Shaolin Kung Fu
Pinyin:	Shàolín gōngfu
Literally	"Shaolin skills"

Pinyin: Shàolínquán
Known in English as:	Shaolin boxing
Literally	"Shaolin fist"

Pinyin: Shàolín wǔshù
Literally	"Shaolin martial arts"

For the style associated with Gu Ruzhang, see Northern Shaolin (martial art).

Shaolin kung fu—more precisely Shàolínquán or Shàolín wǔshù—are those Chinese martial arts that trace their origins to Shaolin, be it the Chan Buddhist Shaolin temple and monastery in Henan Province, China; another temple associated with Shaolin, or even wandering Shaolin monks. More restrictive definitions include only those styles that were conceived on temple grounds or even just the original Henan temple proper. The broadest definition includes just about all "external" (as opposed to "internal") Chinese martial arts, though this has much to do with the attractiveness of the Shaolin "brand name". Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Hanyu pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Hanyu pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Image File history File links http://chineselanguage. ... Hanyu pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... In its broadest sense, Northern Shaolin ( Cantonese Bak Siu Lum) (Chinese: 北少林; Pinyin: ) refers to the external (as opposed to internal) martial arts of Northern China in general—becoming synonymous with Changquan—instead of only those styles from the Northern Shaolin Monastery in Henan. ... Alternative meaning: Kung Fu (TV series) Kung fu or gongfu (功夫, Pinyin: gōngfu) is a well-known Chinese term used in the West to designate Chinese martial arts. ... WÇ”shù Wushu (Simplified Chinese: 武术; Traditional Chinese: 武術; pinyin: (  listen)) literally means martial art. It is the correct term for the more commonly known but misused term kung fu, which roughly translates to skill and refers specifically to the energy, feeling and effort expended in doing or making something. ... Chinese martial arts (often abbreviated as CMA) refers to the enormous variety of martial art styles native to China. ... Chán is a major school of Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... Main gate of the Shaolin temple in Henan. ... Not to be confused with the unrelated provinces of Hainan and Hunan Henan (Chinese: 河南; pinyin: Hénán; Wade-Giles: Ho-nan), is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. ... Nèijiā (Chinese: 內家; internal family) denotes the internal (or soft) styles of Chinese martial arts, as opposed to wàijiā (外家; external family), the external (or hard) styles, which are associated with Shaolin and its many derivatives. ... This article is about brands in marketing. ...

Although there have been several periods of governmental repression of Buddhism in which monasteries lost any official legal status (most recently after 1949), Chinese monasteries, like their Western counterparts, traditionally offered sanctuary from the reach of the authorities. Those who took advantage of this were not always violent criminals (though many were) but often those who found themselves on the losing side of a power struggle, including soldiers and others with experience of combat. The tumultuous nature of Chinese history guaranteed that such men would be in frequent need of sanctuary. Whether for redemption or for refuge, Chinese generals and officers would often retire to the monastic life. Historical records state that, at the Shaolin monastery as at others, the monks accepted these men into their order. One such soldier-turned-monk may have been Huike, second Patriarch of Chan Buddhism. It is currently believed that Shàolín wǔshù, with its focus on religion and philosophical thought, developed from an interplay between the military personnel who were housed at the temple and the Buddhist monks. 1949 (MCMXLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday. ... The term Western world or the West can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ... The Tikse monastery in Ladakh, India A monastery is the habitation of monks, derived from the Greek word for a hermits cell. ... Sanctuary has multiple meanings. ... China is the worlds oldest continuous major civilization, with written records dating back about 3,500 years and with 5,000 years being commonly used by Chinese as the age of their civilization. ... Monasticism (from Greek: monachos—a solitary person) is the religious practice of renouncing all worldly pursuits in order to fully devote ones life to spiritual work. ...

