position in 1999, the temple's 30th abbot, Shi Yongxin, has started a campaign of commercial development of the temple in a variety of fields.
He initiated the opening of a Shaolin pharmacy and Shaolin monks have visited many overseas countries and regions to perform commercial kung fu shows and have also starred in kung fu movies.
Shaolin martial art institutes have been established to admit both Chinese and foreign students. The temple is now planning to open a Zen hospital soon and is seeking for legal approval so they can put its brand "Shaolin Medicine" on instant foods such as coffee and noodles.
Many have said it is inappropriate for a temple to engage in such money-generating and publicity-gaining activities. The abbot responded in an interview with Guangzhou Daily, saying the temple is "far from over-developed commercially" as alleged by some critics, but instead is in need of more steps to °?increase its commercialization initiatives.
When he became a monk at Shaolin about three decades ago, the temple was an aging complex and the monks did not have enough food, the abbot said.
However, with gains through commercial operations, the buildings have been refurbished and consolidated, attracting a steady annual average of 1.5 million visitors from both home and abroad, who come to the temple to experience Shaolin culture, according to the abbot.
These are positive outcomes that the abbot believes have been made possible through commercialization and are very important factors to help the continuing renaissance of the temple, he said.
"The world is changing and we should adjust our lifestyles accordingly. It's impossible for the temple to maintain sustainable development relying solely on government subsidies (as before)," the abbot said.
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