Introduction to Shaolin Martial Arts
Shaolin Kung Fu ,also known as, Shaolin Martial Arts,Shaolin Wushu,Shaolin Gongfu is a traditional cultural system that historically formed in the specific Buddhist cultural environment of Shaolin Temple on Songshan Mountain in Henan Province. Based on the belief in Buddhist divine power, it fully embodies the wisdom of Buddhist Zen and takes the martial arts practiced by Shaolin monks as its main form of expression. Shaolin Temple is the cultural space on which Shaolin Martial Arts depends. Along with the historical development of Shaolin Temple, Shaolin Martial Arts has been continuously enriched and improved, evolving from the initial means of dispelling tiredness, preventing beasts, keeping fit, and protecting temple properties into a form of cultural expression that emphasizes the cultivation of both internal and external aspects. In the Qing Dynasty, as Shaolin Temple was suppressed and declined, Shaolin Martial Arts gradually moved into the folk and evolved into various genres. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the value of Shaolin Martial Arts has been continuously explored. In 2006, “Shaolin Kung Fu” was included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage representative projects and has become an important medium for the cultural exchange of traditional Chinese culture. Representative figures include Damo, Hong Zhuan, Miao Xing, Zhen Xu, etc.
As a humanistic and cultural phenomenon, a form of human body culture, or a fitness, self-defense, and competitive project, Shaolin Martial Arts has long been a household name in China and has become a precious heritage of Chinese culture. Shaolin Kung Fu is also the most representative, culturally connotative, religious and cultural heritage, complete in system, authoritative, and mysterious school of Chinese martial arts. It has undoubtedly become the mainstream school of Chinese martial arts. The influence of Buddhist culture on Shaolin Martial Arts has played an important role, making the “Zen” of Buddhist culture and martial arts complement each other, achieving the supreme realm where the two are integrated. Shaolin Kung Fu was not created by one person, but the crystallization of the efforts of millions of people. In the long years, Shaolin Martial Arts has been developed and passed down by countless martial arts masters of the Chinese nation, and it is the crystallization of the wisdom of the Chinese nation.
I.Historical Origin
Shaolin Martial Arts originated from the end of the Jin Dynasty to the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty. Monk Jueyuan traveled west to (now Lanzhou, Gansu) and met Li Sou, a master of martial arts in the northwest. On his way back, he met Bai Yufeng, a famous martial artist from Shanxi, and brought the two back to Shaolin Temple. Li Sou taught Daxiaohong Boxing, cudgel techniques, and grappling; Bai Yufeng taught his own martial arts and developed the temple’s eighteen hands to one hundred and eighty hands. Since then, Shaolin Martial Arts began to spread in the temple, thus achieving the development of Shaolin Martial Arts. Shaolin Temple is famous at home and abroad for its superb martial arts, and the word “Shaolin” has also become one of the symbols of traditional Chinese martial arts. For example, the “Seven Great Sects” in Gu Long’s novels are “Shaolin, Wudang, Kunlun, Emei, Diancang, Huashan, Hainan” and other sects, among which Shaolin ranks first.
Shaolin Kung Fu is a comprehensive martial arts system. In the late Ming Dynasty, Cheng Zongyou, a famous master of Shaolin Martial Arts, compiled *The Explanation of Shaolin Cudgel Techniques*, which expounded the origin of Shaolin cudgel techniques. At the beginning of the Yuan Zhizheng period, the Red Turban Army attacked Shaolin Temple. The monk Xu Naluo led the monks to resist the invaders and successfully protected the temple property. Later, the monks of the temple hired Xu Naluo as the King of Jinnara and honored him as the ancestor of Shaolin Kung Fu. At the end of the Yuan Zhizheng period, the Red Turban Army invaded Shaolin Temple again, leading to the destruction of the temple and the escape of the monks. After the Yuan army pacified the rebellion, there were only more than twenty monks left in the temple. Later, the temple prospered. Yu Dayou in the Ming Dynasty and Ji Jike in the late Ming Dynasty all went to Shaolin to teach martial arts. Because Shaolin Temple is a royal temple, Shaolin Kung Fu is different from other schools, emphasizing “the unity of Zen and martial arts”, also known as Kung Fu Zen.
