Kung Fu History

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kung fu wushu

Bodhidharma (Dat Ma Su To)

Shaolin Temple, Origin of All Martial Arts
It is night. A masked man leaps over the wall and slips noiselessly into the court of a mansion. Suddenly, amidst shouts and curses, guards and servants rush from every door and close in on the intruder. Yet the man betrays no fear; quickly assuming a defensive stance, he strikes out with his fists and kicks his legs in a series of highly sophisticated movements. The cocky guards do not even have a chance.... This is a typical scene from the traditional kungfu film. A prototype of movie contemporaneous with the "Westerns" of the 1960s or 1970s, the kungfu film has created a screen image of a hero like the Western Cowboy who took the audience by storm. Although what the "kungfu star" really accomplishes are no more than some near perfect stunts, Chinese wushu (martial arts), known as kungfu to Westerners, has thus become popular all over the world. Real Chinese kungfu may be something quite unlike that projected on the big screen, but it just as amazing. At the foot of songshan mountain in suburban Zhengzhou, Henan Province, a dozen monks from Shaolin Temple are demonstrating superb skills normally accomplished by stuntmen only through the aid of modern filming techniques. They stand on their heads, their throats unscathed when pressed against the needle-sharp points of spears. Hanging from the neck, they breathe as usual. They can shatter a pile of bricks with a flash of their palms and mill a stone with their fingers, or lick fire with their tongues. The monks of Shaolin Temple, cradle of Chinese kungfu, are almost all capable of seemingly impossible martial skills, something different from regular sports or the make-believe kungfu represented on TV or in the movies. Over the centuries, they have won fame and prestige for Shaolin, the very name of which has become synonymous with Chinese kungfu.

From Indian Buddhism to Chinese Chan Sect
unlike Western boxing, Korean taekwondo, or Japanese jujitsu, Shaolin kungfu has religious origins, rising from Buddhism. The is somewhat contradictory: how can a form of action based on attack and violence be related to Buddhism, which preaches mercy and benevolence and is opposed to all manner of "destruction of life?" of the world's countless monasteries and temples, Shaolin is probable the only one known for its martial arts. As a matter of fact, with the exception of certain primitive beliefs, the majority of existing religions are opposed to violent, offensive behavior. Buddhism, Christianity, or Judsism all advocate forbearance, patience and non violence. With the exception of the Buddhists of Shaolin Temple, Why? Around the 5th or 4th century B.C. when confucious, Lao Zi and many other Chinese thinkers expounded their teaching during the spring and Autumn period, Sakyamuni founded Buddhism in India. Rising as an expression of opposition to Brahmanism, which was practiced by the Indian upper caste, Buddhism advocated asceticism, nonviolence and renunciation of the world. Its "Four Holy Truths" expounded the view that life is pain, analyzed the causes of this pain and provided methods for eliminating it. Buddhists believe that everything has cause and principle. The religion delves into such profound problems as insight into life, introspection on reason, analysis of conception, and provides explanation to a myriad things in the universe. More than 400 years after its birth in India, Buddhism found its way into China in the 1st century B.C., but did not prosper due to the cultural differences between the two countries. Although Indian culture coexists with Chinese culture in Asia just as India is connected with China by the continent, their physical relations are severed by the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayan Mountains. The two countries have different natural conditions and social customs, different races, languages and social structures. Thus the Hinayana form of Buddhism, brought into China wholly intact. did not suit Chinese conditions and was not well received by the Chinese working people. The situation changed after the founding of the Chan Sect by monks." Bodhiharma, a holy monk from India. He crossed the ocean and arrived in China in 527, finally settling in Shaolin Temple on Songshan Mountain. There his many disciples listened as he preached a new school of buddhism the Chan Sect which differed substantially from Indian Buddhism and more adapted to the popular Chinese culture. The Chan Sect advocates self-cultivation through seated meditation. It preaches that everyone has the potential to become a Buddha, but fails to do so only because of obstacles in the mind. if one puts one's faith in Buddhism, banishes all improper thoughts and persists in cultivating oneself, true wisdom can be gained and Buddha hood attained. To a Chan Sect devotee, "instant awakening" is of primary importance. The Chan Sect. The Chan Sect thus transformed the abstruse, over elaborate Indian Buddhist tenet into a sanitized form of buddhism that was adapted to the traditional Chinese psychology. It tolerates almost all forms of worldly behavior except killing, looting, robbing and sex. As a result, Shaolin Temple allowed numerous artist monks, tea or wine imbibing monks and even carnivorous monks not accepted by other Buddhist schools. Such unusual religious tolerance provided an important basis for the existence and development of Shaolin martial arts. Hence the appearance of the "fighting monks" and" cudgeling monks." Unlike their counterparts in other monasteries, the inhabitants of Shaolin Temple payed little attention to ascetic living. Nor did they study the Buddhist scripture. Their daily routine consisted of "sitting cross-legged in front of the wall" in perfect composure, in order to stifle all distracting thoughts, as preached by Bodhidharma. It is said that Bodhidharma sat facing the wall in a rock cave for nine years, unaware of birds nesting on his shoulder, his shadow cast deep into the rock face. Perhaps this is exaggerated, but his perseverance provided stimulus to the rise and development of Shaolin martial arts. Long periods of sitting still obviously cause great discomfort and cramped limps; one needs to limber up to restore circulation. Thus the "18 routines of Shaolin Wushu" were invented. By modern physical standards, these routines are no more than warn-up exercises. But in those days they served as a regular part of the self cultivation regiment of Shaolin, settinrts beg an unprecedented example in the world of Buddhism, or perhaps even in other religions. Shaolin martial arts began to flourish.

