China's Shaolin temple in world heritage list

The Economic Times, 2 Aug 2010

BEIJING, China -- The Shaolin temple, China's ancient Buddhist monastery and the home of martial art kung fu, has now become a UNESCO world heritage site.

Nestled in Mount Songshan of Central China's Henan province, the monument of Zen Buddhism was added to the World Heritage List during a meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Brasilia, Brazil Sunday, China Daily reported.

The new addition became China's 39th site in the list which include 28 cultural sites and seven natural tourist spots in the country.

UNESCO said the historical architecture complex stands out for its great aesthetic beauty and its profound cultural connotations.

The complex is composed of 11 traditional structures, including the Shaolin temple, the Observatory, Songyang Academy, Taishi Towers and Zhongyue Temple.

With a history of more than 2,000 years, these monuments feature various architectural styles brimming with ancient Chinese culture.

They provide the world with a glimpse into ancient Chinese religion, philosophy, customs and scientific development, said Yang Huancheng, an expert of ancient architecture.

Shaolin temple's abbot Shi Yongxin said the UNESCO recognition was a privilege.

"For the monks, living in a world-recognised heritage site is a wonderful experience, but at the same time, our responsibility to protect the temple becomes even graver," he said.

"I'm also looking forward to the addition of Shaolin kung fu into UNESCO's intangible heritage list," Shi added.


Please support to keep NORBU going:



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.


We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv


TOP