shaolin

The first or “northern” Shaolin temple was built in 495 C.E. on Song mountain in Henan province. The temple was originally built to house the monk Batou and give him a place in which to teach and spread the religion of Buddhism in China. In 527 C.E. an Indian monk named Bohidarma, also known as Damo, traveled to China. Damo was the founder of a new sect of Buddhism called “Chan”, known as Zen in the west. Upon arriving at the Shaolin temple, Damo found the monks to physically weak to sustain the rigorous meditation postures required by the Chan method of practice. In addition, he found that the monks had focused their attention on academic learning as opposed to directly experiencing the practice themselves. Damo then retreated to a nearby cave on mount Song and meditated for nine years. When he emerged from his self imposed seclusion he introduced two forms of exercise, the Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing, he created to physically and mentally train the monks. These exercises are said to form the basis for all subsequent forms of Shaolin martial arts.

In 1522, the Shaolin monks were asked by the emperor to help the costal cites of southern China to fend of the Japanese pirates which had been terrorizing them. After completing this difficult mission the monks, some injured, decided to stay in the area instead of making the long journey back the temple in Henan. With the blessing of the northern Shaolin temple a second or “southern Shaolin temple” was built in Fukien province. During the Qing Dynasty(1644-1912 C.E.) there was a significant amount of civil unrest directed towards the occupying Manchurian forces. The southern Shaolin temple became a sort of haven for secret societies whose goal was to overthrow the oppressive government. After easily defeating some local bandits the Qing officials, fearful of the monks potential, sent their forces to destroy the temple. Five famous monks, Jee Shim, Um Mui, Lei Ba San, Fong Do Duk and Miu Hin escaped the destruction of the temple. They are collectively known as the Shaolin five elders. Most southern styles credit one or more of these five as being involved with the creation of their art.