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THE BACKGROUND
For more than 1,500 years, the martial arts skills of China's Shaolin monks have developed into a unique manifestation of Zen Buddhism. The name "Shaolin" has become synonymous with the most extraordinary feats of discipline, strength, and courage; and with the growth in popularity of Kung Fu today, the monks' reputation as its acknowledged founders has become established throughout the world.
In the early years, immediately following the founding of the Shaolin Temple in 495 A.D. in Henan Province, the first soldier monks created a set of fighting actions -- the original Kung Fu -- that utilized all parts of their bodies. These actions were initially a means of daily exercise. They were later combined with the use of various weapons, made from simple farming tools, and developed into a form of meditation.
The Shaolin monks have experienced a turbulent history. During the past 1,500 years, they have been called upon many times to defend both their country and their temple from a succession of warlords and foreign invaders. Their involvement in these campaigns further developed what has become known as Shaolin Kung Fu.
Today, the monks are renowned as much for their peaceful existence as for their elite fighting skills, but, as in centuries past, they continue to practice their Kung Fu disciplines and remain ready to defend their country and their temple.
Top banner photos: Shaolin monk set to attack;
a scene from the re-enactment of the story of the Shaolin, the imperial advisor (Wang Zhi Gang) with the Emperor K'ang Hsi (Tom Yang). |
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Meditation exercises are a crucial part of the Shaolin monks' training. |
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A young monk with his instructor. |
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