ShaolinTemple, famous for its Chinese martial arts and long history,recently leapt from its 5th century origins to a 21stcentury online store at Taobao.com, China’s largest online auctionwebsite under Alibaba Group.

Martialarts enthusiasts need no training to snap up a pair of Shaolinslippers or a kungfu handbook with the click of a mouse after themonastery’s principle abbot, Shi Yongxin, decided to expand itsalready thriving merchandise empire by goingonline.

 Abook about Shaolin Kungfu and Chinese medicine is being sold for astunning 9,999 yuan. Less pricey items include Buddhist clothing,incense sticks, kungfu tea, candleholders and T-shirts.

The40 online items currently for sale are few compared to ShaolinTemple’s hundreds of products. The store is also hoping to boostsales by adding dietary items and self-help books to its supplychain.  

Openedonly three months ago, the store is already among kungfu crazy Netbuyers. Over 98 percent of its customers have rated it as “verygood,” according to Taobao’s statistics.  

ShiYongxin has been promoting Shaolin’s reputation in the businessworld since he took office in 1999, and he says he plans to openbranches all over the world. However, the temple’s new image as amarketing warrior has drawn criticism from all over the country. ShiYongxin was criticized for accepting a new luxury car for thetemple’s contribution to the local tourist industry. TheVolkswagon Touareg is said to be worth more than 1 million yuan.  

Despitethis, Shi Yongxin’s business sense seems well received by overseasmedia. He was portrayed as a religious reformer and business leaderby Los Angels Times.