Studies on birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu expected to boom: abbot

Shi Yongxin, abbot of the Chinese Kung-Fu's birthplace Shaolin Temple, expressed his hope to boost the Studies of Shaolin Temple, a place widely believed to be the birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu at an International Symposium on Buddhism Culture here on Friday.

"The Shaolin Temple will promote relationship with experts of academy fields, especial in the Buddhism culture and history, on the Studies of Shaolin Temple," said the abbot.

The studies of Shaolin Temple will include a variety concerning the history, Buddhism development, tablets, martial arts and medicine of the temple.

The abbot said actually the concept of Shaolin Temple Studies was put forward in 2005.

He said the history and development of Shaolin Temple is closely related to China's political, social, religious, economic and cultural development, adding that the studies of the temple will also be a special angle to review the Chinese history.

"As a matter of fact, the Shaolin Temple is far more than a normal temple but an important symbol of the Chinese culture in the world," said Ma Mingda, history professor with the Guangzhou based Jinan University.

A complex of the traditional Chinese culture and the Buddhism culture, Shaolin Temple has kept developing Buddhism in China in an active manner, Ma said.

Shaolin Temple, built in Songshan Mountain in 496 during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-581), attracted nearly three million tourists, home and abroad, in 2005 with an income of 75.5 million yuan (about 9.4 million U.S. dollars).

Source: Xinhua