European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 5, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Inscrutable Beijing a Mountain out of a Mao jacket by Edward a. Gargan new York times something strange is going on. That re certain,"achii7osewritef said Idon Leno i what in is but Lowre is something " for iwo nights. Zhang Hongmin the news Reader on China s evening television raws program appeared belie cameras in a Mao suit. Not since he announced he Vao bang s dismissal As communist parly Leader last january had Zhang worn such an Huldt. As a result dip totals and journalists Are suddenly absorbed Wilh he question of Why has Zhang eschewed his Western suits. The Flur of excitement stemmed in part from lha yearlong absence of such attire from the television news room although the Onset of the annual Slaw Down leading up to China s Spring festival which this year begins on Fob 17. May have As much to do with Hie overheated Rumor Mill As anything else. Ii Means someone died maybe Deng Xiaoping an experienced Loreign reporter in Beijing intoned. No it could t be Deng another count Tod. I b bet in � Chen Vun Chen. 83 years old and ailing has not appeared in Public Lor More than a month maybe Deng s sick a third postulated they re getting people something a happening everyone was convinced of thai shortly after Midnight Afler the second evening of Zhang s Mao suit this Lime in a dark Gray carloads of to reign journal Isle drove through Beijing s silent darkened streets looking for signs of momentous changes ahead for the nation of 1.1 billion people. At Tho Entrance to Zhong Vanhai. Be waited compound where China s leaders reside and work tur hatted Soki Eis. A Flocs wed Wilh bayonets stood smartly their eyes following the slowly moving car with foreign License Lolus a Lew policemen stood in the Middle of Chang an Boulevard the main East West Avenue slopping car. Excitement bubbled in the car. The Loreign Cai slopped. One policemen lackadaisical by waved the car through. What Aie you Dang a reporter asked the policeman. Is anything happening pm someone a it s the policeman replied his words Clouds of steam in the night cold. We re checking in the mining diplomats offered con Licking thoughts. We re not sure one said. We re still it s nothing said a West european Diplomat. It s a idl Lioko. the chinese writer said he was struck by the change 10 the Mao suit. I Don t know what it Means but it hit me Nghil away he said. Certainly there is some sense Loil journalists in Beijing continued to stumble through a log of ignorance and surmise Cabin fiends contacts and each of Loci with yet another Turner. A reporter called around excitedly. I just talked to a chinese report of who says definitely it s because Chiang Ching Kuo s funeral is Chiang who was president of Taiwan had died two weeks earlier. A bailing resident who keeps his thumb on his City s political pulse dismissed notions that one of the country s leaders was on the verge o death suggesting instead that the resurgent Mao suit reflected a new wrinkle in China s shifting orthodoxy of values. It s just Lor a he said. China is going Back to its irad Lions because of the overheated consumerism and Wesley Frad Lions of he past two or three years. People were encouraged to Wear Western suits in the past several years and they found that this was not so goad what they re saying is it s goal to meet your Girlfriend in a Western suit but not logo to work. You know most department stores have Farge stockpiles of Western suits. They to More expensive than Mao suits. A Mao suit shows at the television station a producer answered the Telephone and said no that was not the reason. Zhang asked if he of change his suit and we said yes the Page t6v the stars and stripes Why is chinese to news Reader Zhang Hengman wetting t Mao suit producer said thai s but a chinese journalism who said he knew someone Al the television station said that laziness not secret intent or a yearning for change was behind the wardrobe shul la and moreover he said it was not a Mao suit at All bul a Jan Shell a construction Sull distinguishable irom a Mao suit because of the cheaper seamless pockets on the jacket. To found his Western sufi crumpled he journalist said. Instead of galling in ironed he wore this i Anshelm. He s Boon criticized for doing this so casually because in has aroused such curiosity. The television station said they be been gelling Many Telephone Calls especially irom the foreign that night the network s other Anchor Jia Fei Road the news. He wore a while sports jacket a Gray and White Button Down Shirland a rather loud patterned Green tie. Masters of Kung fun by Jim Abrams associated press he mow sol shaolin Temple Havo been trained for 1,500 years to Pray without a blink of the Eye and kill with a Flash of the hand they Are the masters of shaolin Kung Lull combination of Shadow boxing sword play and body control techniques that in recon years has gained a wide following in China and other parts of Asia. Today their monastery in the Foothills of sacred mount son Shan in Central China s Hanan province has become a Small Mecca Tor those seeking the secret to bodies that can Fly and Whir in perfect Salt defense. Ii also draws some two million tourists a year up from 200 a decade ago. Many who Are fans of martial arts movies out of China and Hong Kong that depict too past exploits of shaolin monks. Tha Way of Power has no end reads Ona inscription on the Buddhist Tompte Walls one of the Low signs to the casual visitor that the monks of this Community take a different Road to nirvana. The Temple s 100 monks ranging in age from 18 to the 80s, of Rufito among the Fine Trees or Nap in the Sun bundled up in heavy overcoats and Wool Skullcap to keep out the Winter cold. But when asked for a show of shaolin Kung fun a shy Young Monk Springs into a blur of action his big Slick whistling through me air As he lunges twists and twirls. In past centuries the monks us a their skills As warriors to defend the Faith Bari now they View in mainly As a Lori of sen discipline. The practice makes my body stronger so i can meditate longer said the Monk 24-year-old Shi Yanqing. Shi sad he rises at 4 30 every coming to Pray read Buddhist scriptures and practice Al seven he has a breakfast of steamed bread and spends the Day in meditation and manual labor. The Monk said he sits in prayer without moving for about five hours a Day and can leave the Temple grounds Only Wilh permission. He receives an allowance of s5 40 a month. Shi said he came to shaolin Lour years ago primarily saturday March 5, 1988 because he believe Fly in buddhism and wants to devote his lilo to its teachings. Bul such is not the Case for All who seek to become shaolin acolytes. There Are Stilt Many Young men who come just to learn Kung fun said head Abbot do Chan 82. Unless they have q special introduction we turn them the while bearded Abbot now rail and bedridden until a few years ago led his disciples in their daily Kung fun training. He Lisl entered shaolin at age 7. To said the Emp la now runs a school Lor Young people. In Pursuit of Kungtu skills without religion. Its 400students study Kungtu techniques and theories Lor up to three years. Shaolin Temple was ordered built in 4bs by emperor Miaowen of the Northern Wei dynasty and is lha oldest zen Buddhist Temple in China. Its links with the martial arts go Hack to the Indian Monk Damo or Bodhidharma who arrived in 527. Damo is said to have achieved enlightenment by. Silling in a Cave in mount son Shan for nine years. To keep his body Strong during that Long ordeal he would exercise by imitating the movements of a Bird Hying of an animal leaping Cooling the Basic moves of shaolin Kung la. The Temple nourished Flor 13 of ils Strong armed monks rescued a Tang dynasty emperor in Diu loss during to 7th Century. At ils Peak Shore were More than 2,000 monks at shaolin. In 19?b o local War Ltd burned Down much of the Temple in a tire said to have lasted 45 Days. Alter the communists Tamo to Power in 1949, the Temple lost ils land and ils monks were forced to find jobs. During the Radical upheavals of cultural revolution 11966-76when martial arts such As Kung fun were banned the Temple was closed for several years the masters of self defense were no match Lor the marauding feed guards. Today the chinese government guarantees Freedom of worship Tor members of stale Sanc cloned religions and supports Kung Luas a beneficial Means of physical training. Temples such is shaolin Are being renovated primarily1 As cultural and Louris attractions. We think the tourists Are just Fine said Shi As he. Struck another pose lit to kill