Within the refuge of the monastery, unlike on an unforgiving battlefield, they could, confident in their safety, exchange expertise and perfect their techniques. The Shaolin martial arts would not be what they are had the temple not served as a clearing house for martial arts knowledge. Prior to the Tang Dynasty (618–907), the entire corpus of the Shaolin martial arts comprised 18 empty-hand techniques^[1] refined and developed from the wrestling and boxing the monks practiced, and another set of empty-hand techniques derived from the movements of animals and human labor^[2], plus Pàochuí, a style imported whole from outside the temple. The warrior pilgrims taught as well as learned, showing the holy men of the Henan temple new staff techniques that could be applied to the Monk's Spade as well as common objects. Combat veterans introduced the monks to the use of real weapons such as the qiāng (spear), the dagger, the dāo (sabre), the jiàn (straight sword), and the axe, all of which the monks had heretofore abjured. Also the name of a rock band. ... Events End of the Sui Dynasty and beginning of the Tang Dynasty in China. ... Events Oleg leads Kievan Rus in a campaign against Constantinople Yelü Abaoji establishes Liao (Khitan) dynasty Births Deaths Categories: 907 ... San Huang Pao Chui (Chinese: 三皇炮捶; pinyin: ; literally Three Emperor Cannon Punch) is a Chinese martial art attributed to the Three August Ones: Fuxi, Shennong, and Gonggong. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Chinese Saber Dao (Chinese: 刀; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: tao1) is a category of single-edge Chinese swords primarily used for slashing and chopping (sabers), often called broadswords in English because some varieties have wide blades. ... Jian (Chinese: 劍 Pinyin jiàn, Wade-Giles chien4, Cantonese IPA: , Cantonese Jyutping: gim3, Korean geom, Japanese ken, Vietnamese kiếm) is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. ...

As they evolved and disseminated, the Shaolin martial arts branched off into countless variations, each with as much or as little claim as the next to be called "pure" Shaolin. Conversely, Tàijíquán, the Yin Fu style of Bāguàzhǎng, and possibly Xíngyìquán, which are never classified Shaolin, nonetheless inherited many of their postures from Shaolin. Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan (Chinese: 太極拳; pinyin: ; literally supreme ultimate fist), commonly known as Tai Chi, Tai Chi, or Taiji, is a nei chia (internal) Chinese martial art. ... Bagua zhang (Chinese: 八卦掌; pinyin: ) (also called Pa Kua Chang, Bagua Quan, Pa kua chüan, Bagua, Pakua, Pakua boxing) is one of the three major internal Chinese martial arts, the other two of which are Xingyiquan (形意拳) and Taijiquan (太極拳). The word bagua zhang literally means eight trigram palm. The trigrams refer... Xingyiquan is one of the three major internal Chinese martial arts—the other two being Taijiquan and Baguazhang—and is characterised by aggressive, linear movements and explosive power. ... Nèijiā (Chinese: 內家; internal family) denotes the internal (or soft) styles of Chinese martial arts, as opposed to wàijiā (外家; external family), the external (or hard) styles, which are associated with Shaolin and its many derivatives. ...

Northern and Southern styles

The regional differences between schools of Shaolin correspond to the regional differences between Chinese martial arts in general: "Nánquán běituǐ." The South punches, the North kicks (literally "Southern fist, Northern leg"). Most representative of Northern Chinese martial arts are those styles classified Chángquán (literally "long fist") which includes Pàochuí, 查拳 (Chāquán) (Cha Yuanyi style), Tàizǔ Chángquán (Emperor Taizu long fist), 翻子拳 (Fānziquán) (literally "tumbling fist"), "red fist" Hóngquán, "flood fist" Hóngquán, "Chinese fist" Huáquán, and "flower fist" Huāquán, among others. Chángquán also includes the strictest, "Henan only" definition of Shàolínquán. The youngest Chángquán style listed is "flower fist" Huāquán, which dates to the early Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). Most Southern styles claim a comparatively young provenance, often tracing their origins to anti-Qing rebellions, those styles associated with Shaolin in particular. Alternative meaning: In geology, North China (continent) and South China (continent) were two ancient landmasses that correspond to modern northern and southern China. ... Nánquán (Chinese: 南拳; literally southern fist) refers to those Chinese martial arts that originate south of the Yangtze River, including Hung Kuen, Choy Lee Fut, and Wing Chun. ... Chángquán (Chinese: 長拳; literally long fist) is a general term for external (as opposed to internal) Northern Chinese martial arts (like the term Northern Shaolin in some cases). ... Chāquán (Chinese: 查拳; also pronounced Zhāquán) is a style of Chinese martial arts that features graceful movements and acrobatic aerial maneuvers. ... Emperor Taizu (March 21, 927 - November 14, 976), born Zhao Kuangyin, was the founder of the Song Dynasty of China, reigning from 960 to 976. ... Fānziquán (Chinese: 翻子拳; literally tumbling fist) is a Chinese martial art that emphasizes qínná, or joint-locking. ... The Qing Dynasty (Manchu: daicing gurun; Chinese: 清朝; pinyin: qÄ«ng cháo; Wade-Giles: ching chao), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China, expanded into China proper and the surrounding territories of Inner... // Events February to August - Explorer Abel Tasmans second expedition for the Dutch East India Company maps the north coast of Australia. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

