The hold of Zen

Shaolin monks perform martial arts during a public performance in Putian, East China's Fujian province. [Photo/Agencies]

Liu, now 85, says to perfect a tao lu, or basic kung fu technique, follow the routine closely and dearly. He learned the skills from his father and grandfather. Liu's schools have 35,000 students where the boy-girl ratio is roughly 10 to one. Many of his former students have taught martial arts to the Chinese armed forces and police.

In one of his sprawling school campuses, hundreds of boys and girls in red-and-black uniforms are seen practicing somersaults and other features of kung fu. Martial arts, once a dominantly male pursuit is getting more attention from women these days. Guo Xiyu, 20, a female kung fu teacher at Taguo, says the reasons may vary. "Some want to stay healthy, others to lose weight."

Analysts such as Hong Hao of Henan University say Shaolin kung fu has become a symbol of "national self-confidence" and public schools are trying to revive the popularity of martial arts in the country.

Back in a Shaolin courtyard, Chen Hao, 35, is found seated in the shade of a large tree holding his infant in an arm. He runs a decorations business in the prefecture-level city of Luohe, also in Henan. Chen Hao and his friends have visited the temple earlier but this time he has returned with his family.

"Kung fu helped me understand that one needs to keep going at something to make it work," he says.