The conflict regarding ticket income between Shaolin Temple and the local government in Henan province has gone viral in China. On September 20, the monks of Shaolin Temple held a banner saying "where has 70% of ticket income gone?" in order to protest against the local tourist authority, the Nanfang Metropolis Daily reported.

The Shaolin Temple sued the relevant authority, Songshan Scenic Area Management Committee, for owing around a 50 million yuan payment from the temple's entrance income in late 2013, according to reports.

The temple claimed that on December 30, 2009, an agreement was inked between the Shaolin Temple and the Committee which says that the ticket business of the Shaolin Temple is under unified management of the local Scenic Area Management Committee. The agreement says that Shaolin temple shall be allotted 30 yuan of a 100-yuan ticket; the Committee is responsible for the payment on monthly basis.

The Intermediate Court of Zhengzhou in the provincial capital planned to mediate between the two sides. The court date, originally planned in April in this year, was delayed.

Neither side was in favor of the suggestion from the court.

An official from the Committee said: "I don't think the temple need such a large amount of money because monks are not supposed to spend much. They can also get donations from Buddhism believers."

The Shaolin temple also believes there is no need to mediate. A subordinate of the Shaolin Temple's abbot Shi Yongxin said if the mediation works, the temple would not file for compensation against the authority.

He also said in past 30 years the temple either tolerated or petitioned to higher authorities when conflicts arose, which turned out not an efficient way to handle disputes.

The Shaolin temple stressed that the share from the ticket income is an essential part of the total income and is also the guarantee of maintaining the monks' daily living expenses, launching Buddhist activities, and protecting the 1000-year-old ancient temple. Monks said that their daily activities had been severely affected as the authority withheld the money.

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