The Southern Chinese martial arts are embodied by the styles that belong to the related Fujian (Fujian White Crane, Five Ancestors, Wing Chun) and Hakka (Southern Praying Mantis, Dragon) families of martial arts. As Leung Ting, the head of the WingTsun branch of Wing Chun, put it, the common features of the Fujian and Hakka martial arts are "that during fights, pugilists of these systems prefer short steps and close fighting, with their arms placed close to the chest, their elbows lowered and kept close to the flanks to offer it protection" (Leung, 1978, p. 30). By contrast, Northern Chinese martial arts feature long steps, e.g. the horse, bow, and drop stances, with the arms often extended. Fujian (Chinese: 福建; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Fu-chien; Postal System Pinyin: Fukien, Foukien; local transliteration Hokkien from Min Nan Hok-kiàn) is one of the provinces on the southeast coast of China. ... Fujian White Crane (Chinese: 白鶴拳; pinyin: báihèquán; Hokkien: pe ho kun; literally white crane fist) is a martial art created, according to its oral history, by a woman named Fang Qiniang c. ... Five Ancestors Fist (Chinese: 五祖拳; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Minnan: ngo cho kun) is a Southern Chinese martial art that consists of techniques from five different styles: the hand techniques and the complementary softness and hardness of Yin/Yang of White Crane (白鶴拳) the agility and footwork of Monkey (猴拳) the precision and efficient movement... Wing Chun (Chinese: 詠春; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Yale Cantonese: wing2 cheun1), also romanized Ving Tsun, is a system of Chinese martial arts with an emphasis on unarmed close-range fighting, although its curriculum includes weapons and techniques suitable for various ranges. ... Hakka (Traditional Chinese: 客家; Simplified Chinese: 客家; Pinyin: ; literal meaning guest families) are a Han Chinese people whose ancestors are said to originate from around Henan and Shanxi in northern China over 2700 years ago. ... Bamboo Forest Praying Mantis more commonly known as Southern Praying Mantis was developed as a kung fu style by the Hakka Chinese. ... Chinese dragons Dragon Kung Fu (龍形 Loong Ying) is one of the five animal styles of Shaolin Kung Fu. ... Hakka Kuen (Chinese: 客家拳; pinyin: ; Yale Cantonese: haak3 ga1 kyun4; Hakka pinjim: hak7 ga1 kien2; literally Hakka fist) is a Cantonese term for the martial arts of the Hakka people. ...

Even though Cantonese styles such as Choy Lee Fut and the Wong Fei-Hung lineage of Hung Kuen are classified as Southern and feature a characteristically Southern emphasis on the arms, their stances and routines, like those of Northern Chinese styles, are respectively wider and more complex than those of Fujian and Hakka styles. High, narrow, pigeon-toed stances are more prominent in "old" or "village" styles of Hung Kuen but also appear in its Iron Wire Fist empty-hand routine. Like other southern Chinese martial arts, Choy Lee Fut features Five Animal techniques based on the tiger, dragon, crane, leopard, and snake but is distinguished from other southern styles by long, swinging, circular movements and twisting body motions more indicative of northern styles. ... Wong Fei Hung (黃飛鴻 huang2 fei1 hong2) (1847 - 1924) was a healer, martial artist and revolutionary who became a Chinese folk hero. ... Hung Gar (洪家 or in Mandarin/hanyu pinyin, hong jia, lit. ...

