Legendary temple plans HK expansion

Updated: 2009-02-21 07:51

By Peggy Chan(HK Edition)

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 Legendary temple plans HK expansion

(From left) Hong Kong movie star Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Abbot Shi Yongxin and master Shi Yanchang at a press conference Friday. The Hong Kong Shaolin Temple, renowned for martial arts and Buddhist teaching, is discussing with the government a plan to build a temple in Hong Kong. Edmond Tang

HONG KONG: The Shaolin Temple, renowned for its history in the martial arts and for its teaching of the Buddhist faith, wants to build a temple in Hong Kong, equal in scope to the legendary mainland temple. Temple officials are in discussions with the government of Hong Kong.

Speaking at a press conference Friday, a temple spokesman outlined the initiative.

"Our current office is only about 2,000 square feet. We wish for a larger place to spread Buddhism and to cultivate the peace of the heart, especially as the busy modern life has contaminated people's purity of spirit," said Shi Yanchang, master of the Hong Kong Shaolin Temple.

The non-profit group registered in the city in 2000. It is located in an office building in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Master Yanchang revealed the group has been seeking land for two years.

The temple received a letter from the government in December requiring temple officials to account for the sources of funding for the proposed new temple. Master Yanchang said the report is still being prepared.

The scale of the planned temple is similar to the one in Henan province, which has over 1500 years of history. The new temple is expected to be completed in four years at a cost of HK$420 million.

Fund raising is ongoing. Master Yanchang refused to disclose how much has been collected. He also declined to reveal the planned location for the temple.

He added there will be no admission fees at the temple except for those attending meditation sessions and kung fu classes.

"We'd like to open up to visitors including non-Buddhists," he said.

In addition to a monastic hall and martial arts institution, the group plans to construct a Shaolin garden. It is expected to have a modern leisure style for cultivation and for the practice of martial arts.

Thus, in the garden one may encounter wooden practice dummies and a heritage museum.

Abbot Shi Yongxin said the Shao Lin Temple has enormous influence around the globe. It has branches in several countries.

"As a metropolis, Hong Kong is an ideal place for us to spread the culture of Shaolin and the temple will help tourism," he said.

Joseph Tung Yao-chung, executive director of Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, welcomed the prospect for a new scenic landmark for tourists.

"A Shaolin Temple in Hong Kong will be more attractive than a temple overseas as it is a Chinese city which inherits the tradition," he said.

The Home Affairs Bureau said it is studying the land application from the Buddhist group in detail but refused to disclose more information.

Meantime, the Shaolin group declared it has withdrawn from the Hong Kong Shaolin Wushu Culture Centre set up by the Hong Kong Culture Association Charitable Foundation.

The foundation inaugurated classes in Shaolin martial arts in Tai O on Lantau Island in 2006. However, media reports say the Shaolin monks have severed their relationship with the school's administrator.

A foreign tourist who once took a week long course at the center told China Daily that many local teenagers originally joined the program. However the tourist said he found the teaching techniques too severe for him.

(HK Edition 02/21/2009 page1)