|
Although the first Shaolin Temple was in the center of China, Shaolin was more than just a place of Buddhism. There are such places that just seem to be very pivotal in events and history. Shaolin was/is such a place. In 497 AD in the time of the Southern & Northern Dynasty that the first Shaolin Temple was built. The Establishment of ShaolinToward the end of the 5th Century AD an Indian Buddhist monk by name of Ba Tuo was traveling through China teaching Buddhism, helping and guiding. His wisdom and kindness come to the ears of the Emperor and he asked Ba Tuo to come to him. Exact details of what happened is not known (to me) but Ba Tuo was encouraged to continue his teachings. He was given a large piece of land and resources to build a monastery. Although Ba Tuo had the choice of almost any area, he decided on a piece of land by a mountain in a small forest in the province of Henan (also written Honan). There were five Shaolin temples with Honan being the largest of the five. This is also the name that was given to this monastery, "Little Forest" Temple or "Shaolin" Temple. In about 539 AD, a holy man named Bodhidharma, Da Mo, (Ta Mo), left his monastery in Southern India to spread the Buddhism and meditation to China, later called Ch'an Buddhism. After traveling hundreds of miles to reach Northern China and crossing the Himalayan mountains, he crossed the Yangtze River and headed North to Loyang, the capital of Henan Province. In a neighbouring forest, he found the Shaolin Ssu (Young Forest Temple). The temple was famous for scholarly translations of Buddhist scripture into Chinese. This was a marked change in Buddhism, and spiritual practices, as the spritiual theory prior, was that since our mortal existence is not as important as our immortal soul, why bother with the body, and the physical? The new priciple of Shaolin Buddhism, was that one's physical defences and abilities, would free oneself from the daily attachments to the physical realm, thereby allowing a better concentration on the spiritual. The stories of Da Mo are really a split decision. For many years historians believed what you originally wrote and in the 1970's, more people did heavier research and came to the conclusion that Da Mo did not do what was originally believed to be. However, right now, it is a 50/50 split. If we go with theory that Da Mo created something besides mediation, then he created the five animals: Dragon to develop spirit, Snake for the Bones and Tendons, Tiger for Strength, Leopard for Ch'i, and Crane for Stamina. Later with the introduction of other styles into the Shaolin temple, these animals developed into specialized styles, etc. Da mo's in-place exercises, were four volumes of books of which only one was found, Yi Chin Ching or Change of the Sinews, were transcribed by later monks as "The Muscle Change Classic" or "The Change of the Sinews," and "The Marrow Washing", the basis of Chi Kung/Qi Gong. His emphasis on "Chi" (intrinsic energy which can be cultivated with breathing exercises and meditation) is still an essential foundation of Shaolin Kung Fu, the basis of Tai Chi, and all Chi Kung (Qi Gong) The Japanese concept of Ki, and Aikido, are based upon this Chi. The Southern forms of Hung Gar, were the basis of most Karate systems; Japanese, Korean etc. The Okinawans of old had a ssystem of their own. To-ad (spelling). Japanese Karate combined the old traditonal Okinawan, with what they could learn of Hung Gar (not the entire system of Hung Gar, only what they could understand). Shaolin Kung FuMany of the Shaolin priests were retired soldiers and generals. Bodhidharma's teachings were further enriched and refined by these kung fu masters to become the powerful and graceful Shaolin Temple boxing (also known as Shaolin Ch'uan [Shaolin Fist] or Shaolin Ch'uan Fa [Way of the Shaolin Fist]). Since bandits frequently attacked the temple, the Shaolin monks also hired kung fu masters to teach them to better defend themselves. This lead to the Shaolin became very apt in repelling the attacking bandits and they thus became renown for their martial arts prowess. For reasons not know, Shaolin was closed and forbidden in 570. It took 30 years before it was reopened. Shaolin was closed because of a fire in 617 AD which burned many of its buildings. It was not re-built until after Emperor Tsung incident. The second temple, Fukien, was not built until the Ming Dynasty. The Second Temple Built around the same time as the Henan Temple, the Fukien Temple was integrated into mainstream Shaolin around the Ming Dynasty, and became the 'Second Temple" of Shaolin. This second temple was used in times where Henan was destroyed or occupied. The 13 ChampionsIn 698 AD Emperor T'ai Tsung of the Tang dynasty called upon the fighting monks of Shaolin to aid him in his war against General Wang-Shih-Chung, who had gathered a large army in an attempt to oust the Tang emperor from the Imperial throne. Li Shimini, the Emperors son was leading the army against Tang. Tsung managed to capture the Emperors son and was inflicting great damage to Tang's army. Tang sent a message to the Shaolin temple to help him and save his son. 13 monks answered their emperor's plea 500 monks fighting against 10,000 soldiers of General Wang. With this relative small force of Shaolin, the remaining Tang army, was victorious, the enemy was beaten back and decimated and the Emperors son was saved. In recognition of their great action T'ai Tsung awarded the monks land, and bestowed upon the temple the title, 'Number One" temple. Later Li Shimini succeeded his father and a very strong bond was forged between the Imperial court and Shaolin. Regular interchange and training between high ranking soldiers and graduate Shaolin monks saw further development of Shaolin Kung Fu. At the end of the Yuen Dynasty there were five large Shaolin Temples: Honan, Fukein, Shansi Wu Tai, Kwangtung Au Hui and Yang Tung Fu. (This is the one where Chuen Yuen developed the five animals from 72 to 170 methods) 72 MovementsIn 1544 AD, a rich young noble and experienced martial artist, entered the Shaolin Monastery and assumed the name of Chueh Yuean. Chueh Yuean saw what he saw, and went back to find his teacher, Pai Yu Fung to bring him back to the temple. Pai felt he was not qualified so he asked Li Ching to go with them. Within a few years he revised the The Eighteen Hand Movements later named The Eighteen Lohan Shou (Lohan meaning enlightened), and created what he called the 72 Styles or Movements. His