At one point or another, Shaolin origins have been claimed for all of the aforementioned Southern styles by way of a southern Shaolin temple and are most prominent in the oral histories of Hung Kuen, Wing Chun, and Choy Lee Fut. The traditional location of a southern Shaolin temple in Fujian Province comes from the Qing bai lei chao (1917) by Xu Ke. Some accounts even state that there was more than one Shaolin temple in the area. Any such temple may not have been a "Shaolin" temple per se—references to other Shaolin temples are largely if not entirely absent from the records of the original Henan temple—but a Buddhist temple with a strong reputation for martial arts, leading to an association with Shaolin. Competing claims have made been that various temples near Putian, Quanzhou, or Fuqing are the southern Shaolin temple but such claims have as much to do with the prospect of tourist dollars as with historical veracity. Fujian (Chinese: 福建; pinyin: Fújiàn; Wade-Giles: Fu-chien; Postal System Pinyin: Fukien, Foukien; local transliteration Hokkien from Min Nan Hok-kiàn) is one of the provinces on the southeast coast of China. ... Putian is a city located on the southeast of Fujian Province, China. ... Quanzhou (Chinese: 泉州; pinyin: Quánzhōu) is a prefecture level city, located in the Fujian province of China. ... Fuqing is a county of Fuzhou in Fujian, China. ...

The Shaolin system, including the Cantonese styles, are distinguished by the Five Animals: In the Chinese martial arts, imagery of the Five Animals (Chinese: 五形拳; pinyin: wǔxíngquán; literally Five Forms)—Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake, and Dragon—appears predominantly in Southern styles (roughly speaking, those that originate south of the Yangtze River) especially those associated with Guangdong and Fujian Provinces. ...

• Tiger
• Crane
• Leopard
• Snake
• Dragon

These styles imitate the movement of these animals for martial applications. The animals are also often compared to various ways of facing a problem/situation. The Tiger represents the direct and frontal way of approach to a problem. The Crane is innovative/creative approach combined with a sense of humour. The Snake waits for the right opportunity before delivering a fatal strike, which is something like waiting till you gain sufficient strength to solve the problem. The Leopard combines the directness of the Tiger with the fatality of the attack that the Snake possesses. The Dragon style represents a state of meditational calm and peace of mind. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Crane style martial arts may refer to: Fujian White Crane Tibetan White Crane Persatuan Gerak Badan This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... There are several styles of Chinese martial arts which imitate the motions of snakes (蛇) as some part of their training system. ... Chinese dragons Dragon Kung Fu (龍形 Loong Ying) is one of the five animal styles of Shaolin Kung Fu. ... Binomial name Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) Tigers (Panthera tigris) are mammals of the Felidae family and one of four big cats in the Panthera genus. ... Crane or Cranes may refer to any of the following: A crane is a piece of industrial machinery used for hoisting and handling materials, working on tall buildings, excavation with a clam bucket or dragline, pile driving, or loading and unloading cargo/containers onto and off of ships/rail cars. ... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae Snakes (from Old English snaca, and ultimately from PIE base *snag- or *sneg-, to crawl), also known as ophidians, are cold blooded legless reptiles closely... Binomial name Panthera pardus (Linnaeus, 1758) Leopards (Panthera pardus) are one of the four big cats of the genus Panthera. ... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae Snakes (from Old English snaca, and ultimately from PIE base *snag- or *sneg-, to crawl), also known as ophidians, are cold blooded legless reptiles closely... Chinese dragon, colour engraving on wood, Japanese Chinese school, 19th Century A dragon is a legendary creature, typically depicted as a large and powerful serpent or other reptile, with magical or spiritual qualities. ...

The legend of Bodhidharma

"Shaolin" itself literally means "young forest." The Henan temple was built in the 20th year of the Tàihé (太和) era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (i.e. 497 CE) by Emperor Xiaowen for the monk Batuo. Northern Wei Buddha Maitreya, 443 AD. A Buddhist stela from the Northern Wei period, build in the early 6th century. ... Xiaowen (孝文帝) (467 - 499) was the emperor of the Northern Wei dynasty from 471 to 499. ...

It was some 30 years after its founding that the Temple received a visitor largely regarded as the father of Shaolin martial arts: a monk, variously Persian or Indian, named Bodhidharma (pinyin: Pútídámó; commonly shortened to Dámó). Bodhidharma, woodblock print by Yoshitoshi, 1887. ... Bodhidharma, woodblock print by Yoshitoshi, 1887. ... Hanyu pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ...