From Temple Protection to Martial Arts
Today, however, the origin of Shaolin kung fu is still a widely debated topic. After Bodhidharma established his first religious court at Shaolin Temple the Chan Sect spread rapidly in China, unmatched by the Chengshi, Faxiang, Tiantai, Huayan and Pure Land sects. After the Tang Dynasty, the Chan Sect became far and away the most influential Buddhist school in China, dominating more than 70 percent of Buddhist temple through out the country. Yet of all the temples professing the Chan Sect, only Shaolin was renowned for its martial arts. Why? There are various reasons, some historical and some coincidental. As a matter of fact, the first elements of wushu had taken form since time immemorial, through activities such as fishing and hunting. By the Zhou and Qin era, and throughout the Han, the three kingdom, the western and Eastern Jin and the Southern and Northern Dynasties, wushu began to play an increasingly important role in warfare. At the end of the Qin regime (221-207 B.C.), peasant rebel led by Chen Sheng and wu Guang fought the Qin army with staffs and tree forks while Xiang Yu, king of Chen, lorded it over every other claimant to the throne with his halberd. During the three kingdoms period (220-280) Zhao Yun charged Cao Cao's camp single handedly and Guan Yu, brandishing his broadsword, forced his way through five cities, hacking down six enemy captain. And during the Sui Dynasty, Luo Cheng slew Prince Liang with an upward tilt of his spear. To a great extent, Shaolin wushu, which really took shape during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), drew upon different folk school of wushu. In fact, before embracing the Buddhist faith, many of Shaolin monks were wushu masters. Ba Tuo, who founded Shaolin Temple, came to China from India 30 years before Bodhidharma. He had a keen interest in wushu" while it is not know whether he himself ever took part in wushu training, his disciples Hui Guang and Seng Chou were armed with consummate skills. According to historical records, while still a lad of 12, Hui Guang could kick a shuttlecock 500 times in a row while standing on the rails round a well; and Seng Chou could "Walk a wall" and leap up to a rooftop with one bound. They were the first Shaolin monks to practice martial arts. But what contributes to Shaolin monks' mass participation in wushu training is the temple's geographical location and special historical circumstances. During the 4,000 years in the recoded Chinese history, from Yu the Great of the Xia Dynasty (2100-1600 B.C) up to the last Qing Dynasty, Chinese society endured innumerable wars, factionalist rulers and changes of regimes. Over the centuries, because of its geographical position, the Central Plain had always been the center of the Chinese historical stage; and Shaolin Temple, with its tolerant atmosphere and picturesque surrounding, became and ideal haven for retired general, malcotents and and refugees from the law from all over the country. Before embracing the faith, however, most of there people were recognized wushu experts. As they came together, they had the opportunity to trade special skills, and gradually Shaolin wushu became considerable more mature and refined. Another factor leading to the advance of Shaolin wushu was the need to "protect the temple against marauding bandits." After the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-581), monasterial economies expanded drastically due to the court's growing interest in Buddhism. Shaolin Temple not only had its halls and extensive grounds, but also its employees and attendants. Emperor Wen Di of the Sui Dynasty (581-618), for example, granted Shaolin 1,648 acres of land for the sustenance of its members. Such imperial graciousness knocked the bottom out of the basic Buddhist tenet that " all forms of life are equal," and turned the monks into something of a parasitic class dependent on the leasing of land and housing for a living. Inevitably, Shaolin monks found themselves involved in the whirlpool of political struggle. In order to protect their temple against banditry, monk-soldiers were born.