methods and teaching were so successful that it was adopted by all Shaolin monks very quickly. The 72 movements were very effective for both internal and external fitness. They incorporated much of what is being taught today. But Chueh Yuan was still not fully satisfied with this and he went out to teach and learn, looking for Masters of other styles. The Third TempleDuring the Ming Dynasty, the Wu Tang Tiger Temple was located, near the Wu Tang Mountains. It was often being besieged or attacked, and the monks there were very versed with the practical aspect of war, weaponry and defence. This temple was very old and integrated into Shaolin around 800 AD. China's Golden EraThe time of the Ming Dynasty was a golden area in China's history. Many works of art were created that still exist and are now priceless. Shaolin Temples also grew and prospered becoming the centre for teaching, philosophy and martial arts. Many monks, wise persons and wandering martial artists would gain entrance to Shaolin and share their knowledge in return for knowledge and shelter. Philosophy and knowledge was thought in all to a fairly equal degree. Each Temple may be compared to a university. Each temple had several Shaolin Masters who were experts or specialists in a particular area of training, well being or philosophy. The students would learn from the best in every field. Rumor has it, that in order to graduate from the temple, they would have to exhibit phenomenal skills and pass through 18 testing chambers in the temple. If they survived the first 17 chambers, some legends say, they would have to grip an iron cauldron with their bare forearms and have the raised relief of a tiger and dragon (O Mai Shan two cranes) burnt into their arms. These marks were the signs of a Shaolin Master. This is also the time when the original 170 movements were redevelopment into the 5 Animal Style (Ng Ying Ga) Kung Fu. Bei Shao Lin (Northern Shaolin), developed from 5 mother styles from Honan Shao lin or Shaolin Si about 900 years ago. 5 Animal StylesThe five animals is part of Fukien and Kwangtung Shaolin temple history. Based on the 18 Hands of Lo Han (internal style) they redeveloped Shaolin kung fu to the 5 animal style (Tiger, Snake, Dragon, Leopard and Crane) that we know and practice today. These styles were more than just fighting styles. As there are 5 Elements, 5 Chi Kung Animals, 5 Feng Shui Animals, the Shaolin 5 Animals were much much more, incorporating Body, Mind and Spirit. One of the problems faced by many western historians is the supposed contradiction of Buddhist principles of non-violence coupled with Shaolin's legendary martial skills. In fact, the Shaolin practitioner is never an attacker, nor does he or she dispatch the most devastating defenses in any situation. Rather, the study of gung fu leads to better understanding of violence, and consequently how to avoid conflict. Failing that, a Buddhist who refuses to accept an offering of violence (i.e., and attack) merely returns it to the sender. Initially, the gung fu expert may choose to parry an attack, but if an assailant is both skilled and determined to cause harm, a more definitive and concluding solution may be required, from a joint-lock hold to a knockout, to death. The more sophisticated and violent an assault, the more devastating the return of the attack to the attacker. Buddhists are not, therefore, hurting anyone; they merely refuse delivery of intended harm. Structure of the Temples Description of RanksThe Shaolin had a limited class structure with three major levels: students, disciples, and masters. At the base was the student class, which held the most individuals. Members of this group cooked all the meals, washed clothes and performed all other menial or manual labor. Their station was such in order to teach them humility and respect, but also to provide the masters with an opportunity to observe potential proteges before entrusing them with martial arts skills. One who entered before you and was still in your class was an older brother or sister. The next class of the Shaolin was composed of disciples. They were students who had demonstrated that they were worthy of learning the martial arts of the temple. Upon entrance into this class, they spent from two to four years in the exclusive study of the Shaolin arts of war and medicine, having already received their basic philosophical training as students. As students they learned the principles of Shaolin ethics; as disciples, their time had come to live those ethics, posing as examples for others to follow. Above the disciples were the masters, who were accorded status as full monks of the temple. The title of master had been bestowed upon them because they had learned completely a system of martial arts from their temple and perfected it, thus achieving technical mastery. Also, they had succeeded in learning the philosophy of the temple well enough to teach what they had learned. Indeed, this was their function in the temple. They were the dispensers of knowledge to the student classes. Among themselves, they had levels of excellence which indicated their martial arts prowess and their grasp of the Shaolin philosophy. The training chambers of Shaolin have assumed a nearly mythical status among martial artists, probably because of the legendary results of their successful students. In reality, the chambers were simply training areas for different aspects of gung fu. Some were style-specific, that is, where you would learn the kuen (formwork) of tiger or dragon. Others were places for muscular development, such as horse-training and water-carrying chambers. Some taught coordination and reflex drills; combat and sparring; weapons use; and meditation and visualization techniques. The actual number of chambers varied, depending upon which temple you were in, the combination of skills taught as a "core" by particular training masters, and, naturally, the size of the temple. If a person study Shaolin and learn little more than gung fu, he was not Shaolin. All the arts of the temple were aimed at leading one closer to enlightenment by providing tools to make a whole person, or what we often call Rennaissance people. A jack of many trades, master of one or two, those are qualities that define a priest, according to those who long made such designations in China. If you are a young person in school, do not sacrifice studies for martial arts; even if you learn skill, a tool with a dull edge is a dull tool of limited use. |