Quotable

"The Shaolin Temple expects to form ties with the world, expand Buddhism's impact and make the Shaolin culture more widely known."

Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin Temple, said on Wednesday as he announced that the Buddhist temple is considering holding an international martial arts contest. The competition could include individual and group performances in karate, taekwondo and kung fu. The temple is also planning to hold forums on martial arts. The 1,500-year-old temple, in Dengfeng, Henan province, is considered the cradle of Chinese kung fu. Over the past two years, it has held cultural festivals in Europe and the United States.