II. Shaolin Kungfu System, Classification, and Characteristics
Shaolin was originally divided into five major schools: Henan (Songshan) Shaolin, Fujian Shaolin, Guangdong Shaolin, Emei Shaolin, and Wudang Shaolin. Each school is divided into many small schools and branches, and the schools are numerous. Geographically, it can be divided into two major schools: Northern Shaolin and Southern Shaolin. Shaolin Kung Fu is rich in content and has many routines. Generally, it can be divided into internal skills, external skills, hard skills, light skills, qigong, etc. Internal skills mainly focus on practicing essence and qi; external skills and hard skills mostly refer to the force of exercising a certain part of the body; light skills specialize in vertical jumping and long-distance jumping; qigong includes practicing qi and nourishing qi. According to techniques, it is divided into boxing, cudgel, spear, knife, sword, fighting, weapons, and weapon pair practice, etc., a total of more than 100 kinds. Due to the long history, many of these routines and hard and soft skills have been lost.
(1) Shaolin Boxing
Xiaohong Boxing, Dahong Boxing (three sections), Chaoyang Boxing (four sections), Guanchao Boxing (one section), Pao Boxing (three sections), Tongbi Boxing (three sections), Meihua Boxing, Changchui Boxing, Taizu Changquan, Heihu Boxing, Datongbi, Xinyi Boxing (three sections), Luohan Boxing (fifty-four sections), Xinyi Ba (twelve changes).
Source is the source of martial arts. Shaolin boxing includes Luohan Boxing, Xiaohong Boxing, Dahong Boxing, Laohong Boxing, Shaolin Five Boxing, Five Battle Boxing, Zhaoyang Boxing, Lianhuan Boxing, Gongli Boxing, Tantui, Rou Boxing, Liuhe Boxing, Yuangong Boxing, Neigong Boxing, Taizu Changquan, Pao Boxing, Ditang Boxing, Shaolin Boxing, Meihua Boxing, Tongbei Boxing, Guanchao Boxing, Jingang Boxing, Qixing Boxing, Lianbu Boxing, Zuiba Xian, Hou Boxing, Xinyi Boxing, Changchui Boxing, Wuhu Boxing, Fuhu Boxing, Heihu Boxing, Datongbi, Changguandong Boxing, Qinglong Chuhai Boxing, Fanzi Boxing, Yingzhua Boxing, Hushenliu Boxing, etc.
Pair practice boxing includes Sanhe Boxing, Yaoshou Liuhe Boxing, Kaishou Liuhe Boxing, Erba Liuhe Boxing, Tida Liuhe Boxing, Zouma Liuhe Boxing, Fifteen Combined Inside and Outside Horizontal Pao, Twenty-four Pao, Shaolin Duiquan, 108 Duiquan, Huaquan Dui Lian, Jietantui, etc.
Shaolin boxing is strong and powerful, with softness in hardness, simple and unadorned, and conducive to actual combat. Every move is either offensive or defensive, without fancy moves. When practicing Shaolin boxing, there is no restriction on the venue. There is a saying that “boxing is played in a cow lying place”. Its style is mainly reflected in the word “hard”, both offensive and defensive, with the main focus on attack. The boxing style does not emphasize the beauty of the appearance, but only the practicality of fighting. The footwork is flexible and agile, and there is a saying that “punching a straight line”. In terms of body and punching, it is required that the hand is curved but not curved, straight but not straight, advancing and retreating freely. The footwork is required to be stable and flexible, the eye method pays attention to looking at the eyes, and the luck should sink the qi to the dantian. Its movements are as fast as lightning, turning like a wheel, standing like a nail, and jumping like a light fly. Shaolin boxing is divided into northern and southern schools. The southern school focuses on fists, and the northern school focuses on legs. Each school is also divided into many small schools.
