Shaolin monks have decided not to perform their zen-based kung fu at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where wushu martial arts will be on display:

"Chinese wushu belongs to competitive sports, whereas Shaolin wushu belongs to traditional martial arts," said Qian Daliang, general manager of the Henan Shaolin Temple Development Company.

"The two have different natures, standards and connotations. Performance in Chinese martial arts can be quantified, but Shaolin wushu cannot be measured in that way, as it contains Buddhist elements and showcases a harmonious combination of Buddhism and kung fu."

Below:  Shaolin monks display their discipline's sublime spirituality in the window of the London Planet Hollywood, promoting their current dinner theatre show Shaolin Monks Kung Fu Master at the PizzaExpress Covent Garden.