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			#REDIRECT ]
	'''Indian influence on Chinese martial arts''', or more specifically, ], is endorsed by the traditional ] claims and the claims of a majority of martial arts historians. Both versions agree that ] was a vital influence on Shaolin temple's approach to ''institutionalized martial arts''. <ref></ref><ref>The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health and Enlightenment by Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit </ref> Both versions however have seen some ] from a minority of martial arts historians in recent years.
	]]]

	This foreign influence acting as a catalyst, however, does not necessarily indicate the indroduction of martial arts to China from India. In an article by published in the ''New York Times'' Travel section in 1983, Christopher Wren asserts that organised martial traditions predate the establishment of the Shaolin Monastery by centuries.<ref name="NYTIMES"></ref>

	==The Indian influence==
	<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] -->
	===Establishment of the Shaolin temple under Batuo===
	According to Chinese texts such as, ''Deng Feng County Recording'' (''Deng Feng Xian Zhi''), a Buddhist monk named ] ({{zh-cp \|c=跋陀 \|p='''Bátuó'''}}) went to China to ] Buddhism in 464 A.D. The Shaolin Temple was built thirty-one years later in 495 A.D., by the order of emperor Wei Xiao Wen (471-500 A.D.).<ref></ref> The temple originally consisted of a round dome used as a shrine and a platform where Indian and Chinese monks translated Indian Buddhist scriptures into native Chinese languages. <ref> Legacy of Shaolin Fighting Monks
	by Salvatore Canzonieri</ref>
	]
	Buddhabhadra, an ]n ] master, was the founding ] of ] and the teacher to the monks there, including Sengchou and Huiguang.<ref>{{cite book \| last = Broughton \| first = Jeffrey L. \| title = The Bodhidharma Anthology: The Earliest Records of Zen \| year = 1999 \| publisher = University of California Press \| location = Berkeley \| id = ISBN 0-520-21972-4 \| pages = 109}}</ref> Monastery records state Sengchou and Huiguang, both expert in the martial arts, were two of Shaolin's first monks.<ref>{{cite journal \| author = Canzonieri, Salvatore \| year = 1998 \| month = February–March \| title = History of Chinese Martial Arts: Jin Dynasty to the Period of Disunity \| journal = Han Wei Wushu \| volume = 3 \| issue = 9 \| url = }}</ref>
	The '']'' documents Sengchou's skill with the tin staff.

	===Bodhidharma===
	], who is credited with the establishment of the ] sect of Buddhism, <ref> Concise Encyclopedia Brittanica Article on Bodhidharma</ref> arrived in ] during the 5th century. He stayed and taught for several years in the Shaolin temple.

	Excerpts from author ''Simmone Kuo'''s ''Long Life Good Health Through Tai-Chi Chuan'' <ref>Long Life Good Health Through Tai-Chi Chuan by Simmone Kuo</ref> are mentioned below :-

	<blockquote>
	Finding that the sedentary life often left the monks weak both in body and mind, Ta Mo decided to encourage physical discipline as well as meditation. He taught streching exercises from the Indian tradition of Yoga with which he was familiar. On their part, the Chinese monks were reminded of the native fighting techniques from their youth. A group of eighteen particulary dedicated monks then developed and refined a system of streching exercises and movements of what is now the core of Shao-lin Chuan, the source for all subsequent martial arts, including Tai Chi Chuan. The Chinese revere the eighteen monks to this day and venerate them as Lohans.
	</blockquote>

	This view is endorsed in many forms by the martial arts community and the Shaolin temple authorities alike. Grandmaster ], 4th generation successor of the Southern Shaolin Monastery writes <ref>The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health and Enlightenment
	by Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit </ref>:-

	<blockquote>
	It was during this time that the Venerable Bodhidharma came from India to China to spread Buddhism. In 527 CE he settled down in the Shaolin monastery in Henan province, and inspired the development of Shaolin Kung Fu. This marked a watershed in the history of Kung Fu, because it led to a change of course, as Kung Fu became institutionalized. Before this, martial arts were known only in general sense. It was only after the inception of Shaolin Kung Fu that names were used to label various schools like Taijiquan, Bagua, Wing Choon, Eagle Claw, Praying Mantion and so on. Indeed, Kung Fu, as we understand today, started from the Shaolin.
	</blockquote>

