http://www.shaolin.cn.com Shaolin Temple en info@shaolin.cn.com Copyright 2007 2007-08-13T08:25:00+08:00 http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/shaolin_temple.php/ http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/shaolin_temple.php/#When:11:10:00Z The Shaolin temple (chin.: Shàolínsì 少林寺) is a Chinese Buddhist monastery famed for its Chan Buddhism (chin.: chánfó 禅彿) and its martial arts (chin.: wǔgōng 武功). According to the Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks (chin.: xùgāosēngchuán 续高僧传, 645) by Daoxuan (chin.: dàoxuān 道宣, 596-667), 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). Emperor Tuoba Hong (chin.: Tuòbáhóng 拓跋宏), posthumous Beiwei Xiaowendi (chin.: Běiwèixiàowéndì 北魏孝文帝 - 471AD to 499AD) enacted an edict to establish the Shaolin Si (Young --New Planted-- Forest Temple the famous Shaolin Monastery) for this Unknown Great Buddhist Monk of the west, called Ba Tuo Luo (chin.: bátuóluó 跋陀羅); on the north side of the Shao Shi Shan (chin.: shǎoshìshān 少室山) of Mount Song (chin.: Sōngshān 嵩山), northwest of Deng Feng city (chin.: Dēngfēngshì 登封市), at Henan province. Yang Xuanzhi, (chin.: yángxuànzhī 楊衒之) in the Record of the Buddhist Monasteries of Luoyang (chin.: Luòyángqiélánjì 洛陽伽藍記; 547), and Li Xian (chin.: lǐxián 李賢), in the Ming Yitongzhi (chin.: míngyītǒngzhì 明一統志; 1461), concur with Daxuan’s location and attribution of the Shaolin Temple. The Jiaqing Chongxiu Yitongzhi (chin.: Jiāqìngchóngxiūyītǒngzhì 嘉慶重修一統志; 1843) specifies that the Shaolin monastery, located in the province of Henan (chin.: Hénán 河南), was build, in the 20th year of the Tai He era (chin.: Běiwèitàihéshíjiǔnián 北魏太和十九年)—the “Era of Supreme Harmony” (477-499)—of northern Wei (386-534), namely 496 AD. Since the Shaolin temple was deep in the woods (translated as Lin - forest in Chinese) of Shao Shi Shan (chin.: shǎoshìshān 少室山), it is known as Young Forest Temple (chin.: Shàolínsì 少林寺). Jing Rizhen of the early Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), explained this in his book Mount Song: Shaolin means woods in Shao Shi Shan. Holy Places 2006-03-24T11:10:00+08:00 http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/master_tanlin.php/ http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/master_tanlin.php/#When:08:25:00Z The biography of The Dharma Master, Bodhidharma (chin.: Pútídámó 菩提達摩) and explication of his “Treatise on the Two Entrances and Four Practices – (chin.: èrrùsìxíng lùn 二入四行论)” of principle and practice were compiled by Ven. Master Tanlin (chin.: Tánlín 曇林, 506–574) in the first half of the 6th century in Eternal Peace Temple (chin.: Yǒngníngsì 永寧寺) in Luoyang. Venerable Master Tanlin, or Armless Lin (chin.: wúbìlín 无臂林) as he is known of the Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks (chin.: Xù gāosēng zhuàn 續高僧傳), not only was a member of the Bodhidharma circle, but also had an illustrious reputation as one deeply involved in the translation of Indian Buddhist books into Chinese. Tanlin has been considered a disciple (chin.: túdi 徒弟) of Bodhidharma, but he was also a student of Master Hui Ke (chin.: Huìkě 慧可). He knew Sanskrit to some degree, perhaps quite well. Though we possess no biography for this scholar monk, translation records and prefaces, a genre that provides us with a wealth of detail concerning the history of Buddhist translation in China, tell us that he took part in many translation projects at the great monasteries of the Eastern Wei (chin.: Dōngwèi 東魏, 534-550) capital Ye (chin.: Yè 鄴)—an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang (chin.: Línzhāng 臨漳) County, Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang (chin.: Ānyáng 安陽) County, Henan—during the late 530’s and early 540’s. Eminent Monks 2007-08-13T08:25:00+08:00 http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/shaolin_last_destructions.php/ http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/shaolin_last_destructions.php/#When:14:06:00Z 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. History Facts 2007-04-12T14:06:00+08:00 http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/shaolin_japan.php/ http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/shaolin_japan.php/#When:10:55:00Z 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. History Facts 2007-03-10T10:55:00+08:00 http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/bowing.php/ http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/bowing.php/#When:13:33:00Z The Buddhist practice of bowing to the Buddha (chin.: jūgōngduìpúsà 鞠躬对菩萨) diminishes one's habits of self-importance, pride, and arrogance. It is also a good physical exercise that can make the body strong. Bowing in Buddhism cuts across the lines of traditions and schools. Bowing has been part of Buddhist practice since the Buddha’s time in India and continues to this day. Within the Buddhist Sangha (chin.: Sēngjiā 僧伽), or monastic community, the daily liturgical schedule began and ended with dozens if not hundreds of ritual prostrations. On ceremony days, clergy and laity alike might engage in the practice of liturgical repentance and bow up to ten thousand times. Monks (chin.: bǐqiū 比丘) and nuns (chin.: bǐqiūní 比丘尼) bow to the images of Sages, Awakened Beings, and the Buddhas, to their superiors, and to each other. Bowing to the Buddha is like Bowing to the Buddha Within, it is more than a simple gesture; a bow is an act of veneration -- for us and for all. Venerable Shaolin Master Shi Yong An Rituals 2007-02-06T13:33:00+08:00 http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/shaolin_liuhebafa.php/ http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/shaolin_liuhebafa.php/#When:13:24:00Z It is believed that Shaolin Wu Gong (chin.: Shàolínwǔgōng 少林武功) and all its derivates belong to the hard or external arts (chin.: wai 外), but in fact in the Shaolin training, internal arts (chin.: nei 内) and external are both interrelated. One of the most well-known painting of the Shaolin Temple is the painting in The White clothes Hall (chin.: Bai Yi Dian 白衣殿) , situated at the east side of 1000 Buddha’s Hall (chin.: Qianfo Dian 千佛殿) showing on the north and south walls murals of Shaolin monks in their daily wugong armed and unarmed practice in sixteen pairs. These murals (chin.: Bìhuà 壁畫) are a vivid representation of various styles of Shaolin Boxing (chin.: Shàolínquánfǎ 少林拳法) of the ancient times. Very few know that in the centre of these murals there is the painting of a famous Monk with the name Shi Zhan Ju. He was a famous Shaolin Martial Monk and he has been practicing a kind of Shaolin boxing that is called Six Directions Method (chin.: liùhébǎfǎ 六合把法). This rare art of Shaolin Monastery still exists as part of the Buddhist Tradition of the Shaolin Temple (chin.: Shàolín chuántǒng 少林傳統) and it is known as one of the highest levels of Buddhist Shaolin Wugong. Many confuse the Shaolin Liuhebafa and Liuhebafa (chin.: liùhébāfǎ 六合八法 also called: Six Harmonies Eight Methods, water boxing, or Hwa Yu after the mountain where it was conceived), of the Daoist monk (chin.: dàozhǔ 道主) Chen Bo (chin.: chénbó 陈搏, 871-989) which is something wrong; or even identified with Eight Methods (chin.: bāfǎ 捌法) which was developed by Li De Mao (chin.: lǐdémào 李德茂) during the Qing dynasty (chin.: Qīng cháo 清朝, 1644 - 1911); which is also wrong. Shaolin Wugong 2007-01-02T13:24:00+08:00 http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/vegetarianism.php/ http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/vegetarianism.php/#When:09:10:00Z Taking fish and meat by itself does not make a man become impure. A man makes himself impure by bigotry, deceit, envy, self-exaltation, disparagement and other evil intentions. Through his own evil thoughts and actions, man makes himself impure. There is no strict rule in Buddhism (according to the Pali scriptures) that the followers of the Buddha should not take fish and meat. The only advice given by the Buddha is that they should not be involved in killing intentionally or they should not ask others to kill any living being for them. However, those who take vegetable food and abstain from animal flesh are praiseworthy. On the other hand, in Mahayana scriptures Buddha categorically prohibited consumption of the flesh of any animal that was "seen, heard or suspected" to have been killed specifically for the benefit of monks. (Jivaka Sutra, Majjhima Nikaya 55). It should be noted that there are two main classes of scriptures in Buddhism, those of the Pali Cannon, which form the foundation of Theravada Buddhism and the Mahayana, which represents the Buddhism of China, Japan, Korea, etc. The Pali Cannon was written around 80 BC and the Mahayana in approximately 100 to 400 