In late July, the Shaolin Temple, famous for its discipline in Chinese martial arts, had published a book on the practice of kungfu and the medicinal recipes.
Soon afterwards, in early August, the temple stated it would stop releasing further secret documents, in respect to their property rights.
Located in Kaifeng, Henan Province, Songshan Shaolin Temple was established in 495. For 1,500 years, it has been known as the creator and master of martial arts.
A film about the Shaolin, starring Jet Li, was made in 1982. It was so popular that the image of the temple as a centre of martial arts spread throughout China and abroad.
In the martial arts novels of Jin Yong (Louis Cha), whose novels are immensely popular among the Chinese, martial arts scripts recording the way to practise martial arts are the centre of contention among martial arts masters.
In many of his stories, the hero is given a book carrying secret martial art scripts and becomes the most powerful kongfu master after a short time of practice.
The fame of Shaolin Temple explains why it attracts so much attention in publishing some of the secret scripts.
According to Yanjin, a monk at the temple, these secret medicinal recipes and martial art books were passed from master to apprentice by word of mouth.
"Times have changed," explained the monk. "As long as we can benefit society, there is no need for the temple to be as reserved as it has been in the past."
Another reason the temple released some of its secret scripts to the public is to protect its name, according to Qian Daliang, general manager of Shaolin Temple Industry Development Company.
Numerous martial art schools using 'Shaolin' in their names have no relationship with the temple whatsoever. Even a ham sausage is named 'shaolin' in Henan.
Qian said that the temple has registered 43 brands within 29 catagories.
Publicizing medicinal recipes and martial arts practices is a way to promote the temple's brand name.
Searching the Shaolin Temple's website (www.shaolin.org.cn), one can find under the headline 'Wu' (martial arts), five martial art books.
These books describe Shaolin boxing, stick, sword, '72 stunts' and '36 fatal acupuncture points'.
Many books carry specific instructions in practising famous kungfu disciplines such as Tie Sha Zhang Gong, the kungfu for a powerful hand, Fei Yan Zou Bi Fa, a way to climb on high walls and roofs. Many have illustrations.
Although everybody can practise these kungfu styles, it is the foundation behind the discipline that makes true success difficult. Enlightenment depends on how hard one practises and how well one comprehends the method.
(Beijing Weekend September 10, 2004)
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