The Bastard That is Shaolin

Maybe true.

Tourism does offer a lot of $$$! I know I can smile pretty big if it is going to increase the local pay rate or help establish/build something where I live.

Thanks,
Ngfamilydude

__________________
If you want something you have never had, You have to do something you have never done!
-Unknown

Some folks are willing to smile and be friendly to tourists even without regard to $$$.

__________________
Wolfgang says:

I could think of a million better things to do in Japan for a month besides jumping off of picnic tables. - x893

hmmm, again you may be right. Guess we'll never really know.

Thanks
-Ngfamilydude

__________________
If you want something you have never had, You have to do something you have never done!
-Unknown

“	Originally Posted By: ngfamilymember hmmm, again you may be right. Guess we'll never really know.	”

No, I really know.

__________________
Wolfgang says:

I could think of a million better things to do in Japan for a month besides jumping off of picnic tables. - x893

Good for you !

Ya know, somehow we've come off what I really refering to. I'm more or less speaking of the ppl that go to the temple and get a picture of a static pose from a set or form with some part of the temple in the background. Personally, I never really understood that...but then again it is probably due to all the hype of what the temple once stood for (or still may try to), the historical recreation of its fame of producing good combatitives, and then again it may just be a sovineur for memories!??

I'm not much into that so it a little awkard to me. I've done it before at the request of somebody but never really understood its purpose as just a picture to have sitting up somewhere. Now, taking a picture with some of the monks, I can understand that, I've done that before at other ppl's schools/halls/dojos and such, for the memories.

The thing is, I don't get why some tourist go there and do a "kung fu" pose in the pagoda forrest, upon the steps of the entrance to the Temple, or in one of the many gardens. Like I've already stated, I guess it is just a self image thing and something some ppl do and some ppl don't.

Thanks,
-Ngfamilydude

__________________
If you want something you have never had, You have to do something you have never done!
-Unknown

I know if I ever go to a shaolin temple I'm going to take a pic just like you're describing and guess who the first one is I'm going to send it to?

I agree with you about the tourism aspects of it. Those aren't so rich areas are getting more attention, and it kind of reminds me of all of those lame Biggest Ball O' Twine type of attractions across the U.S. in remote locations where you will normally find nothing else except soy bean fields or cow pastures.. Howevere there is a huge amount of history in those temples, and for me that adds an absolute must see type of tourist value.

There has to be a good deal of both things going on with the locals. Those who will try to make a buck off of anything they can, and those who care about spreading their culture and just want you to enjoy it in hopes that more people will hear the good things of their land. That's just my take..

“	Originally Posted By: Kinetsudragon I know if I ever go to a shaolin temple I'm going to take a pic just like you're describing and guess who the first one is I'm going to send it to?	”

I was gonna say something exactly like that! Well except for sending a pic to you know who.

Going to China ain't cheap, so a picture like that is kind of a must. Plus when you're hanging out with other kung fu ppl at a cool spot like a fort or a monastery no matter what part of the world -- well the kung fu poses just kinda start cropping up all over, camera or no.

A Shaolin trip is also used to pad the resume of MA instructors. Some go just to get that picture, doing kung fu in the pagoda forest or standing next to a monk. Others do a bit more -- study kung fu directly from a monk, make a donation to the temple (sometimes adding a marker to the pagoda forest), or even bai si to the abbott.

Even if a sifu has nothing but a picture of himself posing at Shaolin, that picture scores points with students. And as long as he doesn't make up some story about being adopted by Shaolin monks and testing in the 36 chambers, just says yes, I've visited Shaolin, I'm fine with that. It's a form of pilgrimage. IMO it's very similar to Christians visiting the Vatican, complete with tacky tourist souvenirs. People are impressed that you went, it doesn't matter that you never met the pope.

__________________
"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

Keeping all of this in mind, which is more important--what it is now, in truth, or the legacy it has left us?

)))C(((

That could be the ultimate Zen koan ...

__________________
"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

Okay, that sort of answers my question. Thanks! I was just curious as to why ppl did such a thing and that helps me in understanding the concept. Hmmm, wish I would have done that type of stuff and then maybe ppl would have respected me more instead of testing my skills against theirs!

Thanks,
Ngfamilymember

__________________
If you want something you have never had, You have to do something you have never done!
-Unknown

“	Originally Posted By: Sammygirl 3. 1992 - A group of Shaolin monks tours the U.S. for the first time. Two monks defect.	”

Is one of those two monks owns ''Shaolin Temple USA'' (or whatever its called)? I cant remmember his name but he ran away from a hotel he was staying with his group and hidden himself in China Town of NY? I heard that his arms are registered with police as lethal weapons. Is that him? He also wrote book called ''Shaolin Workout. Transform yourself in 28 days'' (Or something like that.

__________________
''It's not that I'm a five-time champion of wushu that is important, but the spirit that I tried, the spirit I participated and did my best."
JET LI

Yes, that's one of them. I doubt the story about registering his hands with the police though.

__________________
"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

no me neither

but to be fair

i am a master of mechatronics !

__________________
"...any theory that satisfies the facts demands assumptions which are completely absurd."

Aleister Crowley

I heard that for a niminal amount of money you can have your picture taken with a "real" monk and become adopted "Kungfu Brother". It must be true, I saw it in iside kungfu magazine...

Glenn Wilson did it.

__________________
One hit, see blood.

It's not enough to just not get hit

Yes, everything in IKF is absolutely true!

Actually if you know the right people, have the right amount of cash, you can bai si directly to the abbot of Shaolin. Or so I've heard.

A couple years ago the wuseng (martial monks) were "encouraged" to move away from the main temple. The abbot reportedly wants Shaolin to focus on buddhism, not kung fu, so only the religious monks are living there. All the kung fu schools were also "encouraged" to move to the city of Dengfeng. The temple has gone through an extensive rebuilding & renovation, the tacky tourist strip is reportedly gone, and there's a big highway leading straight to it.

I don't know if the wuseng are 100% gone from the temple though. There's still so many tourist groups that want to train for a day with a Shaolin monk (and get "adopted" etc.) at the temple, not in Dengfeng.

__________________
"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...