AD. Editorials 2006-12-17T09:10:00+08:00 http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/venerable_fuyu.php/ http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/venerable_fuyu.php/#When:16:36:00Z During twelve century a very special child was born to the Zhang (chin.: zhāng 张) family in Wen Shui County (chin.: Wénshuǐ 文水) in Shanxi province (chin.: Shānxī 山西). His nickname was “little kid saint” (chin.: shèng xiǎo’ér 圣小兒) because he could read a book just once and has a complete understanding of it. He renounced the world for monk hood (chin.: chūjiā 出家), took the name Fu Yu (chin.: 福裕 fúyù 1203-1275) and began training under monk Xiu Lin Wei (chin.: xiūlínwèi 休林为). Master Fu Yu played a significant role in rebuilding Buddhism during the early Mongol period. With the gradual weakening of the northern Song Dynasty, the Jurchens (chin.: 女真nǚzhēn), the ancestors of the Manchus who established the Qing Dynasty some 500 years later, conquered and ruled over the northern parts and established the Jin Dynasty (chin.: Jin Chao; 金朝 1115-1234). By 1200, Changan, Kaifeng, and Luoyang, the area where Shaolin Si stood, were under Jin control. Kaifeng had fallen into Jurchen hands in 1127. The Mongols then swept from the north pushing the Jin out of the region. These conquests created great havoc not only in the population at large but in the monastic world as well. A large number of monasteries in the north were either destroyed or abandoned. It was a time of great tribulation and disruption, as entire cities being abandoned in anticipation of the Mongol invasion, roving bandits became endemic. Some Mongol leaders even proposed a plan to turn northern China into a great pasture land by killing every single Chinese person in the region. It would have been one of the greatest slaughters in human history, if it was not for a Chan monk by the name of Hai Yun (Chin.: 海雲), who among other Chinese religious leaders influenced the Mongol court to abandon their plans. Eminent Monks 2006-12-08T16:36:00+08:00 http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/qigong.php/ http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/qigong.php/#When:13:46:01Z Vital internal energy (chin.: qìgōng 气功) is a Chinese cultivation practice which, according to specific written documents, goes back at least 3000 years ago. During the legendary Chinese ruler’s Tang Yao (chin.: Táng yáo 唐堯 2353 - 2234 BC) monarchy; qigong art used as a form of dancing. The actual origins of Qi Gong, however, are lost in Chinese prehistory. Qi Gong was practiced during the earliest period in order to maintain good health. In Master Lu’s Spring and Autumn (chin.: lǚshìchūnqiū 呂氏春秋) records which was completed in 239BC we read: In the beginning of the Tao Tang Tribes, the sun was often shut off by heavy clouds and it rained all the time; turbulent waters overflowed the rivers’ banks. People lived a gloomy and dull life and suffered from rigidity of their joints. As a remedy dancing was recommended. From the experience of their long-term struggle with nature, the ancients gradually realized that body movements, exclamations, and various ways of breathing could help readjust certain bodily functions. For example, imitating animal movements such as climbing, looking about, and leaping was found to promote a vital flow of Qi. Pronouncing “Hi” was found to either decrease or increase strength, “Ha” could disperse heat, and “Xu” could alleviate pain. In this way, Qigong was brought into being. Educational 2006-11-02T13:46:01+08:00 http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/venerable_guan_xiu.php/ http://www.shaolin.cn.com/site/venerable_guan_xiu.php/#When:12:07:00Z The Arhats (chin.: luóhàn 羅漢) are the enlightened beings of Buddhism (chin.: Fójiào 佛教), who were disciples of Buddha Sakyamuni (chin.: Shìjiāmóuní 釋迦牟尼) and attained freedom from the cycles of suffering and rebirth. Arhat is translated into Chinese as Luohan. Luohans are those who become enlightened (chin.: zhèngguǒ 證果) by means of the Four Noble Truths (chin.: Sìshèngdì 四聖諦) of suffering, suffering’s origin, suffering’s extinction, and the path leading to suffering extinction. Their enlightenment is not ultimate, because they only enlighten themselves, and do not yet know how to enlighten other beings like the Bodhisattvas (chin.: púsà 菩薩) do.  Eminent Monks 2006-10-09T12:07:00+08:00