(2) Shaolin Cudgel Techniques
Single Panlong, Double Panlong, Yuanhou Stick, Fenghuo Cudgel, Qimei Cudgel, Qitian Dasheng Hou Cudgel, Liuhe Fengli Yechai Cudgel, Xiaoyechai Cudgel (five routes), Dayechai Cudgel (three routes), Yinshou Cudgel, Liuhe Yangshou Cudgel, Xiaomeihua Cudgel, Yunyang Cudgel, Eighteen-point Qimei Cudgel, Pishan Cudgel, etc.
Pair practice cudgel techniques include: Liuhe Rod, Pai Cudgel, Chuanling Cudgel, Po Cudgel Twelve Routes, Qunyang Cudgel, Shangsha Liuhui Pai Cudgel, Zhongsha Pai Cudgel, Xiasha Pai Cudgel, etc.
Shaolin cudgel techniques include Yuanhou Cudgel, Fenghuo Cudgel, Qimei Cudgel, Big Pole, Qimen Cudgel, Xiaoyechai Cudgel, Dayechai Cudgel, Shaolin Cudgel, Xiaomeihua Cudgel, Yunyang Cudgel, Pishan Cudgel, Yinshou Cudgel, Yangshou Cudgel, Wuhu Qinyang Cudgel, Shaolin Competition Cudgel, etc.
Pair practice cudgel techniques include Pai Cudgel, Chuansuo Cudgel, Liuhe Rod, Po Cudgel Twelve Routes, etc.
The cudgel hits a large area, and the whole body exerts force with one sweep and one chop. The cudgel practice is full of wind, with a vivid rhythm, dense cudgel techniques, and fast and brave. It can not only keep fit but also defeat the enemy. In the past generations of resisting foreign aggression, the Shaolin cudgel has played an important role.
(3) Shaolin Spear Techniques
Thirteen Spears, Ben Shiyi Spears, Liulu Huagun, Thirty-one Baohua Spears, Eighteen Spears, Twenty-seven Spears, Thirty-six Spears, Eighty-four Spears, Ten Spear Racks, Six Gates Spear Postures, Secretly Taught Spear Spectrum Thirty-six Points, Shaolin Liuhe Big Spear, Shaolin Competition Spear, etc.
Pair practice spear techniques include Spear vs. Spear, Liuhe Spear, Thirty-six Spear Breaking Methods Pair Practice, Twenty-one Spear Thrusting, etc.
The spear was the king of weapons in ancient times. Shaolin spear techniques include Shaolin Spear, Wuhu Spear, Night Battle Spear, Tilu Spear, Lanmen Spear, Jinhua Shuangshe Spear, Danlan Spear, Thirteen Spears, Eighteen Spears, Twenty-one Spears, Twenty-four Spears, Twenty-seven Spears, Thirty-one Baohua Spears, Thirty-six Spears, Forty-eight Spears, Eighty-four Spears, Six Gates Spear Postures, Ten Spear Racks, Liulu Huagun, Secretly Taught Spear Spectrum Thirty-six Points, Baohua Spear, etc.
Pair practice spear techniques include Spear vs. Spear, Opponent Spear, Battle Spear, Double Knives vs. Spear, Liuhe Spear, Thirty-six Spear Breaking Methods Pair Practice, Twenty-one Spear Thrusting, etc.
There is a song formula for Shaolin spear techniques: “The body method is as beautiful as a cat, the stabbing spear is like a fighting tiger, the spear stabs a straight line, the spear is like an arrow, the closing spear is like pressing a tiger, the jumping step is like climbing a mountain, the pressing spear is like pressing a tiger, the picking spear is like picking a dragon, the two eyes should look high, the body method should be natural, blocking, grabbing, resisting, pointing, collapsing, picking, and拨, all kinds of uses are mysterious.”
