Netizens kick around idea of taking job at kung fu temple

A student at Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School in Dengfeng, Henan province, performs Shaolin kung fu for tourists at the Shaolin Temple scenic area. Gao Shanyue/China Daily

The Shaolin Temple, a hot tourism attraction in Henan province, has received great attention in the past few days, not because of its kung fu, but rather for a job offer for a media director and an editor.

The jobs were posted earlier this week in a micro blog account administered by Shaolin Intangible Assets Management Co Ltd.

Once the recruitment notice was posted online on Sept 1, it immediately aroused curiosity among netizens.

China's kungfu shrine eyes new-media expansion

A netizen named Xiaohe Gege asked if candidates could get married, as Chinese monks are not allowed to marry. Another asked if the candidates have to be vegetarian or have to be a monk to qualify for the jobs.

Yang Tong, who runs the micro blog that posted the recruitment ad, said there were no restrictions on candidates regarding gender or marital status.

But preferred candidates should not have changed jobs frequently, as the temple wants stable employees, and they should recognize Buddhism, especially Zen thought, he said.

"The candidates for the offers should have very good writing skills and English communication experience," the recruitment notice says. "They should have some cognitive ability and practice of Chinese traditional culture and be interested in spreading and developing Shaolin culture."

Yang said that "those who have working, organizational and operational experience for new media will be preferred", adding that the salary will be competitive with similar enterprises.

By Wednesday, Yang had received about 300 resumes.

"Among the 80 candidates on the shortlist, one-fourth have experience studying abroad and many of them came from Britain. And some used to work in CCTV and other large media," Yang said. Songshan Mountain in Dengfeng, Henan province, was built in AD 495 and is the birthplace of Shaolin martial arts and Chinese Zen Buddhism. It has opened branches overseas that teach kung fu, Zen and language.

Qian Daliang, general manager of Shaolin Intangible Assets Management Co Ltd, said that the recruitment shows the temple is improving its cultural communication by using new technology.

New media talent will help promote Buddhist teachings and Chinese culture, Qian said.

Qi Xin and Ma Lie contributed to this story.