The Holy land of the Shaolin

Shaolin Martial Arts (chin.: Shaolin wugong 少林武功) is the term typically used to describe the Chinese martial arts (chin.: Guoshu 國術) that originate from the famous Chan Buddhist Shaolin Temple at Song Shan (嵩山) in Henan (河南) province.

The Shaolin monks in the Ming Dynasty (明1368-1644) were all taught to practice Wugong. In the 32nd year of the Jia Jing reign 1553 in the western calendar (嘉靖 Ming Emperor Shi Zong, 1522-1566), the Shaolin military monks (chin.: Shaolin wuseng 少林武僧) took part in the battles against Japanese invaders (chin.: Wōkòu 倭寇) in southern China (chin.: Nanguo 南國) and accomplished many military exploits (chin.: hezangong 赫戰功).

Wang Shixing (王士性 1547－1598) of the Ming Dynasty wrote in his Tour of Mount Song (chin.:songshan you嵩山游): “All of the Shaolin Temple fighting monks have good Martial Arts skills. Fists and cudgels were wielded as if they were flying during practice.”

Cheng Chongdou (程沖斗 1561-?) (a Shaolin Monk himself) wrote in his book The Book of Shaolin Cudgel Fight (chin.: Shaolin gunfa zanzong 少林棍法阐宗) in 1616: “Shaolin monks are best known for their cudgel fights.”

It was in the latter half of the Ming Dynasty that Shaolin monks switched from cudgel fighting (chin.: gunfa 棍法) to fist fighting (chin.: quanfa 拳法), so that fist fights could be promoted to match cudgel fights.

One of the most important and well kept styles that Shaolin monks practiced it was the Buddha’s warrior attendant style (chin.: Jin Gang Dao 金刚捣). A unique Buddhist Teaching (chin.: chanfa 禪法) which survived until nowadays. After years of exercising and practicing, in the White-Clothes Hall (chin.: baiyidian 白衣殿) foot prints (chin.: ji蹟) were stamped on the stone floor of the rear hall and these prints can be seen clearly even today.

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