|
Shaolin Monks to Demonstrate Kung Fu in Taiwan |
||||
| 2005-8-5 www.sohu.com | ||||
 |
||||
| Taiwan has allowed a group of Shaolin monks from the Mainland to demonstrate their kung fu skills on the island after the monks agreed to a demand to cancel teaching programs, local organizers said. Some 20 monks are scheduled to demonstrate kung fu during meetings with local martial arts specialists in five or six cities next week, said Terry Huang, Secretary General of Taiwan's Chinese Shaolin Association. "Originally we planned to arrange for 45 monks to teach kung fu in separate groups in 23 locations but now we had to adjust the plan due to the (Taiwan) government's disapproval," Huang said. The island's Mainland Affairs Council last month rejected the association's application on the grounds of being a "serious violation of the rules." According to the council, Shaolin monks should limit their "exchanges" to martial arts professionals, not the general public, and the monks should stay in one group during their visit. Taiwan Secom Co, which sponsored the event, said the cancellation of the kung fu lessons has cost it some 21 million Taiwan dollars (657,215 US dollars) spent on publicity. Shaolin Temple, on Songshan Mountain in Henan, has achieved increasing fame in recent decades and is now well known as one of the birthplaces of Chinese kung fu. The tour will last about three weeks, but the exact departure date has not been decided, said Shi Yongxin, head abbot of the Shaolin Temple. "Shaolin kung fu is a national treasure and a world heritage that should be shared by more people, including our Taiwan compatriots," Shi said. The worldwide popularity of kung fu is continuing to grow each year, especially after such films as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "The Matrix" and "Kung Fu Hustle" have brought the martial art to more mainstream audiences. Taiwan also has many kung fu disciples. The Shaolin monks began irregular visits to the island in 1993. |
||||
|
|
Top
Print
He's Wu; for foreigners, he's wushu Master Wu