	Chinese martial arts, like martial arts of ] and India, have existed before the arrival of Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma's status in martial arts is due to his role in the ''institutionalization'' of Chinese martial arts, presumably by introducing excercises, meditation, discipline, newer techniques etc. to the native fighting methods during his tenure at the Shaolin monastery. <ref> Of Monks and martial arts by Christopher Wren. Published: September 11, 1983</ref>

	It has also been suggested that these techniques which are the foundation for many martial arts today were never originally intended to be utilized as methods of fighting but were a manner in which the monks could attain enlightenment while preserving their bodies' health. <ref> The five holy mountains</ref><ref> Our Martial Arts History and Tradition: A Brief History Of Kempo by Prof. J. Roe</ref> The extensive development of these techniques by the Chinese monks over centuries led to modern day Shaolin Kung Fu.

	==Visible signs of Indian presence at the Shaolin temple==
	===The Shaolin Temple mural===
	The Shaolin Temple in China contains fresco murals from the 17th century which depict dark-skinned (not black but similar in skin tone to Indians) monks teaching Chinese monks fighting forms. On the mural that survived three fires between 1644 to 1927, it says when translated from Chinese into Japanese script ''"Tenjiku Naranokaku"'' translating as ''"the fighting techniques to train the body which come from India."'' <ref> India and China </ref>

	==Bodhidharma and Zen==
	] (1839-1892)]]
	'''Zen''' is a form of ] ] that places great importance on moment-by-moment awareness and 'seeing deeply into the nature of things' by direct experience. Zen emerged as a distinct school in ] and spread to ], ], ], and, in modern times, the rest of the world.

	"Zen" is the ] pronunciation of the character "禅" which is pronounced "]" in ]. The same character is read "Sun" in Korean. ''Zen'' is a contraction of the seldom-used long form ''zenna'' (禅那; Mandarin: chánnà), which derives from "]" (]) or "jhānam" (]), meaning meditation.

	Bodhidharma is associated with the idea that spiritual, intellectual and physical excellence are an indivisible whole necessary for enlightenment.
	Such an approach to enlightenment ultimately
	proved highly attractive to the ] class in Japan, who made
	] their way of life, following their encounter with the
	martial-arts-oriented Zen ] introduced to Japan by
	] in the ].

	==Negationism and its extent==
	{{see\|Bodhidharma, the martial arts, and the disputed India connection}}

	Like the ] or the ], <ref> The Neo-Orthodoxy of Donald Bloesch by W. Gary Crampton
	</ref><ref> Bible and Revelation</ref><ref> The Real History of Islam by Dr. Michael Lamb</ref> the Indian influence on Chinese martial arts has also been subjected to ] by a minority of the martial arts community. However, these attempts have been rejected by the larger martial arts community including authors, practitioners, major news institutions and martial arts institutions.

	Martial arts authors across the world, including June Lordi, <ref> Tai Chi by June Lordi</ref> Charles C. Goodin, <ref> Daruma: Determination and Zen training in Budo by Charles C. Goodin</ref> Hidetaka Nishiyama, <ref>Karate: The Art of Empty-Hand Fighting
	By Richard C. Brown, Hidetaka Nishiyama </ref> Cezar Borkowski, <ref>The Complete Idiot's Guide to Martial Arts
	By Cezar Borkowski, Marion Manzo</ref> Simmone Kuo, <ref>Long Life, Good Health Through Tai-Chi Chuan by Simmone L. Kuo</ref><ref>Yin-Yang in Tai-Chi Chuan and Daily Life by Simmone Kuo</ref> Robin L. Rielly, <ref>Karate for Kids by Robin L. Rielly</ref> Howard Reid, <ref>The Book of Soft Martial Arts: Finding Personal Harmony with Chi Kung, Hsing I, Pa Kua and T'ai Ch'i by Danny Connor and Howard Reid</ref> Liow Kah Joon and Kah Joon Liow, <ref>A Musical Journey: from the Great Wall of China to the water towns of Jiangnan by liow kah Joon, Kah Joon Liow</ref> Annellen M Simpkins and C Alexander Simpkins, <ref>Zen in Ten: Easy Lessons for Spiritual Growth by C. Alexander Simpkins, Annellen M. Simpkins</ref> Bruce Thomas, <ref>Bruce Lee: Fighting Spirit: A Biography by Bruce Thomas</ref> Thomas D. Seabourne and Yeon Hwan Park, <ref>Tae Kwon Do Techniques & Tactics by Thomas D. Seabourne, Yeon Hwan Park</ref> Steve De Masco, <ref>An American's Journey to the Shaolin Temple by Steve De Masco</ref> Stephen Kuei, <ref>Beginning Qigong: Chinese secrets for health and longevity by Stephen Kuei, Stephen Comee</ref> Pat Zukeran, <ref> Martial Arts by Pat Zukeran</ref><ref>Patrick Zukeran: The Origins and Popularity of the Martial Arts</ref>
	Ervin de Castro, BJ Oropeza and Ron Rhodes, <ref>Enter the Dragon? Wrestling with the martial arts phenomenon. Part I: The historical-philosophical backdrop by Ervin de Castro, BJ Oropeza and Ron Rhodes</ref> Christopher Wren, ], <ref> So Many Paths. Which Shaolin Is Real? The Reply: Yes. by Howard W. French</ref> Pete Hessler, <ref> Drinking Up Life In a Chinese Teahouse by Pete Hessler. Published: May 18, 1997</ref>
	Prof. J. Roe, P. E. Katzer, <ref>History of Shotokan Karate by P. E. Katzer</ref> Joyotpaul Chaudhari, <ref> 108 STEPS: The Sino-Indian Connection in the Martial Arts by Joyotpaul Chaudhuri
	</ref> Dr. William Durbin <ref> The History of Teaching Methods used in the Martial Arts by Dr. William Durbin</ref> and Tony Sims <ref> Kempo Jitsu – Pre 1900 Martial Art System by Tony Sims</ref> have rejected the revisionist claims.

