Please note: This is a brief history.
The complete history is taught in detail as a part of the
school’s curriculum.
The beginning of Shaolin Kung-Fu started approximately in 550 AD.
A “Holy Man” from India, named Bodhidharma (TaMo in Chinese) arrived at
the Henan Shaolin Temple which was the original monastery built in 495 AD,
in Northern China. The Shaolin Temple was located in a very secluded area
where bandits and wild animals were an occasional problem. Since the Shaolin
Temple housed many valuable treasures, they became a targeted area to bandits
and outlaws.
Once TaMo was accepted into the Temple, he realized that the monks were in
poor physical condition. The monks lacked physical and mental stamina to
perform even the most basic meditation practices. After much thought, TaMo
countered their weaknesses by teaching the monks moving exercises designed
to enhance both Qi (aka inner strength) and physical strength. These moving
sets were modified Indonesian Yogas, mainly Hatha and Raja, became the
beginning exercises of Shaolin Kung-Fu.
As time passed, these basic exercises were transformed into valuable
breathing and meditation exercises. The monks of Shaolin soon realized the
importance of developing self-defense, to protect their temple and its treasures.
This task was relatively easy. TaMo invited the best Chinese martial arts master
to teach Kung-Fu to the monks. Note that many of the monks were retired generals or soldiers that had come
to Shaolin to gain a new prospective on life, and all the while, bringing with them the martial art fighting skills
learned during their military years of faithful service. Over time, the men and women of Shaolin devised what is
known to the world as “Shaolin Kung-Fu”.
Fujian (aka Southern) Shaolin Temple History
The Fujian or Southern Shaolin Temple was originally built in the city of “Citong” (Quanzhou), Fujian Province,
China around 650AD. The Southern Temple was much larger than the Henan Temple and was designated as
Shaolin Headquarters in times that Henan was either destroyed or under threat.
The Southern (Citong) Shaolin Temple has a long, rich history dating back 1200 years and is noted for its
legendary Kung-Fu masters which contributed to the overall development of the Shaolin martial arts.
The Temple’s reputation of martial arts prowess gained popularity over all of China, making them an enemy of
many conquering governments that sought to rule China and its people. Foreign governments did not want
anyone to resist or have the means to resist, thus, outlawing martial arts practice. In the 1700’s, the Ming
Dynasty ended with the brutal and barbaric Qing or Manchurian government taking control of China. As with
most foreign rulers; the practice of all martial arts was strictly prohibited, sentenced by death. The Qing ruler
realized that the skills of Shaolin would be a great asset to the protection of his rule and government and asked
the Temple’s leaders to assist with his political affairs. The Shaolin leaders declined the Qing’s invitation.
Subsequently, Shaolin was considered a threat to the Qing rule and possible sympathizers to many Anti-Qing
organizations. The Qing, knowing that the Citong Shaolin Temple had produced many of the greatest Kung-Fu
masters or warrior monks at that time, ordered the destruction of the Shaolin Temple. The Qing wanted to
ensure that Shaolin would not be able to aid in any resistance of the Chinese people.
The Citong Temple was no stranger to destruction. It had been destroyed two other times for the same
reasons, but this time would prove to be the last. After the third and final destruction of Citong and many of the
monks killed while trying to escape the fire and Qing soldiers, those surviving monks traveled through China
teaching Shaolin Kung-Fu in private and offering aid to the Anti-Qing organizations in hopes to overthrow the
barbaric government.
Once taught to only the monks of Shaolin, Shaolin Kung-Fu spread throughout China as well as throughout the
world.
The complete history is taught in detail as a part of the
school’s curriculum.
The beginning of Shaolin Kung-Fu started approximately in 550 AD.
A “Holy Man” from India, named Bodhidharma (TaMo in Chinese) arrived at
the Henan Shaolin Temple which was the original monastery built in 495 AD,
in Northern China. The Shaolin Temple was located in a very secluded area
where bandits and wild animals were an occasional problem. Since the Shaolin
Temple housed many valuable treasures, they became a targeted area to bandits
and outlaws.
Once TaMo was accepted into the Temple, he realized that the monks were in
poor physical condition. The monks lacked physical and mental stamina to
perform even the most basic meditation practices. After much thought, TaMo
countered their weaknesses by teaching the monks moving exercises designed
to enhance both Qi (aka inner strength) and physical strength. These moving
sets were modified Indonesian Yogas, mainly Hatha and Raja, became the
beginning exercises of Shaolin Kung-Fu.
As time passed, these basic exercises were transformed into valuable
breathing and meditation exercises. The monks of Shaolin soon realized the
importance of developing self-defense, to protect their temple and its treasures.
This task was relatively easy. TaMo invited the best Chinese martial arts master
to teach Kung-Fu to the monks. Note that many of the monks were retired generals or soldiers that had come
to Shaolin to gain a new prospective on life, and all the while, bringing with them the martial art fighting skills
learned during their military years of faithful service. Over time, the men and women of Shaolin devised what is
known to the world as “Shaolin Kung-Fu”.
Fujian (aka Southern) Shaolin Temple History
The Fujian or Southern Shaolin Temple was originally built in the city of “Citong” (Quanzhou), Fujian Province,
China around 650AD. The Southern Temple was much larger than the Henan Temple and was designated as
Shaolin Headquarters in times that Henan was either destroyed or under threat.
The Southern (Citong) Shaolin Temple has a long, rich history dating back 1200 years and is noted for its
legendary Kung-Fu masters which contributed to the overall development of the Shaolin martial arts.
The Temple’s reputation of martial arts prowess gained popularity over all of China, making them an enemy of
many conquering governments that sought to rule China and its people. Foreign governments did not want
anyone to resist or have the means to resist, thus, outlawing martial arts practice. In the 1700’s, the Ming
Dynasty ended with the brutal and barbaric Qing or Manchurian government taking control of China. As with
most foreign rulers; the practice of all martial arts was strictly prohibited, sentenced by death. The Qing ruler
realized that the skills of Shaolin would be a great asset to the protection of his rule and government and asked
the Temple’s leaders to assist with his political affairs. The Shaolin leaders declined the Qing’s invitation.
Subsequently, Shaolin was considered a threat to the Qing rule and possible sympathizers to many Anti-Qing
organizations. The Qing, knowing that the Citong Shaolin Temple had produced many of the greatest Kung-Fu
masters or warrior monks at that time, ordered the destruction of the Shaolin Temple. The Qing wanted to
ensure that Shaolin would not be able to aid in any resistance of the Chinese people.
The Citong Temple was no stranger to destruction. It had been destroyed two other times for the same
reasons, but this time would prove to be the last. After the third and final destruction of Citong and many of the
monks killed while trying to escape the fire and Qing soldiers, those surviving monks traveled through China
teaching Shaolin Kung-Fu in private and offering aid to the Anti-Qing organizations in hopes to overthrow the
barbaric government.
Once taught to only the monks of Shaolin, Shaolin Kung-Fu spread throughout China as well as throughout the
world.
