The Holy land of the Shaolin

The Warlords were to cause the third attack on Shaolin. Chiang Kai Shek (chin.: Jiang Jieshi 蔣介石, 1887 - 1975) worked to reunite China by putting together a huge army in his Northern Expedition (chin.: běi fa 北伐,1926-1928), which was to rid the countryside of the warlords once and for all. At the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928) Shi Yousan (chin.: shíyǒusān 石友三, 1891 - 1940) a low rank officer of warlord Feng Yu Xiang (chin.: Féngyùxiáng 冯玉祥, 1882 - 1948) was appointed to drive out the warlord Fan Zhong Xiu (chin.: fánzhōngxiù 樊钟秀, 1888 - 1930), the commander of the 4th regiment in Henan Province.

General Fan was from Pingdingshan (chin.: Píngdǐngshān 平顶山 ) Xiazhuang village (chin.: xiàzhuāng 夏庄 ). Back in 1901 he was studied Shaolin Wugong under Venerable Master Shi Henling (shìhénglín 釋恒林, 1865 -1923) for three years and he was a good friend with, Venerable Shi Miao Xing (chin.: shì miàoxìng 釋妙兴1891-1927), who was known as an extraordinary martial artist and the commander of the first ever regiment of the Shaolin Monks soldiers.

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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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Buddhism (chin.: Fójiào 佛教) originated in India and many Indian Monks travelled to China to teach. But also many Buddhist Pilgrims travelled from China to famous Buddhist universities like Nalanda in Northern India to study the Scriptures, walking home along the Northern or Southern “Silk Road” (chin.: Sīlù 丝路).

Various Chinese emperors had sent special envoys to India to invite Buddhist monks (chin.: sēng 僧) to come to China to teach Buddhism, which was regarded as an educational system (chin.: xuézhì 学制), and not as a religion (chin.: jiào 教).

An eminent Indian monk came to China in the fifth century right through India and China, crossing the huge barrier of the Himalaya (chin.: Xǐmǎlāyǎ 喜马拉雅) mountain range, teaching Xiao Sheng Buddhism (chin.: Xiǎoshèng 小乘). When Emperor Xiaowendi (chin.: xiàowéndì 孝文帝), reading some official reports about him (something which let us understand that he met him also) he decide to enacted an edict to establish the Shaolin Si (chin.: Shàolínsì 少林寺) which meansYoung Forest Temple) for this Unknown Great Buddhist Monk of the west.

Emperor Xiaowendi really influenced by The Venerable Master, he brought relief to his people. Taxes remained light. Land was more equitably distributed. Disputes were mediated. Mutilations as punishment for crimes were replaced by imprisonment. The sick, orphaned and destitute were taken care of. With the Buddhist compassion for all living things having influence in government, animal sacrifices in religious rituals were prohibited and declined.

But how a Indian Monk, became the Arhat (chin.: Āluóhàn 阿羅漢 , short: Luohan). of the newly built Shaolinsi at Shaoshi Mountain (chin.: shǎoshìshān 少室山) of Songshan (chin.: Sōngshān 嵩山) Range.

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