Russian president Putin's two-hour visit to the Songshan Shaolin
Temple has brought about greater attention from the world towards
the internationally acclaimed temple.
Shi Yongxin, as the abbot of this famous temple, has been very
busy recently. After going to Paris on June 7 to kick off the first
"TV Kungfu Star International Competition" (France region), he then
returned to the temple to sign a contract with Shoal Heaven City,
Australia on June 11.
The government of the Shoal Heaven City has offered to
permanently give an 18,000 mu (297 hectare) piece of land that is
considered to be the most beautiful area to the temple. In the near
future, Australia will have the largest overseas Shaolin temple
that will have facilities for Buddhist martial arts practice,
research, exercise, cultural exchanges and tours.
Since the first overseas Shaolin cultural center opened in
Berlin, Germany, five years ago, Shaolin Temple has established
more than ten Buddhist martial art centers and branches abroad in
succession. There is an emphasis on cultural exchanges with local
cultures.
"During this process, we see respect from foreigners for Shaolin
culture." Shi Yongxin said, The Shaolin culture has become a symbol
of Chinese traditional culture and has made China closer to the
world.
With the competition kicking off successively in the US,
Germany, France, Russia, Italy, Australia and other international
regions, and many Shaolin-themed movies and TV shows being
screened, the Shaolin Temple is fashioning the Shaolin Kungfu into
a global cultural brand.
?
(Chinanews.cn June 22, 2006 )
