Monks at Shaolin Temple answer medical inquiries from visitors inside the Pharmacy House of Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, central China's Henan Province, in this undated file photo. [Xinhua]

Shaolin Temple, renowned as the birthplace of Chinese martial arts, has been approved by the government of Dengfeng City, central China's Henan Province, to build a hospital on nine hectares, not far from the temple, the Beijing Times reported Tuesday.

Staffing for the Shaolin Pharmacy House Hospital will be mainly monks and other disciples of the temple. Shi Yanlin, chief of Shaolin Pharmacy House, said dozens of them already are qualified and certified to provide medical services.

"Of course, doctors from other major hospitals will be invited to our hospital as well," said Shi, also a master monk at the temple.

Funded by Shaolin Temple, the new hospital will focus on treatment through the practice of Zen meditation and kungfu, as well as food therapy. "Diagnosis, some medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices such as acupuncture and massage will be free for patients," said Shi, according to a report on Dahe.cn last Friday.

He also said the hospital will be built within two years.

(China Daily May 19, 2010)