The Shaolin monks in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were all taught to practise Wushu. The Shaolin school of Chuan im-proved and developed through the trials of battles and wars. The Shaolin Temple was allowed to organize an army of monk soldiers, who acted as military people in warring times and as monks in peace time. Monk Tan Zong had the title of chief general con-ferred on him, while the Shaolin Temple was given large grants of land and money to expand the temple complex. After Li Shimin was enthroned as the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he awarded his followers ac-cording to their military merits and contributions. Shaolin monks Zhi Cao, Hui Yang, and Tan Zong took the side of Li and helped him catch the latter's nephew Wang Renze to force the self-appointed emperor to surrender. By the end of the Sui Dynasty (581-618), Li Shimin, king of the Qin state, fought with the self-appointed emperor of the Zheng state, Wang Shichong. They also absorbed the experience of their predecessors and gradually developed their mar-tial arts into the unique Shaolin school.ĭuring the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577), Shaolin monks could lift hundreds of kilograms in weight and were good at Chuan and horse riding. Those who knew martial arts taught and helped each other to improve their skills.
Those monks of the lower level mostly came from the secular society and some of them knew some martial arts before entering the temple. The Shaolin Temple once had many monks on its premises. In fact, Shaolin Chuan was the manifestation of the wisdom of the monks of the temple, secular Wushu masters and army generals and soldiers.Īccording to historical records, the Shaolin Temple was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty in the 19th calendar year of the reign of Emperor Taihe (495) and is one of China's most famous an-cient temples. The proposition, though very influential, was proved to be false, for there was a monk named BodhHiharma but he knew nothing at all about Chinese Chuan. The founder of the Shaolin Chuan was said to be an Indian monk, Bodhi-dharma. Shaolin Chuan originated in the Shaolin Temple on Mount Songshan at Dengfeng in Henan Province.
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