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Foreign influence on Chinese martial arts, or more specifically, Shaolin Kung Fu, is endorsed by the traditional Shaolin temple claims and the claims of a majority of martial arts historians. Both versions agree that the foreign influence was vital on Shaolin temple's approach to institutionalized martial arts.

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.

The Foreign influence

Establishment of the Shaolin temple

The Indian dhyana master Buddhabhadra was the founding abbot and patriarch of the Shaolin temple.

According to the Deng Feng County Recording (Deng Feng Xian Zhi), Bátuó came to China in 464 CE to preach Nikaya (小乘) Buddhism. Thirty-one years later, in 495, the Shaolin Monastery was built by the order of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei for Batuo's preaching. 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.

Bodhidharma

Bodhidharma is credited with the establishment of the Chan and Zen sects of Buddhism. Bodhidharma arrived in China during the 5th century. He stayed and taught for several years in the Shaolin temple.

Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit, 4th generation successor of the Southern Shaolin Monastery writes :-

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 monastary in Henan province, and inspired the development of Shaolin Kung Fu. This marked a watershed in the history of 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.

Chinese martial arts, like martial arts of Greece 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.

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.

Similarities

There exist many similarities between Chinese martial arts and arts of India. Practitioners have noted the similarities between the arts.

Around the 3rd century BC, Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras, which taught how to meditate single-mindedly on points located inside one's body, which was used in later martial arts, while various mudra finger movements were taught in Yogacara Buddhism. These Yoga elements, as well as finger movements in the nata dances, were later incorporated into various martial arts and called "Kata."

References to martial arts are found in early Buddhist texts. In the Lotus Sutra (Chapter 14), Gautama Buddha (563-483 BC) refers to a boxing art while speaking to Manjusri. The Lotus Sutra also categorized combat techniques as joint locks, fist strikes, grapples, and throws, and also referred to a martial art with dance-like movements called Nara. Another early Buddhist sutra Hongyo-kyo describes a "strength contest" between Gautama Buddha's half-brother Prince Nanda and his cousin Devadatta. Other stories suggest that Siddhartha Gautama was a champion wrestler and archer before becoming the Buddha.

Knowledge of these sutras and Yogacara were carried into China by Buddhist monks. Joyotpaul Chaudhuri notes that far too much attention is given to the Bodhidharma alone. Chan Buddhism is linked with other Indian Mahayana Buddhist schools including the Yogacara School through the Lankavatara Sutra, which was translated into Chinese around A.D. 440.

In addition to being a master of Dhyana, Bodhidharma is also related to Yogacara. He is described as a "master of the Lankavatara Sutra", and an early history of Zen in China is titled "Record of the Masters and Disciples of the Lankavatara Sutra" (Chin. Leng-ch'ieh shih-tzu chi).

The Lankavatara Sutra repeatedly refers to the 108 steps. The 108 of the Yang long form and Wing Chun, taught by the likes of Yip Man having 108 movements are noted in this regard. The similarities between the posture of the "Nataraja" and bong sau and bong gurk in one hand and one foot position are also noted. The Lankavatara Sutra repeatedly refers to the 108 steps.

Similarities were also recorded by the British Broadcasting Corporation in a television documentary in 1981 titled "Kalari, the Indian way" which noted that a Southern Kalaripayattu practitioner performed martial arts identical to one found in a branch lineage from the Wong-Hon-Wing line of Tibetan Hop-Gar Kung-Fu.

Discovery Channel also notes "Possibly the oldest martial art in the world, Kalarippayattu is still being practiced widely today in the Indian state of Kerala. Shaolin chuan is said to have evolved from Kalarippayattu."

Bodhidharma's stature in religion

It must be also be noted that Bodhidharma was a religious figure. A measure of conflicting accounts, traditional and modern in nature, surrounds religious figures, including Jesus Christ, Gautama Buddha and Prophet Mohammed. However the conflicting accounts, traditional or modern, in case of religion are usually made insignificant in comparision by views commonly held by the vast majority.

In case of Bodhidharma, it is generally believed:

Bodhidharma (c. 6th century CE) was the Buddhist monk traditionally credited as the founder both of Chán and Zen sects of Buddhism. He is commonly associated with the Shaolin kung fu school of the Chinese martial arts. It is generally agreed that he was a South Indian monk—possibly from Kanchipuram—who journeyed to southern China during the Liang Dynasty (502–557), from which he subsequently relocated northwards.

Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece

Early martial arts can be traced to Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. There was an extensive maritime trade network operating between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamian civilizations as early as the middle Harappan Phase, with much commerce being handled by the "middlemen merchants from Dilmun". Ancient Egypt had trading relations with India. Ancient Greece was in contact with India before Alexander the Great's Invasion. The Greek Pankration system was practiced by Alexander the Great's army. 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 Yoga, dharma, and dharmic religions, and were eventually transmitted to China.

Extent of acknowledgement of the foreign influence

Conflicting theories

Many accounts of Bodhidharma's life are largely legendary. A minority of historians within the martial arts community have attempted to present various theories, conflicting in nature, in order to revise history associated with Bodhidharma.

Historian Matsuda Ryuchi dates the Yi Jin Jing, a text often associated with Bodhidharma, to 1827. His claim is rejected by another historian, Lin Boyuan, whose research dates it to 1624.

Ling Tingkan concluded that the author of the Yì Jīn Jīng must have been an "ignorant village master." This claim has also been rejected by Lin Boyuan who attributes the Yì Jīn Jīng to the Taoist priest Zining writing in 1624.