(4) Shaolin Knife Techniques
Shaolin First Road Big Knife, Second Road Big Knife, Spring and Autumn Twenty-four Knives, Single Knife, Changxing Knife, Chuan Knife, Liuhe Knife, Zuoshan Knife, Shaolin Double Knives, Eighth Road Double Knives, Sixth Road Double Knives, Meihua Single Knife, Taizu Wolong Knife, Wuhu Shaolin Zhuifeng Knife, Guntang Knife, etc. Pair practice knife techniques include Knife vs. Knife, Erhe Double Knives, Pair Splitting Big Knife, Single Knife Entering Double Knives, Shaolin Competition Knife.
Shaolin knives include Spring and Autumn Big Knife, Meihua Knife, Shaolin Single Knife, Shaolin Double Knives, Fenghuang Knife, Zongpu Knife, Xuepian Knife, Tilu Big Knife, Baoyue Knife, Pishan Knife, Shaolin First Road Big Knife, Second Road Big Knife, Liuhe Single Knife, Zuoshan Knife, Sixth Road Double Knives, Eighth Road Double Knives, Taizu Wolong Knife, Mamen Single Knife, Single Knife, Meihua Shuangfa Knife, Ditang Double Knives, Guntang Knife, Single Knife Changxing Knife, Wuhu Shaolin Zhuifeng Knife, etc.
Pair practice knife techniques include Knife vs. Knife, Erhe Double Knives, Pair Single Knife, Pair Big Knife, Single Knife Entering Double Knives, etc.
The knife is one of the important weapons in all dynasties, and the big knife is known as the “marshal of all soldiers”. “The knife is like a tiger, and the spear is like a dragon.” The practice of knife techniques should have a powerful and fierce in every move. The use characteristics of the knife are wrapping the head and brain, flipping and chopping, lifting and hanging, cloud piercing, supporting and wiping, etc., and there is a saying that “single knife looks at the hand, double knife looks at the walk, big knife looks at the top hand,like a tiger”.
(5) Shaolin Sword Techniques
Ertang Sword, Wutang Sword, Longxing Sword, Feilong Sword, Baiyuan Sword, Liu Xuande Double Swords, Damo Sword, Tibao Sword, etc. Pair practice sword techniques include Ertang Sword Pair, Wutang Sword Pair, Shaolin Sword Pair, Shaolin Competition Sword.
Shaolin sword techniques include Damo Sword, Qiankun Sword, Lianhuan Sword, Taiyi Sword, Ertang Sword, Wutang Sword, Longxing Sword, Feilong Sword, Baiyuan Sword, Tibao Sword, Liu Xuande Double Swords, Qingfeng Sword, Xinglong Sword, Wulin Double Swords, etc.
Pair practice sword techniques include Ertang Sword, Wutang Sword Pair, Shaolin Sword Pair, etc.
Sword techniques are vigorous, beautiful, and bold, and have been passed down since ancient times. The sword formula: “The sword is the green dragon sword, the sword should be smooth, the qi should follow the sword, the two eyes should look at the sword tip, the qi should sink to the two feet steadily, the body method should be natural, the sword moves like a flying swallow, the sword falls like the wind stops, the sword collects like catkins, and the sword stabs like a steel nail.”
(6) Other Shaolin Weapon Categories
Three-pronged fork, convenient shovel, Taohuan, Emei thorn, crescent shovel, halberd sickle, Xiujuan, Fangtian painting halberd, joint whip, knife with whip, rope whip, tiger head hook, grass sickle (Wuhe grass sickle, Liuhe battle chain), Meihua single crutch, Liuhe double crutches, Ma ya thorn, turtle circle, sun and moon wolf tooth Qiankun circle, Zen staff, big shuo, wind magic staff, etc.