"lllustrious" Monk Soldiers
The appearance of the monks- soldiers indicates that the concept of devotees participating in wushu training was accepted by the society and supported by the ruling class. Shaolin wushu was no longer a matter of personal taste and interest, nor was it kept hidden within the walls of the monastery. A wushu clique and style was formed, with Shaolin Temple as its nucleus, which drew on the best element among the Chinese martial arts circles. It specialized in boxing, cudgelling and internal exercise, with Shaolin monks taking a leading role. In 621, between the late Sue and the early Tang, a fierce struggle unfolded between the Qin primce Li Shimin And the Sui general Wang Shicong. Hearing of the Shaolin monks' prowess, Prince Li issued and edict calling upon the monks to "help apprehend the prince culprit the land." The monks responded, the first time ever that Buddhist disciples had collectively take parts in battle. In the campaign of Qianglingkou, Shaolin monk-soldiers routed Wang Shicong's army. Prince Li was enthroned as the Tang emperor, he awarded the Shaolin monks handsomely, conferring the title of Great General on monk Tan Zong and granting Shaolin Temple 40 hectares of land. Moreover, the temple was permitted to retain a standing army of monk-soldiers. From that time on, the Shaolin troops became widely know, and their ranks grew from year to years. Among the famous fighting monks in the Tang Dynasty were Shan Hu, Zhi Cao, Hui Yang, Tan Zong, Shan Hui, Ming Gao, Ling Hui, Shin Sheng, Zhi Shou, Dao Guang, Zhi Xing, Fing Shau,Dao Guang, Zhi Xing, Feng Man, Jue ren, Jue Yi and Tou Hong. Renowned Song Dynasty (960-1279) fighting monks included Fu Ju, Fu Shi and Li Cheng, and those of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) were Jin Na Luo, Fu Su, Ju An and Ling An. The Ming Dynasty (1638-1644) saw a blossoming of Shaolin martial arts as never before. Almost all the residents of Shaolin took up wushu and a powerful detachment of over 2,500 monk-soldiers was organized. Shaolin wushu had come into its own, whether in boxing, weapons or internal exercise. The Ming government treasured the monk-soldiers, sending them on expeditions to border areas several dozen times between the reigns of emperors Jia Jing and Wan Li. The most well-know fighters of this era included Yue Kong, Yue Xing, Yue Ling, Si Kong, Wu Kong, Se Kong, Ban Kong, Sa Kong, Wa Xu, Zhou You, Zhou Can, Hong Hong, Pau Shi, Xiao Shan, Zao Hua, Tian Chi, Yi Zhou, Da Xu, Dong Ming, Gu Quan, Da Yong, Bi Xi, Da You, etc. In 1553, forty Shaolin monks led by Tian Zhen And Tian Chi "inflicted a crushing defeat on Japanese pirates." In June of the same years,"pioneered by patrols led by Tian Yuan and Supported by rearguards led by Yue Kong, Shaolin monks fought and defeated Japanese pirates at Baishawan." More than 100 monks-soldiers took part in the battle. The mass participation of Shaolin monks in military campaigns marked a turning point in the development of Shaolin wushu, which evolved into a comprehensive system strongly combative in nature. Despite the Qing government's eventual suppression, Shaolin kungfu has remained a leader among Chinese wushu circles.

"In Defence, like a Virgin; in Attack, like a Tiger"
As the nucleus of Shaolin wushu, Shaolin boxing dates back more than 1,000 years to the Northern Wei, when Bodhiharma founded the Chan Sect. In those times, the monks were practicing the "18 routines of Luohan Boxing" to relieve the fatigue and cramped sensations of long hours in meditation, but it was not until the late Ming or early Qing Dynasty that Shaolin Boxing won fame among
wushu circles for its special characteristics and routines. The was much later the development of Shaolin kungfu with weapons. In its initial stage Shaolin boxing was represented solely by Luohan Boxing, the nucleus and origin of all the various routines of Shaolin boxing. To depend themselves against the attack of wild animals, Shaolin monks created the Xinyi (Heart-and Mind) Boxing, mimicking the actions of animals and human labor. But this rudimentary practice was still far from being an integral system of Shaollin boxing routines. Shaolin boxing began to develop rapidly following the Tang court's patronage and permission for large scale wushu training. The benefits brought by wushu prompted temple authorities to encourage monks to take part in serious wushu training and to tour the country, seeking out master for advanced training and exchanging knowledge with wushu fans. During the Song Dynasty, Fu Ju, abbot of Shaolin Temple, invited experts from 18 wushu schools to shaolin for exchange of skills. The remained for three years and ultimately edited the Shaolin Boxing Manual which described 280 routines. It is said that Zhao Kuangyin, founding emperor of Song, was able to thoroughly master the routines of Long Boxing because of what he had learned at Shaolin. During the Jin and Yuan dynasties, monk Jue Yuan descended the mountain and traveled west. In Lanzhou and Luoyang he met experts Bai Yufeng and Li Sou, and returned with them to Shaolin for further exchange of wushu skills. Subsequently, more than 70 rountines of Shaolin boxing were created on the basis of the 18 routines of Luohan Boxing, which developed further into 173. Meanwhile, mimicking the "five-Animal Play" devised by the famous physician Hua Tuo of the Three Kingdoms Period, Jue Ya Yuan Created the Dragon, Leopard, Snake, Tiger and Crane boxing and developed the art of attack. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, a group or highly idealistic people aware of the deteriorating political situation joined Shaolin Temple, with a view to dedicating themselves to the service of the country at a decisive historical juncture. They brought With them countless folk wushu routines. At the same time, the Qing government's ban on the practice of wushu caused many Shaolin monks to leave the temple and roam the country, thus bringing Shaolin wushu to a popular level. Returing to temple in later years, these monks brought back what they had learned from other schools. By the end of the Qing Dynasty there were several hundred types of Shaolin boxing in current use. Though some have been lost since, more than 100 sets of sparring methods have survived. They include Xiaohong, Dahong, Tongbi (long Arm) Pao (Cannon), Yuan (Monkey), Qixing (Seven-Star), Xinyi (heart- and-mind), Rou (soft), Meihua (plum Blossom) and many other boxing.

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