History of Shaolin Kung Fu - 2

Shaolin

When Damo arrived at Shaolin he again made his stark views know. He commented most derogatorily of Shaolin's weak, sickly ad lazy Monks. As a true believer of Mayhayan Buddhism and master of staff and bare hand skills, he was a firm believer of the need for exercise to reach enlightenment. It was not surprising that the Shaolin Monks were not happy to be so confronted and, like the Emperor, asked him to leave. Be it because of his previous relative failure with the Chinese Emperor or be it that he had enough of traveling or be it that he really was disgusted with the conditions at Shaolin, he did not leave. A small cave, that is still there, some 30 minutes walking distance from Shaolin became his new home.

9 Days, 9 Years

Damo retreated to this cave to meditate on the problem(s). Many legends suggest he sat in this cave facing a wall for 9 years. Whether it was nine years, months or moons, he did spend quite some time in this cave meditating. It his time in the cave, he had a few encounters. Some of the Shaolin started visiting him and in a way he became an oddity. He also met She Kuang, possibly a Shaolin student or visitor who came to his cave to see the strange man. There are several accounts of what She Kuang did to became Bodhidharma's 1st disciple.

Bodhidharma did eventually gain entrance to Shaolin. There are also mutiple legends on this matter and there are many variations. One of the most popular is that he sat facing the cave wall for 9 years straight. The Shaolin were so impressed with his determination and skill that they invited him in even providing him with his own quarters (this is significant as the Shaolin Temple never was that sizable).

Introduction of Physical Exercise

Soon after entering Shaolin he defined three types of exercises later transcribed by monks as;

1. "The Muscle Change Classic" or "The Change of the Sinews,"
2. "The Marrow Washing"
3. "The Eighteen Hand Movements later named The Eighteen Lohan Shou (Lohan meaning enlightened and Shou meaning Hands/Exercises)

This marked the beginning of Shaolin Temple Kung Fu ( kung fu in Shaolin meaning hard work and perfection not martial or war art). Damo later devised some self-defence movements based on his knowledge of Indian fighting systems. (possibly introducing Pole as a weapon as this was part of his training and is often depicted with it.)

1st Closing (burning) of Shaolin

Towards the end of the time of the Northern & Southern Dynasties, around Emperor Wu Di of the Northern Zhou Dynasty called for the "abolishment of Buddhism". In 574 and again in 577, Emperor Wu had Buddhist and Taoist images destroyed and their clergy returned to lay life. He believed the temples had become too rich and powerful, so he confiscated their land and gave it to his own soldiers. During this time, the Shaolin Monastery was closed, Shaolin Dispersed. This was considered the 1st and 2nd persecution of Buddhism (looking at it only from a Buddhist perspective) but there were to be two more such purges.

Reopening of Shaolin

A new Dynasty and a new start, the new Tang Emperor himself believed in Buddhism and allowed Shaolin to be rebuilt and reoccupied. Shaolin understood that it needed to be able to manage their own protection, not being able to rely of the 'good will' of the local governor. A higher focus was put on the training of Monks in martial art as an exercising. As they were not skilled warriors, they started interacting with the outside by inviting warriors and local masters to visit and train with them. The Shaolin Monk skills came to be respected and well know. This is evidenced by the Emperors call for aid in freeing his captured son..

The 13 Champions

General Wang-Shih-Chung had gathered a large army in an attempt to oust the Emperor from the Imperial throne and start a new Dynasty. Li Shimini, the Emperors son, was sent with an army again the usurper. Wang-Shih-Chung forces managed to capture the Emperors son and inflicted great damage to the Tang army. The General also threatened to kill the Tang Emperors heir if he did not desist with his attacking army. It seemed like a no win situation.

Why the Tang Emperor sought the help of Shaolin is not entirely clear, but he did. He sent a message to Shaolin, asking for help to save his son. This was a heavy burden for Shaolin as it went against the foundation of their Buddhist beliefs, to cause harm to humans for any reason. Yet the Emperors 'request' could not be ignored.

It is recorded that Shaolin sent 13 Pole Fighting monks to help free the Imperial heir. The Shaolin devised a Dawn Attack raid wherein they silently entered the Army just before dawn, removed any resistance, creating some damage (legends suggest they killed 10,000 soldiers but .. .) and escaped with the Emperors son. This successful raid causing much damage and demoralizing the troops which broke the army and allowed for Royalist troops to 'clean up'.

Seng Bing

With his son and throne safe again, the Emperor was pleased and gifted Shaolin with greater lands, regular funds and the Royal Grant of allowing Shaolin to have up to 500 Warrior Monks (Soldier Monks, Seng Bing). This again, put Shaolin on the Chinese Political and Buddhist map. This improved even further when a few years later the old Emperor died and his (by the Shaolin saved) son became the new Tang Emperor. A very close relationship between Shaolin and the court was established, which would last until the Buddhist persecutions towards the end of the Tang Dynasty.

Center of China

With Shaolin becoming so renown, many, many young people wanted to become Soldier Monks; many wanted to learn Shaolin Kung Fu and many just wanted what ever they could get. Shaolin seemed the 2nd center (beside the Imperial court, that was a bit more difficult to access than Shaolin) of the Chinese Universe. This had both Advantages and disadvantages.