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Shaolin monks to make martial arts movie

ZHENGZHOU (CHINA): Chinese filmmakers have shot many films and TV shows based on stories about monks of the famed Shaolin Temple. But this time the temple has decided to play a big part in filmmaking on its own, sources with the 1,500-year-old Temple have said.

Shaolin Cultural Broadcast Company, an affiliated unit of the Shaolin Temple, said the new picture and TV series, both of which were named ``Legends of Monk Warriors from Shaolin Temple,'' were based on a real story about martial art monks who once lived at the temple.

Shi Yongxin, the temple's abbot, will play chief producer.

The Shaolin Temple, located in central China's Henan province, was famous for its martial arts, or kung fu. The temple was built in 495 A.D. and abounds in the legendary stories on the martial monks.

Among them was the one to be adapted for the new picture. The story occurred at around 1520 A.D. when the country was ruled by Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). At that time, 30 kung fu monks, headed by Yuekong, were sent by the temple to join the Emperor's army to fight against the pirates rampant along the southeast China's coasts. Most of the monks died in the battlefield.

Unlike the Shaolin films produced before, this time the temple played a major role. The temple made the final decision in theme selection and script writing. A group of Shaolin monks would take part in action and will even play roles in it. — Xinhua

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