Bitef

There are many martial arts schools that have also been set up in the region under the name of Shaolin, from which performers for many of the more commercial Shaolin Monk shows are drawn, however please note the performers in Sutra are all Buddhist Monks from the original temple itself. More information about the temple can be sourced at www. ch inavoc. com/ kungfu/sh aolin/in tro. asp

Brzćska is particularly interested in the synergy between music and other arts, such as contemporary dance, theatre and cinema. He has participated in soundtracks for several film and theatre projects in Poland, and his composition for the Original Motion Picture soundtrack for the French film Le bruit des gens autour, directed by Diasteme and produced by Cipango Productions will be heard at a special pre-screening at Festival d'Avignon before the commercial release in Europe in September. SHAOLIN TEMPLE The warrior monks performing in Sutra are from the Shaolin Temple, situated nearSongshan mountain in the Henan Province of China and established in 495 AD by monks originating from India. In 1983, the State Council defined the Shaolin Temple as the key national Buddhist Temple. They follow a strict Buddhist doctrine, of which Kung-Fu &Tai Chi martial arts are an integral part of their daily regime. A patriarchal clan system presides within the Temple and in nearly 800 years, there have been over 30 generations of monks. The representatives of the current generations have, in their surnames, the characters of 'Su', 'De', 'Xingj'Yong', 'Van' and 'Heng'. Master Shi Yongxin is the present Abbot of the Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Kung-Fu is one of the~oldest Chinese martial arts traditions. Based on a belief in the supernatural power of Chan Buddhism, the moves practiced by the Shaolin Kung-Fu monks are its major form of expression. According to the guidebooks handed down in the Shaolin Temple Kung-Fu has 708 movement sequences, plus another 552 boxing sequences and 72 unique skills for capturing, wrestling, disjointing and touching vital points in order to cause injury. The monks of the Shaolin Temple regard the perfection of their Kung-Fu warrior skills as their lifelong goal. Fully understanding life with no fear in their hearts, their physical and mental practice embodies the ancient Chinese belief in 'the unity between heaven and man'.

SUTRA