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| According to the '']'' and the '']'', the monk ] (Chinese ]: ''Pútídámó'' or simply ''Dámó'') arrived at the Shaolin temple soon after his departure from the court of the ] in 527. | According to the '']'' and the '']'', the monk ] (Chinese ]: ''Pútídámó'' or simply ''Dámó'') arrived at the Shaolin temple soon after his departure from the court of the ] in 527. | ||
| Damo is said to have come to ] to introduce the ] of Buddhism known as ] (]: ]). Upon his arrival at the temple he found the monks in poor health and unable to endure the long sessions of meditation he introduced. (There are many versions of the Damo legend; this is one of the more common). Damo taught the monks exercises that developed the stamina necessary for prolonged meditation. Accounts generally include |
Damo is said to have come to ] to introduce the ] of Buddhism known as ] (]: ]). Upon his arrival at the temple he found the monks in poor health and unable to endure the long sessions of meditation he introduced. (There are many versions of the Damo legend; this is one of the more common). Damo taught the monks exercises that developed the stamina necessary for prolonged meditation. Accounts generally include the "]" exercises among them and, depending on the source, the "Brain/Marrow Cleansing" exercises and/or the ]. | ||
| The monks of Shaolin later incorporated Damo's exercises into the practice of existing martial arts. This was the birth of what is today known as '''Shaolin Quan''' ("Shaolin Boxing" or literally "Shaolin Fist"). Shaolin Quan is credited as the ancestor of hundreds of other widely practised styles, such as ] and ]. Martial arts traditions in both ] and ] cite Chinese influence as transmitted by monks. | The monks of Shaolin later incorporated Damo's exercises into the practice of existing martial arts. This was the birth of what is today known as '''Shaolin Quan''' ("Shaolin Boxing" or literally "Shaolin Fist"). Shaolin Quan is credited as the ancestor of hundreds of other widely practised styles, such as ] and ]. Martial arts traditions in both ] and ] cite Chinese influence as transmitted by monks. | ||
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| *] | *] | ||
| The two main schools of Shaolin Quan are the Temple style and the Northern style (Bak Siu Lum |
The two main schools of Shaolin Quan are the Temple style and the Northern style (]: Bak Siu Lum). Both of these consist of ten hand sets and although similar in technique the sets are completely different. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 01:34, 27 July 2005
Shaolin Quan, Shaolinquan or Shaolin Chü'an (Chinese: 少林拳; pinyin: Shàolín Quán) is the term typically used to describe the Chinese martial arts that originate from the famous Shaolin Buddhist temple and monastery at Songshan in Henan, founded circa 495 CE.
According to the Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall and the Jingde Record of the Transmission of the Lamp, the monk Bodhidharma (Chinese pinyin: Pútídámó or simply Dámó) arrived at the Shaolin temple soon after his departure from the court of the Liang Emperor Wu in 527.
Damo is said to have come to China to introduce the sect of Buddhism known as Chán (Japanese: Zen). Upon his arrival at the temple he found the monks in poor health and unable to endure the long sessions of meditation he introduced. (There are many versions of the Damo legend; this is one of the more common). Damo taught the monks exercises that developed the stamina necessary for prolonged meditation. Accounts generally include the "Muscle/Tendon Changing" exercises among them and, depending on the source, the "Brain/Marrow Cleansing" exercises and/or the 18 Luohan Hands.
The monks of Shaolin later incorporated Damo's exercises into the practice of existing martial arts. This was the birth of what is today known as Shaolin Quan ("Shaolin Boxing" or literally "Shaolin Fist"). Shaolin Quan is credited as the ancestor of hundreds of other widely practised styles, such as Hung Gar and Shorinji kenpo. Martial arts traditions in both Japan and Korea cite Chinese influence as transmitted by monks.
Shaolin Quan began to take the shape we see today during the Ming Dynasty (14th-17th centuries). Typically within the Shaolin system, there are ten empty hand "sets" and many different weapons. Weapons training will vary from school to school. Shaolin practitioners are historically well known for their ability to endure hardship as well as their training with the distinctive steel monk's spade, iron staff and spear.
Southern Shaolin is famous for its Five Animals, styles adapted from imitating the motions of the animals in question for martial applications.
The two main schools of Shaolin Quan are the Temple style and the Northern style (Cantonese: Bak Siu Lum). Both of these consist of ten hand sets and although similar in technique the sets are completely different.