November 25, 2008
The Shaolin Temple, perhaps China’s most well-known Buddhist temple, will test out its successful business model in a new environment when it takes over the management of four temples in Kunming. A contract signed by Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin, and Liu Yuejin, director of Kunming’s Guandu District, turns over management of the four temples to Shaolin for the next twenty years.
According to the contract, Shaolin monks will introduce Shaolin features, including what has been touted as an “integration of Zen and martial arts,” into the operational management of Tuwang, Fading, Miaozhan, and Guangyin Temples. In exchange, over the next 20 years, all revenue generated through donations, tourism, and the sale of religious items will belong to Shaolin.
Shi Yongxin said that the influence of the Shaolin brand will give a significant boost to the popularity of these temples. He denied that the takeover was part of expansion plans at his own temple, as well as the charge that he is running the temple like a chain store.
Earlier this year, Shaolin was criticized for opening an online store selling a variety of Shaolin-related products, including a book priced at 9,999 yuan that purportedly contained the temple’s kung fu and medicinal secrets.
- Xinhua (Chinese): Shaolin Temple has taken over four temples in Kunming
- Earlier on Danwei: Shaolin Temple wants to sell its secret