The Beginning of the Shaolin Temple

In the Songshan Mountains, Suburban Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 497 A.D., Ba Tuo came to China from India and founded the Shaolin Temple. He was very interested in Chinese Wushu (martial arts or kungfu to Westeners) but it was not known if he had training himself. But his disciples Seng Chou and Hui Guang had perfect skills. According to historical records, Seng Chou was able to "walk a wall" and leap up to a rooftop with one bound showing his formidable strength in the legs. For Hui Guang, it was said he could keep a shuttlecock (or like a badminton birdie) in the air by kicking it 500 times in a row while balancing on the rails round a well. Hui Guang and Seng Chou were the first Shaolin Monks to practice martial arts. But what contributes to Shaolin Monks awesome participation in wushu training is the geographical location and distinct historical cirumstances of their temple.

The geographical location of the temple in the Central Plains became an ideal place for retired generals, malcotents and refugees from the law who came to Shaolin Temple because of its tolerant atmosphere. Most of these people that came though, were already wushu experts therefore they could teach each other skills.

The other factor was the need for protection of the temple against bandits. Emperor Wen Di during the Sui Dynasty gave Shaolin 1, 648 acres of land because monasterial economies expanded due to the court's interest in Buddhism. Shaolin Temple had halls, extensive grounds, employees and attendants. Therefore, bandits would attack. In order to protect their temple against these marauding bandits, monk-soldiers were born.

Monk-soldiers indicated to the ruling class and society that they wer devoted in wushu training. In the history of China, these Buddhist disciples had participated in battles for the government against warlords and invaders such as those of the Japanese Pirates. The monk-soldiers were usually rewarded with more land or some achieving ranks in the army. The mass participation in military campaigns marked a turning point in the development of Shaolin Kungfu.

Bodhidharma is the other famous character in Shaolin History. The Indian form of Buddhism, Hinayana, founds its way into China in the 1st century B.C., but didn't fit Chinese conditions therefore not well received by the Chinese working people because of the differences between India and China such as natural conditions, social customs, languages, etc. But this was all different after Bodhidharma founded the Chan Sect. He came to China in 527 settling in Shaolin Temple. There, he taught his new disciples a new school of Buddhism, the Chan Sect, which differs from Hinayana since it adapts more to the Chinese culture. Because of the Chan Sect and the Shaolin Monks embraced the Buddhist faith, they accepted many others since the Chan Sect tolerates everything but killing, robbing, looting and sex. Other Buddhist schools were more strict. The Chan Sect spread rapidly in China dominating more than 70% of Buddhist Temples throughout the country.

Go on to "The Elements of Shaolin Kungfu"