Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to the traditional cultural system that historically formed in the specific Buddhist cultural environment of the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song. It is based on Buddhist divine power beliefs, fully embodies the wisdom of Chan Buddhism, and primarily manifests through the Kung Fu practiced by the monks of the Shaolin Temple.
Shaolin Kung Fu has a complete technical and theoretical system. It takes Kung Fu techniques and routines as its expression and Buddhist beliefs and Chan wisdom as its cultural connotation.
Shaolin Kung Fu is a huge technical system, not a “style” or “form” in the general sense. The structure of Chinese Kung Fu is complex and there are numerous styles, but according to historical documents, Shaolin Kung Fu is one of the Kung Fu styles with a long history, a complete system and the highest technical level. According to the boxing book series passed down from the Shaolin Temple, there are hundreds of Shaolin Kung Fu routines practiced through the generations, including dozens of well-organized fist and weapon routines. Additionally, there are 72 special skills, as well as unique Kung Fu techniques in grappling, fighting, joint-locking, acupoint-striking, and Qigong. These contents are organically combined into a large and orderly technical system according to different categories and levels of difficulty
The specific expression of Shaolin Kung Fu centers on human body movements for attack and defense, with routines as the basic units. A routine is composed of a series of movements, each designed and combined based on ancient Chinese medical knowledge and in accordance with the laws of human body movement. The movements and routines emphasize the integration of motion and stillness, the balance of Yin and Yang, the combination of hardness and softness, and the unity of spirit and form. The most famous principle among these is the “Six Harmonies”: the hands coordinate with the feet, the elbows with the knees, the shoulders with the hips, the mind with the intention, the intention with the Qi, and the Qi with the force. The ancient Chinese philosophy of “unity of heaven and mankind (天人合一) ” believes that what conforms to natural laws is the most rational. Shaolin Kung Fu, based on this philosophy, continuously refines, and innovates to form movements that are highly compatible with the natural structure of the human body, thus maximizing human potential. After 1500 years of development, Shaolin Kung Fu has become the most optimized form of human physical activity
The profound cultural connotation of Shaolin Kung Fu is endowed by Chan wisdom. Practitioners of Shaolin Kung Fu first manifest their faith in Buddhism, including beliefs in wisdom and strength. The principal deity of wisdom belief in Shaolin Kung Fu is Bodhidharma, the first patriarch of Chan, while the principal deity of strength belief is the King of Kinnara. The pursuit of supernatural powers and wisdom has always been a goal for Buddhists. This is the fundamental reason why Shaolin Kung Fu appears miraculous, and also distinguishes it from other martial arts.
The soul of Shaolin Kung Fu is the wisdom belief of Chan Buddhism. The earliest form of wisdom belief in Shaolin Kung Fu was meditation. In the 6th century, the Indian monk Bodhidharma introduced Chan Buddhism to the Shaolin Temple, which later became known as the ancestral home of Chan. Chan Buddhism, a result of the full exchange and understanding between Indian Buddhist culture and Chinese metaphysical culture, is a crystallization of the integration of two ancient civilizations, full of Eastern wisdom’s insights into life. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, due to the prevalence of Chan teachings and the ancestral status of the Shaolin Temple, the content and quality of faith in Shaolin Kung Fu have changed. The idea of “unity of Chan and martial arts (禪武合一)” began to become the mainstream thought in Shaolin Kung Fu, becoming the goal and ideal state for monks practicing Shaolin Kung Fu.
Chan emphasizes practicing in the reality of daily life to achieve the goals of Buddhism. As a part of the daily life of monks in the Shaolin Temple, Shaolin Kung Fu is also incorporated into the practice of learning Buddhism and Chan meditation. The practitioners of Shaolin Kung Fu are Chan practitioners who use the Chan mind to guide their Kung Fu, penetrating life with an unobstructed and fearless heart, displaying the grand wisdom and courage of the inheritors of Shaolin Kung Fu. Chan endows Shaolin Kung Fu with richer content, making it appear relaxed, comfortable, and transcendental; Kung Fu provides an effective path for Chan practice, allowing the profound understanding of Chan to be experienced through physical practice.
The lives of Buddhist monks are constrained by Buddhist precepts. The precepts reflect the Buddhist principle of “compassion and salvation for all beings (慈悲為懷，普渡眾生) ” and are the guidelines for the lives of followers. The most basic Buddhist precepts are the Five Precepts: no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, and no intoxication. In the specific environment of the Shaolin Temple, Buddhist precepts have evolved into Kung Fu precepts. In Kung Fu, these precepts manifest as martial morality. Therefore, Shaolin Kung Fu always displays a style and characteristics of restraint, modesty, introversion, emphasis on internal strength, conciseness, and efficiency, and the ability to counterattack after the opponent.
The primary method of passing down Shaolin Kung Fu is through oral instruction, combined with the traditional master-disciple system of the Shaolin Temple. The core content involves the master’s verbal instruction and personal example and the disciple’s diligent practice. High-level Shaolin Kung Fu transmission often depends on the master’s heart-to-heart transmission and the disciple’s sudden enlightenment, which requires monks to continuously improve in their daily Buddhist practice and Kung Fu training, embodying the principle of “unity of Chan and martial arts (禪武合一)” in Shaolin Kung Fu.
The transmission of Shaolin Kung Fu strictly follows the master-disciple system. This master-disciple relationship is a basic manifestation of the traditional sect system of the Shaolin Temple. The sect system, centered on the family and distinguishing kinship based on blood relation, was the basic structure of ancient Chinese society and had strong cohesion.
Historically, the recognition of the qualifications of Shaolin Kung Fu inheritors was based on the Chan Dharma lineage transmission system. Currently, the transmission of the Chan Dharma lineage in the Chinese Buddhist community still follows the traditional practice of master’s comprehensively assessing their disciples. Only when the master recognizes that the disciple’s Chan practice has reached a certain level can the disciple become an inheritor of the Dharma lineage, evidenced by the “Dharma Scroll (法卷)” of the Dharma lineage. Shaolin Kung Fu is one of the ways for Shaolin Temple monks to practice Chan. The recognition of the qualifications of Shaolin Kung Fu inheritors is also based on the Chan Dharma lineage transmission method, namely, the master’s recognition of the disciple.
