Shaolin Temple monk Shi Yongxin knows only too well strength, flexibility, sensitivity, grace and endurance are important components of kung fu.

And the expert scholar of the discipline may well have to summon all the above if he is to succeed in his mission to have kung fu given UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) world heritage status.

"The reason we are strongly recommending Shaolin kung fu be included on UNESCO's list is because it represents many valuable aspects of Chinese culture," says, Shi, who is regarded by many as "a kung fu master" as a matter of course.

Shi is also a deputy attending the current National People's Congress in Beijing, and the martial art's busiest social activist, promoting the image of Shaolin kung fu, which "mainly comprises of Zen Buddhism, martial arts and medical knowledge," and dates back over 1,500 years.

 

File picture shows a little monk practicing Shaolin kung fu at the Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province. Preparations have begun for Shaolin kung fu's application to be placed on the World Intangible Heritage list, a cultural official of Henan Province said on March 10, 2005. The listing application has to be approved by the Chinese Ministry of Culture before a final submission is presented to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Shaolin Temple, built in 495 in ancient China's Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-581) and located in the Songshan Mountain area in Henan Province, is the birthplace of the Shaolin kung fu. The ancient Shaolin transcripts documented 708 groups of "kung fu", 545 groups have survived. (Xinhua photo/Wang Song)

 
File picture shows little monks practicing Shaolin kung fu at the Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua photo/Wang Song)

 
File picture shows monks practicing Shaolin kung fu at the Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua photo)


(Xinhua photo)
 

(Xinhua photo/)

Editor: Catherine