Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province, which is famous for Chinese martial arts, has applied for trademark registration in more than 80 countries in order to protect the authentic "Shaolin Spirit" from being violated.   

A survey by the China Trademark and Patent Law Office finds that many countries and regions are competing to register their own trademarks of Shaolin or Shaolin Temple. At least 117 such trademarks have been registered in 11 countries and regions surveyed.

On the west coast of the United States alone, there are three Shaolin Temples. In Europe, Shaolin Temples can be found in Vienna of Austria and Budapest of Hungary.

"These Shaolin Temples have nothing to do with Shaolin Temple in Songshan, Henan Province," said Shi Yanlu, chief martial arts trainer of the Buddhist temple.

"We can not perform Shaolin kongfu when going abroad for cultural exchanges. Otherwise, the holder of the Shaolin kongfu trademark in the local place would accuse us of violation, unless we get permission from the holder," said Shi Yongxin, abbot of the temple.

In China, 54 Shaolin trademarks are in use, covering hotels, seafood hotpot, beer, cars, tires, furniture, wire, wine and cigarette, but none of these has any connection with Shaolin Temple, according to the State Administration of Industry and Commerce.

Shaolin kongfu, according to monks of the temple, is down to earth a presentation of the Buddhist culture, and to prevent further abuse of "Shaolin" as trademarks, Shaolin Temple has set up Henan Shaolin Industrial Development Co., Ltd. and registered Shaolin and Shaolin Temple as trademarks in unregistered areas. The temple has made applications to more than 80 countries for the registration of trademark Shaolin.

Shaolin Temple was built in the year 496, originally for the Indian monk, Bodhidharma, who came to China to spread Buddhism and introduce an Indian form of exercise.

The Chinese monks that gathered as followers combined this with Chinese techniques to produce the unique form of wushu or martial arts. The fame of Shaolin Temple attracts millions of visitors every year.

The temple has also applied to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for listing China Songshan Shaolin Temple as a world cultural heritage.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2004)