Open the Golden Guide to Songshan Shaolin Temple

Author: Zhou Yi, Liu Chang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Shaolin Temple is revered as the ancestral seat of Chan Buddhism, but what truly made it world-famous is Shaolin Kung Fu. Tracing its roots back, it still cannot be separated from the first ancestor of Chan Buddhism, Bodhidharma. In ancient times, Mount Song was high and dense with forests, often inhabited by tigers and wolves. Even as late as the Ming Dynasty, Xu Xiake witnessed the footprints of tigers during his travels on Mount Song, and one can imagine the state of Mount Song in Bodhidharma's era. The lives of monks were already very austere, so to strengthen their bodies and defend against fierce beasts, the founder of Chan Buddhism, Bodhidharma, also developed a set of techniques that could enhance physical fitness and be practical for combat—these were not yet called "Kung Fu" at the time, likely just some simple movements, somewhat like doing calisthenics. From this, it can also be deduced that Bodhidharma's "single reed crossing the river" is purely a fabrication of later generations. Otherwise, teaching his disciples a few moves of flying (leaping across rooftops) and flying through the clouds would have been much easier. Even the fiercest tigers would probably just be left standing on the ground, watching in amazement. However, the techniques Bodhidharma created should not be underestimated. Through the continuous refinement and evolution of Shaolin monks in later generations, combined with the essence of various martial arts schools, what emerged was the world-famous "Shaolin Kung Fu," which had already begun to gain prominence during the Sui and Tang dynasties and had developed into a distinct "Shaolin School" by the Song Dynasty. Shaolin Kung Fu has many categories, but only the staff and fist are unmatched in the world. The fist is self-explanatory—just as in wuxia novels where it is often said, "Fists originate from Shaolin, while swords belong to Mount Hua." The fist is the signature skill of Shaolin Temple. It may seem ordinary at first glance, but once one is hit by a few, they will realize its power. Compared to the fist's thickness, the staff is even more impressive. Shaolin monks hold the staff in high regard. The earliest surviving Shaolin "martial arts manual" is about staff techniques, and the guardian deity of Shaolin Temple, Jina Luo Wang, is depicted holding a staff. In ancient melee weapons, the staff is a blunt weapon, unlike swords that are sharp and showy. Both the staff and the fist have a sense of restraint. Anyone with even a basic understanding of Shaolin martial arts knows that the first three moves of Shaolin Kung Fu are defensive. In other words, Shaolin monks avoid striking unless absolutely necessary, and even when they do, there are the "Eight Hits and Eight Non-Hits" principles. The "Eight Non-Hits" refer to vital points that can be fatal, while the "Eight Hits" refer to areas that can subdue the opponent without risking their life. From this, it is clear that Shaolin Kung Fu, despite its reputation in the martial arts world, is not simply brute force for the sake of competition. It also embodies the Zen spirit and Buddhist nature. This may be the deeper reason why Shaolin Kung Fu carries an unearned authority and has long been regarded as the "true essence of martial arts." P186-188