According to legend, Bodhidharma came to Shaolin to introduce the form of Buddhism we know as Chan. Upon his arrival at the temple he found the monks in poor health and unable to endure the long sessions of meditation he introduced. Bodhidharma then supposedly retreated to a nearby cave and meditated for 9 years, where he is said to have created a hole in the rock with his stare and cut his eyelids so as to not fall into deep sleep. According to legend, it was during this time Bodhidharma created two exercise regimens: the Yíjīnjīng (移筋經; literally "Muscle/Tendon Change Classic") and the Xǐsuǐjīng (洗髓經; literally "Brain/Marrow Cleansing Classic"). To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Chán is a major school of Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism. ... Meditation is the practice of focusing the mind, often formalized into a specific routine. ...

Current theories

Legend attributes to Bodhidharma the creation of Shàolín wǔshù and sometimes even the Chinese martial arts as a whole. However, many individual Chinese martial arts, such as Shuāijiāo, predate Shàolínquán by centuries. The Extensive Records of the Taiping Era record that, prior to Bodhidharma's arrival in China, monks practiced wrestling for recreation. Shaolin monastery records name two disciples of Batuo—Hui Guang and Seng Chou—who were expert in the martial arts years before the arrival of Bodhidharma. Like Huike, these two may have been retired generals. ...

The attribution of Shaolin kung fu to Bodhidharma can be traced to a text purporting to be the Yíjīnjīng that dates back to no earlier than 1624 written by Zining Daoren (literally "Zining, the Taoist"). The YíjÄ«njÄ«ng (Chinese: 移筋經; literally Muscle/Tendon Change Classic) is a text written by Zining Daoren (literally Zining, the Taoist) perhaps most notable as the source of the attribution of the Shaolin martial arts to Bodhidharma. ...

[A]fter Bodhidharma faced the wall for nine years at Shaolin temple, he, according to the history, left behind an iron chest; when the monks opened this chest they found the two books “Xǐ Suǐ Jīng” (Marrow Washing Classic) and “Yí Jīn Jīng” within. The first book was taken by his disciple Huike, and disappeared; as for the second, “the monks selfishly coveted it, practicing the skills therein, falling into heterodox ways, and losing the correct purpose of cultivating the Real. The Shaolin monks have made some fame for themselves through their fighting skill; this is all due to having obtained this manuscript. (Lin Boyuan. (1986) Zhōngguó wǔshù shǐ 中國武術史. Taipei 臺北: Wǔzhōu chūbǎnshè 五洲出版社. p. 183)

For the thousand years between the establishment of the Shaolin temple and this text, none of the many contemporary texts about the Shaolin martial arts attributes them to Bodhidharma.

The Shaolin monks and the prince

Like most dynastic changes, the end of the Sui Dynasty was a time of upheaval and contention for the throne. The Sui Dynasty (隋朝 Hanyu Pinyin: suí cháo, 581-618) followed the Southern and Northern Dynasties and preceded the Tang Dynasty in China. ...

One of those who had declared himself Emperor was Wang Shichong, who controlled the territory of Zheng and the ancient capital of Luoyang. Wang Shichong (AD??? - 621) was a Sui general who declared himself emperor in Luoyang following the demise of the Sui dynasty. ... Zheng (鄭) was a Zhou city-state in the middle of ancient China, modern Henan Province. ... The Chinese phrase Four Great Ancient Capitals of China (Traditional Chinese: 中國四大古都; Simplified Chinese: 中国四大古都; pinyin Zhōngguó Sì Dà Gǔdū) traditionally refers to Beijing, Nanjing, Luoyang, and Xian. ... Luoyang (Simplified Chinese: 洛阳; Traditional Chinese: 洛陽; pinyin: ) is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province, Peoples Republic of China. ...

Overlooking Luoyang on Mount Huanyuan was the Cypress Valley Estate, which had served as the site of a fort during the Jin and a commandery during the Qi. Sui Emperor Wen had bestowed the estate on a nearby monastery called Shaolin for its monks to farm but Wang Shichong, realizing its strategic value, seized the estate and there placed troops and a signal tower, as well as establishing a prefecture called Yuanzhou. Furthermore, he had assembled an army at Luoyang to march on the Shaolin Temple itself. The Jin Dynasty (晉 pinyin: jìn, 265-420), one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. ... Qi Dynasty 齊朝 (479-502) was the second of Southern dynasties in China, followed by the Liang Dynasty. ... The Sui Dynasty (隋朝 Hanyu Pinyin: suí cháo, 581-618) followed the Southern and Northern Dynasties and preceded the Tang Dynasty in China. ... Emperor Wen of Sui China (541-604), also Yang Jian, Yang Chien, and Sui Wen-ti (posthumous name), was the founder and first emperor of Chinas Sui Dynasty. ...

