The Holy land of the Shaolin

Shaolin has witnessed many exchanges between China and foreign lands in Buddhist culture. Volumes of Ancient Sanskrit scriptures were translated into Chinese by resident Indian monks and stored at this Holy Place into Tripitaka Pavilion known as Zang Jing. It is recorded that more than 5480 manuals stored in 12 libraries inside this building. Shaolin Chan Buddhism and Martial Arts is being extensively popularized in the world. Its overseas spreading can be dated back to the Sung dynasty (960 - 1279).

It was during Sung dynasty (960 - 1279) period that Chan was first established in Japan. Within 30 years of each other, two Japanese monks, Myōan Eisai (chin.: míngānróngxī 明菴栄西, April 20, 1141–July 5, 1215) and Dōgen Zenji (chin.: dàoyuánchánshī 道元禅師, 19 January 1200–22 September 1253), went to China, where they trained respectively in the Linji (chin.: Linji-zong 臨済宗, Japanese, Rinzai) and Chao Dong (chin.: Cáodòngzōng 曹洞宗, Japanese, Soto) schools of Chan. Rinzai emphasizes the use of Sutras (chin.: jīng 经卷), mental stumbling blocks or riddles that the meditator must solve to the satisfaction of his master.

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