Shaolin Monks will not attend the Wushu at Olympics
Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 4:48 AM by Sifu Smith
The China News Reports that despite the announcement that Wushu, known in the West as kungfu, would be showcased alongside the Beijing Olympics, Shaolin Temple, China's most renowned home of martial arts, has said its monks will not be taking part.
Shaolin Temple itself would not send people to take part in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Wushu competition, Orient Today quoted Qian Daliang, general manager of the Henan Shaolin Temple Development Co Ltd as saying.
"Chinese wushu belong 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 can not be measured in that way as it contains Buddhist elements and showcases a harmonious combination of Buddhism and kungfu," Qian said.
"In ancient times, people practised Shaolin wushu to resist outsiders, not for competitive purposes.
"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."
Shaolin Monks will not attend the Wushu at Olympics