The Wudangzhao Temple Religious Affairs Management Committee has issued a formal statement denying online claims that products sold at the Wudangzhao scenic area, including Ultraman merchandise, had been blessed or consecrated by the temple.
The statement, released on August 13, came after a blogger posted a video online claiming that Ultraman products and other goods were being sold at the attraction’s ticket hall. The video also alleged that the products had undergone religious blessing ceremonies at Wudangzhao Temple, prompting confusion among some members of the public.
The temple said the claims were false and inaccurate, stressing that commercial operations and product sales throughout the scenic area are independently managed by Inner Mongolia Wudangzhao Culture and Tourism Investment Co Ltd.
According to the statement, souvenirs, cultural and creative products, handicrafts, incense-related items and other merchandise sold at the ticket hall are selected, sourced, priced and operated solely by the company and its merchants.
The temple emphasised that it has never authorised or permitted the company or any businesses operating within the scenic area to sell products, conduct religious blessings or promote merchandise using the temple’s name.
It also firmly denied ever conducting consecration, blessing or prayer ceremonies for any products sold by shops at the scenic area, including the Ultraman merchandise mentioned online.
The committee said the temple strictly follows China’s religious laws and regulations and prohibits its monks and staff from using religious practices such as consecration, blessings or religious empowerment for commercial profit.
It added that no outside company, shop or individual has been authorised to represent Wudangzhao Temple in providing religious certification, blessings or religious endorsement for commercial purposes.
Any commercial claims or promises involving religious blessings made by external parties without official written authorisation from the temple, it said, do not represent the temple’s position.
The temple further clarified that it and the company responsible for operating the scenic area’s commercial activities are separate entities with independent rights and responsibilities. The temple said it does not receive a share of the commercial revenue, interfere with the company’s daily operations or provide guarantees for its business activities.
As such, any consumer disputes, civil liabilities or public-relations issues arising from the independent commercial activities or alleged false advertising by the operator and its merchants should be handled by the businesses concerned, according to the statement.
Following the controversy, the temple said it had formally notified the scenic area operator and ordered immediate corrective measures. These include removing non-compliant products, deleting promotional language that improperly invokes the temple’s religious status and placing a prominent notice at the ticket hall stating that the commercial operations are unrelated to the temple.
The temple also said it reserves the right to pursue legal action against individuals or organisations found to have deliberately spread false information, fabricated claims or used the temple’s name for misleading commercial promotions.
Visitors and worshippers were urged to verify information before believing or sharing online claims. Anyone who encounters suspected false advertising or consumer rights violations at the scenic area should report the matter directly to the relevant market regulatory authorities or the scenic area’s commercial operator.