Shaolin martial arts weapons are long, short, hard, soft, with tips, thorns, hooks, and blades, and there are various types. In ancient times, there was a saying of eighteen kinds of weapons, and there are countless in modern times. In addition to the above knives, guns, swords, and cudgels, there are also three-pronged forks (also known as big rake in the south), convenient shovels, Taohuan, Emei thorns, crescent shovels, halberd sickles, Xiujuan, Fangtian painting halberds, double hammers, big axes, double axes, three-section cudgels, seven-section whips, nine-section whips, double whips, knives with whips, rope standards, tiger head double hooks, grass sickles, “Wuhe grass sickles, Liuhe battle chains”, halberd head hooks, Meihua single crutches, Liuhe double crutches, Ma ya thorns, turtle circles, double mace, sun and moon wolf tooth Qiankun circles, Zen staffs, big shuo, wind magic staffs, as well as shields, crossbows, etc.
(7) Shaolin Pair Practice Routines
Empty-handed grabbing knife, empty-handed grabbing gun, empty-handed grabbing dagger, cudgel piercing gun, grass sickle combining gun,combining gun, knife vs. gun, double knives entering gun, Qimei cudgel combining gun, single crutch entering gun, double crutches entering gun, crutches combining Qimei cudgel, tiger head hook entering gun, Ma ya thorn combining gun, turtle circle combining gun, Taohuan combining gun, convenient shovel combining gun, crescent shovel breaking double guns, joint whip vs. cudgel, steel whip vs. joint whip, crescent combining gun, crescent combining mace, three-section cudgel entering gun, Fangtian painting halberd entering gun, Three Heroes Fighting Lü Bu, empty-handed grabbing knife and gun, halberd chain entering gun, three-pronged fork entering gun, big knife sealing gun, three-section cudgel breaking double guns, Emei thorn entering gun, etc.
(8) Shaolin Hard and Soft Skills Training Methods
Bone unloading method, grappling method, acupoint pointing secret method, short fighting technique, slingshot spectrum, Yijinjing meaning, various medication methods, treatment methods, etc.
Shaolin fightin includes: Flash War Moving Body Ba, Xinyi Ba, Tiger Pounce Ba, Flying Dragon Steps, Danfeng Chaoyang, Cross Random Ba, Laojun Holding Gourd, Immortal Picking Eggplant, Stealing Peach under Leaves, Chopping Melon behind Head, Heihu Stealing Heart, Old Monkey Moving Branch, Golden Silk intertwine Method, Yingmen Iron Fan, Bobu Cannon, Little Ghost, etc.
(9)Shaolin Qigong
Qigong is a major category of Shaolin Kung Fu. The Qigong practices handed down in Shaolin Temple include *Yijinjing* (Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic), *Xiaowugong* (Little Martial Arts), *Zhanzhuang Gong* (Stance Standing Skill), *Yishou Yinyang Fa* (Longevity Yin-Yang Method), *Hunyuan Yiqi Gong* (Primordial Unity Qigong), etc.
(10) Shaolin Hard and Soft Skills
There are various training methods for hard and soft skills, including bone-unloading techniques, grappling methods, secret acupoint-pointing techniques, short-striking skills, various medicinal applications, and treatment methods.
Shaolin kungfu and Shaolin temple Ten Principles of Non-Transmission
1. Those with bad character shall not be taught.
2. Those unfilial or disloyal shall not be taught.
3. Those lacking perseverance shall not be taught.
4. Those incompetent in both literature and martial arts shall not be taught.
5. Those seeking wealth through this shall not be taught.
6. Those deeply vulgar shall not be taught.
7. Those cunning and tricky like market dwellers shall not be taught.
8. Those with weak bones and dull aptitude shall not be taught.
9. Those practicing flashy martial postures shall not be taught.
10. Those who do not cherish it shall not be taught.
Shaolin Kung Fu Stars
Wu Jing, Sun Jiankui, Yuen Biao, Xun Feng, Hu Jianqiang, Sammo Hung, Yuen Wah, Liang Jiaren, Xie Miao, Cao Jun, Sengge Renqin, Li Junwei, An Ruiyun, Shi Xiaolong, Liu Huailiang, Fan Shaohuang, Wang Qun, Wang Jue, Shi Xingyu, Pan Yuanjia, Xu Minghu, Wang Xiaolong, Shi Xiaosong, Gu Wenze, Wang Baoqiang.
