Shaolin Temple may develop mobile kung fu games

(ECNS) -- If you think "reclusive" or "relic of the past" are tags for monks, then you haven't met the kung fu monks of Shaolin.

Shaolin Temple, China's best known Buddhist monastery and the birthplace of kung fu, looks poised to develop a mobile game to educate people about Chinese martial arts.

Shaolin kung fu master Shi Yanlu attended a summit held by e-commerce giant Alibaba last week to learn about the ins and outs of mobile games.

Lin Xiaosong, chairman of a web company in charge of Shaolin's brand management, said the game would embed the famous Shaolin sword, knife and stick skills to let players learn kung fu without visiting the temple.

The plan is under deliberation, with the specifics still in the air, Lin added.

Shaolin Temple was built over 1,500 years ago in Dengfeng, Henan province, and is viewed by martial arts lovers as the "Mecca" for kung fu. But many tourists know little about the temple and the culture behind it.

The move is said to be part of a strategy to digitalize the temple and make learning easier.

Shaolin is no stranger to using technology however.

In 1995, the temple launched its website well before Jack Ma created Alibaba. Managed by its kung fu monks, the site later became a platform for promoting kung fu, Buddhism and Shaolin culture.

In 2008, Shaolin began selling merchandise on Taobao.com, such as meditation robes, incense, candleholders and books. It has also been boosting its social media presence. In March, Abbot Shi Yongxin, an avid tech lover, paid a visit to some big companies in Silicon Valley, including Google and Apple.

Apart from technology, Shaolin Temple also has investments in film production, medical care and food.