The monks of Shaolin threw their lot in with Wang's enemy, Li Shimin, and took back the Cypress Valley Estate, defeating Wang's troops and even capturing his nephew Renze.

Without the fort at Cypress Valley, there was nothing to keep Li Shimin from marching on Luoyang after his defeat of Wang's ally Dou Jiande at the Battle of Hulao, forcing Wang Shichong to surrender. The Battle of Hulao (May 28, 621), located just east of Luoyang, was a decisive victory for Li Shimin, through which he was able to subdue two warlords, Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong. ...

Li Shimin's father was the first Tang Emperor and Shimin himself became its second. Also the name of a rock band. ... Emperor Gaozu of Tang China (566 - June 25, 635), born Lee Yuan, was the founder of the Tang Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of this dynasty from 618 to 626. ... Emperor Taizong of Tang China (January 23, 599–July 10, 649), born Li Shimin (李世民 Lĭ ShìMín), was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China from 626 to 649. ...

Thereafter Shaolin enjoyed the royal patronage of the Tang.

Because of the contribution of the Shaolin monks to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty and its subsequent royal patronage, Shaolin had become so famous that it inspired pilgrims to travel to the temple specifically to study its fighting methods. But even before the Battle of Hulao, Shaolin had become known for its pioneering synthesis of internal qìgōng training and martial arts. For albums named Pilgrim, see Pilgrim (album). ... Qigong (Simplified Chinese: 气功; Traditional Chinese: 氣功; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: chi4 kung1) is an increasingly popular aspect of Chinese medicine. ...

By the 7th century, the Taoists had developed the Post-Heaven Method (後天法; pinyin: hòutiānfǎ) and Little Nine Heavens (小九天; pinyin: xiǎojiǔtiān) styles.. These styles emphasized qìgōng even more strongly than the Shaolin martial arts and their renunciation of primarily muscular power more thoroughgoing, largely doing away with conventional resistance training, qualities that embody the Taoist nèijiā tradition of martial arts best known for Tàijíquán, Xíngyìquán, and Bāguàzhǎng. // Overview Events The Roman-Persian Wars end. ... For other uses of the words tao and dao, see Dao (disambiguation). ... Hanyu pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Hanyu pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... A complete weight training workout can be performed with a pair of adjustable dumbbells and a set of weight disks (plates). ... ... Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan (Chinese: 太極拳; pinyin: ; literally supreme ultimate fist), commonly known as Tai Chi, Tai Chi, or Taiji, is a nei chia (internal) Chinese martial art. ... Xingyiquan is one of the three major internal Chinese martial arts—the other two being Taijiquan and Baguazhang—and is characterised by aggressive, linear movements and explosive power. ... Bagua zhang (Chinese: 八卦掌; pinyin: ) (also called Pa Kua Chang, Bagua Quan, Pa kua chüan, Bagua, Pakua, Pakua boxing) is one of the three major internal Chinese martial arts, the other two of which are Xingyiquan (形意拳) and Taijiquan (太極拳). The word bagua zhang literally means eight trigram palm. The trigrams refer...

The centuries that followed saw a proliferation of martial arts styles, including the aforementioned "Chinese fist" Huáquán (Tang), Chāquán (Tang), Tàizǔ Chángquán (Song), "red fist" Hóngquán (Song), and Fānziquán (Song).

The legend of the Five Animals

Perhaps inevitably, the explosion in the popularity of Shàolínquán led to its decline. The more people that sought training at the temple, the smaller the proportion of them that had the time or the inclination to truly dedicate themselves. Some regarded the Shaolin imprimatur as a kind of talisman that rendered years of training unnecessary. Others only wanted to fight well and cared little for esoterica like qìgōng, erasing over centuries the difference between Shàolínquán and those crude methods on which it was supposed to improve.