Historian Paul Pelliot presents a version claiming that Bodhidharma did not exist at all, he is an entirely fictional creation, a proposal which conflicts with revisionist versions as presented by Matsuda Ryuchi, Lin Boyuan and Ling Tingkan.

Most accounts of martial arts history have credited the foreign influence, disregarding the conflicting theories.

The views from the martial arts community

Martial arts authors across the world, including June Lordi, Charles C. Goodin, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Cezar Borkowski, Simmone Kuo, Robin L. Rielly, Howard Reid, Liow Kah Joon and Kah Joon Liow, Annellen M Simpkins and C Alexander Simpkins, Bruce Thomas, Thomas D. Seabourne and Yeon Hwan Park, Steve De Masco, Stephen Kuei, Pat Zukeran, Ervin de Castro, BJ Oropeza and Ron Rhodes, Christopher Wren, Howard W. French, Prof. J. Roe, P. E. Katzer, Joyotpaul Chaudhari, Dr. William Durbin and Tony Sims have noted foreign influence on Chinese martial arts.

The foreign influence has also been recognized by legendary martial arts practitioners and authorities, including Chojun Miyagi, Funakoshi Gichin, Wong Kiew Kit, Tadashi Nakamura, Carlos Machado, and Rickson Gracie.

In addition, reputed organizations such as the British Broadcasting Corporation, the New York Times, The Hindu and the Discovery Channel to name a few, have also taken a note of the foreign influences.

Claims that that Chinese martial arts are independent of any foreign influence have also been rejected by prestigious martial arts institutions, including the Gracie Barra, International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Florida Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the Shaolin temple.

References

1. Shaolin.cn.com
2. The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health and Enlightenment by Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit
3. ^ "Of Monks and Martial Arts"; Sept. 11, 1983; New York Times
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8. Concise Encyclopedia Brittanica Article on Bodhidharma
9. The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health and Enlightenment by Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit
10. The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health and Enlightenment by Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit
11. The five holy mountains
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13. Systematic study and training in ancient Chinese discipline of Shaolin Kung Fu Wushu for holistic health and self-defense, including the study of various aspects of Eastern philosophy and religions - International Curriculum Proposal
14. Kalari Payatt: Martial Art Of India by Steve Richards 2002
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19. 108 STEPS: The Sino-Indian Connection in the Martial Arts by Joyotpaul Chaudhuri
20. 108 STEPS: The Sino-Indian Connection in the Martial Arts by Joyotpaul Chaudhuri
21. Kalaripayatta- Discovery Channel
22. A Life of Jesus by Howard Nicholson Brown
23. On the trial of Jesus: on the Trial of Jesus 2a Stj 1 by Paul Winter
24. Theosophical Path Magazine (January to June 1931) edited by Gottfried De Purucker. Page 54
25. Boddhisatva Doctrine in Buddhist Sanskrit Literature by H. Dayal
26. The Historical Buddha: The Times, Life, and Teachings of the Founder of Buddhism by Hans Wolfgang
27. The Succession to Mohammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate by Wilferd Madelung
28. A Force Profonde: The Power, Politics, and Promise of Human Rights by Edward A. Kolodziej
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49. Yin-Yang in Tai-Chi Chuan and Daily Life by Simmone Kuo
50. Karate for Kids by Robin L. Rielly
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55. Tae Kwon Do Techniques & Tactics by Thomas D. Seabourne, Yeon Hwan Park
56. An American's Journey to the Shaolin Temple by Steve De Masco
57. Beginning Qigong: Chinese secrets for health and longevity by Stephen Kuei, Stephen Comee
58. Martial Arts by Pat Zukeran
59. Patrick Zukeran: The Origins and Popularity of the Martial Arts
60. Enter the Dragon? Wrestling with the martial arts phenomenon. Part I: The historical-philosophical backdrop by Ervin de Castro, BJ Oropeza and Ron Rhodes
61. So Many Paths. Which Shaolin Is Real? The Reply: Yes. by Howard W. French
62. Our Martial Arts History and Tradition... by Prof. J. Roe
63. History of Shotokan Karate by P. E. Katzer
64. 108 STEPS: The Sino-Indian Connection in the Martial Arts by Joyotpaul Chaudhuri
65. The History of Teaching Methods used in the Martial Arts by Dr. William Durbin
66. Kempo Jitsu – Pre 1900 Martial Art System by Tony Sims
67. Breathing In and Breathing Out In Accordance With "Go" and "Ju": A Miscellaneous Essay on Karate by Chojun Miyagi
68. Okinawa Kata Classification: An Historical Overview by Mario McKenna
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74. How Hong Kong took Hollywood- BBC
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78. Art most ancient by Karthi Sekar
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81. Kalaripayatta- Discovery Channel
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83. Phoenix International Academy of Mixed Martial Arts
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See also

• Chinese martial arts
• Indian martial arts

Further reading

• Introduction of Red Pine, translator; The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma. North Point Press, New York. (1987)
• Our ancient legacy
• Denkoroku: Record of the Transmission of Luminosity by Keizan Jokin zenji, translated by Anzan Hoshin roshi and Joshu Dainen zenji
• Prana
• Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by Soothill and Hodous)
• - An interview with the Shankaracharya of Kanchi
• The Sound of the One Hand - Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 107, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1987), pp. 125-126
• Trinidad and Tobago's Guardian newspaper

• Zen
• Chinese martial arts
• Indian martial arts