ZHENGZHOU -- The abbot of China's Shaolin Temple said on Wednesday while Shaolin kung fu represents the traditional oriental culture, soccer is an essence of the western culture.

The abbot Shi Yongxin, who will fly to Germany to watch the World Cup final on July 9 at the invitation of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, admits he doesn't play soccer and rarely watches the sport on TV, but has given serious consideration to the world's most popular game after receiving the invitation.

"Soccer is a team sport played under a civilized set of rules," said Shi, a kung fu master. "It emphasizes on teamwork, fighting spirits as well as individual talents and skills.

"This game perfectly fits with the western culture and it has become an essential part of the western culture."

The abbot added as a symbol of the western culture, soccer has played an important role in world peace.

"Soccer is very much like Shaolin kung fu, which is also a part of the world's cultural heritage," said Shi.

Shi has found a common ground shared by soccer and kung fu.

"Soccer players will be booked or sent off if he commits foul," said Shi. "The sportsmanship is highly valued in the World Cup, it is the same with kung fu.

"Shaolin kung fu has '10 Don'ts', which advise practitioners against committing moral and physical fouls."

Shi said, to be a good soccer player, one should be a "good person" at first.
"To reach the peak of kung fu, one should be a kind, helpful, lofty person at first. To be a world class player, one needs to take the same path," said the abbot.

Established about 1,500 years ago, Shaolin Temple is famed for combining martial arts with Zen Buddhism and features long sessions of meditation to purify the mind.

The abbot said the FIFA invitation came thanks to the growing influence of the Shaolin Temple and Shaolin kung fu in the world.

Shaolin Temple launched a Shaolin cultural center in Germany in 2001.