Legend has it that one of the monks disillusioned by the deterioration of Shàolínquán was one Zhang Sanfeng, although some Taijiquan schools attribute Zhang's studies of Shàolínquán to a respectful Neo-Confucian exchange of information between Taoist and Buddhist monks. Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-mythical Chinese Taoist priest who is believed by some to have achieved immortality, said variously to date from either the late Song dynasty, Yuan dynasty or Ming dynasty. ... Neo-Confucianism (理學 Pinyin: Lǐxué) is a term for a form of Confucianism that was primarily developed during the Song dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang dynasty. ... For other uses of the words tao and dao, see Dao (disambiguation). ...

Another was Jueyuan, who in the 13th century started from first principles with the 18 Luohan Hands, rejecting the accretions of the intervening centuries. Like those before him, Jueyuan used the original 18 Luohan Hands as a foundation, expanding its 18 techniques into 72. Still, he felt the need to seek knowledge from outside the confines of the temple. (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ...

In Gansu Province in the west of China, in the city of Lanzhou, he met Li Sou, a master of "red fist" Hóngquán. Li Sou accompanied Jueyuan back to Henan, to Luoyang to introduce Jueyuan to Bai Yufeng, master of an internal method. This article or section should include material from Gansu, China Gansu (Simplified Chinese: 甘肃; Traditional Chinese: 甘肅; pinyin: Gānsù; Wade-Giles: Kan-su, or modified as Kan-suh) is a province located in the northwest of the Peoples Republic of China. ... 　 Lanzhou (Simplified Chinese: 兰州; Traditional Chinese: 蘭州; pinyin: Lánzhōu; Wade-Giles: Lan-chou; sometimes seen transliterated as Lanchow) is the capital of the Gansu province in China. ...

They returned to Shaolin with Bai Yufeng and expanded Jueyuan's 72 techniques to approximately 170. Moreover, using their combined knowledge, they restored internal aspects to Shaolin boxing.

They organized these techniques into Five Animals: the Tiger, the Crane, the Leopard, the Snake, and the Dragon. In the Chinese martial arts, imagery of the Five Animals (Chinese: 五形拳; pinyin: wǔxíngquán; literally Five Forms)—Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake, and Dragon—appears predominantly in Southern styles (roughly speaking, those that originate south of the Yangtze River) especially those associated with Guangdong and Fujian Provinces. ...

Current theories

If the Five Animals were created at the Shaolin Temple in Northern China, why can they only be found in Southern styles? (Please note that this refers to northern styles, not the Northern Shaolin system. The Northern Shaolin system does, in fact, include the Five Animals.)

Jueyuan is also credited with the Northern style "flood fist" Hóngquán, which does not feature the Five Animals but is written with the same characters (洪拳) as the Southern style Hung Kuen, perhaps the quintessential Five Animals style. Moreover, as in the Southern Hung Kuen, the Hóng character (洪) in Hóngquán actually refers to a family name rather than its literal meaning of "flood." However, the two styles have nothing in common beyond their shared name. Hung Gar (洪家 or in Mandarin/hanyu pinyin, hong jia, lit. ...

Moreover, in Mandarin, "wǔxíng" is the pronunciation not only of "Five Animals," but also of "Five Elements" which are the core techniques of Xíngyìquán, which also features animal mimicry (but of 10 or 12 animals rather than 5) and, with its high narrow Sāntǐshì (三體勢) stance, looks nothing so much like a Fujianese Southern style stranded in the North. Standard Mandarin is the official Chinese spoken language used by the Peoples Republic of China, the Republic of China on Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. ... Chinese Wood (木) | Fire (火) | Earth (土) | Metal (金) | Water (æ°´) Hinduism The Panchamahabhuta (five great elements) Prithvi/Bhumi (Earth) Ap/Jala (Water) Agni/Tejas (Fire) Vayu/Pavan (Air/Wind) Akasha (Aether) Japanese The Godai (five great) Earth (地) | Water (æ°´) | Fire (火) | Wind (風) | Void (空) In traditional Chinese philosophy, natural phenomena can be classified into the Five Elements... Xingyiquan is one of the three major internal Chinese martial arts—the other two being Taijiquan and Baguazhang—and is characterised by aggressive, linear movements and explosive power. ...

