Indian Tea Company buttering Shaolin Temple for Chinese market

Dengfeng (China), Aug 9 (PTI): An Indian tea company is set to piggyback the world famous Shaolin Temple, set up here in central China to honour an Indian Buddhist monk in 495 AD, to enter the huge Chinese market.

"A famous Indian tea company, wanting to enter Chinese market, is discussing with us on cooperation," the abbot of Shaolin Temple, Shi Yongxin told PTI here.

However, the abbot declined to name the Indian tea company.

Another temple official said it was too early to make the business deal public.

The Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, Henan province, is widely considered the birthplace of Shaolin boxing, a unique combination of Buddhism and Chinese martial arts that evolved into Kung Fu.

Interestingly, Tata Tea had signed a joint venture agreement with Zhejiang Tea Import & Export (ZTIE) company of China in May.

Meanwhile, the Shaolin Temple, realising the potential value of its famous image and name, is fighting against increasing misuse of the 'Shaolin' trademark by unscrupulous traders for commercial purposes.

The Buddhist temple made famous by dozens of Kung Fu movies, has registered "Shaolin" and "Shaolin Temple" as trademarks with China's General Administration for Industry and Commerce, the abbot, wearing mustard-coloured robes, said.

It has also set up a firm to safeguard the temple's reputation and ban its "abusive use" in commercial activities.

"We have registered our trademarks in many foreign countries, including India," said Shi, a Chinese lawmaker who visited India in 1995.

Source: PTI