The Holy land of the Shaolin

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The Shaolin Tradition (chin.: Shàolín xiāngchuán 少林相传) claims that the 18 Hands of Luohans (chin.: Luóhàn Shíbā shou 羅漢十八手) is the first form (chin.: tào 套) of the Shaolin Martial arts (chin.: Shàolín wugōng 少林武功).

Venerable Bodhidharma (chin.: Pútídámó 菩提達摩) taught these techniques to Shaolin Monks (chin.: Shàolín Sēng 少林僧), for preserving good health (chin.: Jiànzài 健在). But in fact the Venerable master taught them the 18 Subduings; an ancient art a way to get Enlightnent.

The 18 Subduings (chin.: Shíbā kèfúzhe 十八克服着) were being taught as Nata (chin.: Nàtā 衲他) in India (chin.: Yìndù 印度). Nata was an ancient Buddhist term describing the earliest form of the art of ritual movement practiced for spiritual purposes, and used by Vajramutki (Thunderbolt Closed/Clasped Hands) practitioners in India. The ritual movements made up of Mudras (chin.: Yìn 印 a ritual gesture) or pose assumed by a part or all of the body. Nata essentially consist of 18 classical sets of Yins, combined with respiratory patterns, steps, muscle tension and relaxation, and specific meditation techniques. 

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Martial arts (chin.: wudao 武道) are credited with a number of benefits, and often the learning of virtuous behaviour (chin.: xianxingwei 贤行为) is amongst them. Martial Arts must place a strong emphasis on the concept of morality (chin.: de 悳). Martial skill (chin.: shenshou 身手) like any other weapon, bears responsibility for its use. Therefore, a practitioner learns not only to fight, but also principles for living a honourable life (chin.: gaoshang de shenghuo 高尚的生活). In turn, these ideas help the practitioner not only as a person, but also provide a framework for physical and technical improvement as well. The virtuous behaviour in Martial Arts is known as Martial virtue (chn.: Wude 武德).

The first reference ever made of Wude, contributed to Ruler Zhuangwang of Chu (楚庄王 - 613-591). It was written in the Annals of Zuo historical commentary --known as the Commentary on Spring and Autumn Annals by Zuo Qiuming—in the Huan Gong’s 12th year (chin.: Zuozhuan Huan Gong shiernian 左传•宣公十二年) that War (chin.: Wu 武 – meaning military affairs junshi 军事)based on seven ethics (chin.: De 德).

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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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