Influence outside of China

Some schools of the Okinawan martial art known as Karate have traditional stories delineating their Shaolin origins. The Goju Ryu and Uechi Ryu styles have even adopted as their foundational kata the San Chian routine of Fujian martial arts. Okinawan kobudo (less commonly Ryukyu Kobujutsu) is a Japanese term that can be translated as old martial way of Okinawa. It generally refers to the eight classical weapon traditions of Okinawa, most notably the rokushakubo (six foot staff), sai (short stabbing sword), tonfa (handled club), kama (sickle), Tekko (knuckledusters), Tinbe... Karate or karate-dō is a martial art of Okinawan origin. ... Goju Ryu (Japanese for Hard-soft style) is a style of karate, so called as it allows a combination of hard and soft techniques. ... Uechi Ryu (上地流) is a style of Okinawan Karate originated by Kanbun Uechi (上地完文). // Early History Kanbun Uechi studied Pangai-noon (half-hard, half-soft) Kung Fu under Sushiwa in the Fukien province of mainland China in the late 1800s and early 1900s. ... Kata (型 or 形) (literally: form) is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of defense-and-attack movements practiced either solo or in pairs. ... Best known by its Japanese name, Sanchin is a martial arts routine (Japanese: kata) of Fujianese origin that is considered to be the core of several styles, the most well-known being the Goju Ryu and Uechi Ryu styles of Karate as well as the Chinese martial arts of Fujian... Fujian (Chinese: 福建; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Fu-chien; Postal System Pinyin: Fukien, Foukien; local transliteration Hokkien from Min Nan Hok-kiàn) is one of the provinces on the southeast coast of China. ...

Martial arts traditions in Japan and Korea, Vietnam cite Chinese influence as transmitted by monks. Hwarang (Flowering Knights) were leader of the salon in Silla, an ancient Korean kingdom. ...

Popular Shaolin martial arts outside of China

While sometimes represented in Western films as a mystical or even mythical school of martial arts, actual access to the Shaolin Temple has until recently been restricted to China and visitors to the Temple itself. In the last few years, notably under Abbot Shi Yong Xin, there has been a concerted effort to place teaching monks outside of China in order to spread Shaolin martial arts and as ambassadors of Chinese culture. Official schools have arisen in the USA, UK, Germany and other countries. There has also been a critically acclaimed stage show, "The Wheel of Life", in which a troupe of monks demonstrates fighting and qui gong skills within the context of a historic episode from the Temple's history.

Notes

Hanyu pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Luohan is another term for the Buddhist Arhat Luohan is also a type of fish in Luohan (Fish) Lohan is a fighting Technique of Asian Martial Arts, e. ... Xingyiquan is one of the three major internal Chinese martial arts—the other two being Taijiquan and Baguazhang—and is characterised by aggressive, linear movements and explosive power. ... The Yale Romanizations are four systems created during World War II by the United States for its soldiers. ...

See also

• Bodhidharma
• Chan
• Monasticism
• Shuāijiāo
• Wudangquan
• Yijinjing

Bodhidharma, woodblock print by Yoshitoshi, 1887. ... Chán is a major school of Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism. ... Monasticism (from Greek: monachos—a solitary person) is the religious practice of renouncing all worldly pursuits in order to fully devote ones life to spiritual work. ... ... Wǔdāngquán (Chinese: 武當拳; Yale Cantonese: mou5 dong1 kyun4) is a family of Chinese martial arts known more generally as neijia. ... The Yíjīnjīng (Chinese: 移筋經; literally Muscle/Tendon Change Classic) is a text written by Zining Daoren (literally Zining, the Taoist) perhaps most notable as the source of the attribution of the Shaolin martial arts to Bodhidharma. ...

References

• Leung Ting (1978). Wing Tsun Kuen, Hong Kong: Leung's Publications. ISBN 962-7284-01-7.
• Meir Shahar (2000). "Epigraphy, Buddhist Historiography, and Fighting Monks: The Case of The Shaolin Monastery". Asia Major Third Series 13 (2): 15–36.

External links

• Official Chinese Songshan Shaolin Temple Portal
• Official International Web Site Of Wushus
• Official English Songshan Shaolin Temple Portal
• http://www.chinashaolintemple.com
• Resources from Shaolin Da Fa Wang Temple in Henan Province, China
• Official Shaolin: Wheel of Life Website