	The revisionist claims have also been rejected by martial arts practitioners and authorities, including ], <ref> Breathing In and Breathing Out
	In Accordance With "Go" and "Ju": A Miscellaneous Essay on Karate by Chojun Miyagi
	</ref> ], <ref> Okinawa Kata Classification: An Historical Overview by Mario McKenna</ref> ], <ref>The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health and Enlightenment
	by Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit</ref> ], <ref>Karate: Technique and Spirit by Tadashi Nakamura</ref> and ]. <ref> History of Jiu-Jitsu</ref>

	In addition, reputed organizations such as the ], <ref> So Many Paths. Which Shaolin Is Real? The Reply: Yes. by Howard W. French</ref><ref> Of Monks and martial arts by Christopher Wren. Published: September 11, 1983</ref> and the ] <ref> Kalaripayatta- Discovery Channel</ref> to name a few, have also rejected the revisionist claims.

	Claims that Shaolin Kung Fu is independent of any foreign influence have also been rejected by prestigious martial arts institutions, including the Shaolin temple. <ref> History Facts: The Founder Of Shaolinsi</ref>

	==Proposed influences on India==
	] tombs are shown in the picture.]]
	Many historians have theorised that Indian arts were influenced by other civilizations as well. Early martial arts can be traced to ] and ]. <ref> </ref> There was an extensive maritime trade network operating between the ] and Mesopotamian civilizations as early as the middle Harappan Phase, with much commerce being handled by the ''"middlemen merchants from Dilmun"''. <ref>Neyland, R.S. (1992) “The seagoing vessels on Dilmun seals”, in D.H. Keith & T.L. Carrell (ed.), ''Underwater archaeology proceedings of the Society for Historical Archaeology Conference at Kingston, Jamaica 1992'' pp. 68-74. Tucson (AZ): Society for Historical Archaeology.</ref> Ancient Egypt had trading relations with India. <ref> Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Maritime Spice Route Between India, Egypt. Publication: Popular-Science.Net. Date: April 1, 2004</ref><ref> New Proof Of Ancient India's Flourishing Trade With Rome by Anand Parthasarathy</ref> ] was in contact with India before ]. The Greek ] system was practiced by Alexander the Great's army.<ref> History and backgroud of Pankration</ref> It has been suggested that over time, concepts in primitive martial arts spread east to India, where they fell on fertile ground and began their development in relationship to ], ], and ], and were eventually transmitted to China.<ref> The Roots of Martial Arts</ref><ref> Martial Arts-Basic History by Rick Gill</ref>

	==References==
	<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
	<div class="references-small"><references /></div>

	== Further reading ==

	*Introduction of Red Pine, translator; The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma. North Point Press, New York. (1987)
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Latest revision as of 03:47, 23 March 2012

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Origins of Asian martial arts