Kung Fu Monks Look for Legal Protection

Shaolin temple, the home of kung fu, has extended its self-defence strategy from martial arts to trademark protection.

Monks at the 1,500-year-old Buddhist temple in Henan province plan to register the Shaolin name in more than 80 countries to prevent what they claim is its improper use to promote cigarettes, beer, lingerie and bogus schools.

The temple is also famous for art, medical science and meditation. It was established in 495 as a centre for Zen Buddhism and attracted as many warriors as monks. Enhancing their fighting skills as part of their spiritual training, the monks drew up a list of 708 sets of kung fu moves to strengthen muscles.

The temple is now home to about 100 monks and abbots, half of whom are experts in martial arts.

In modern-day China, however, it is business that is war. Henan Shaolin Temple Industrial Development Company - the temple's business arm - is a thriving concern. Critics say it is now too commercial, having earned £220,000 through business deals. The temple says it is fighting off a growing number of challenges to its name. Monks are most worried about the misuse of the name by rival temples and performing troupes.