Shaolin originated from Yexia Temple?

[GeneChing]

Scholars: Shaolin Kung Fu comes from Yexia Temple
By Xu Lin
China.org.cn, December 15, 2011


Shaolin Kung Fu

The world-famous Shaolin Kung Fu may have originated from Yexia Temple in ancient China's Yecheng City, instead of from the popularly believed Bodhidharma, according to scholars at an annual culture summit in Hebei Province.

Yexia Temple, located in today's Anyang of Henan Province, is the earliest temple found in China's historical records where the monks practiced Wushu, or martial arts. Since Buddhist Monk Chou from Yexia Temple became the second abbot of Shaolin Temple, Shaolin Kung Fu had thus been born, the scholars said.

Meanwhile, the mainstream belief in Bodhidharma being China's first martial arts teacher can be traced to a popular phrase in Chinese martial arts novels: "All martial arts in the world come from Shaolin Temple, and Shaolin Kung Fu originates from Bodhidharma."

Liu Yushan and Liu Wenying, scholars who researched the history and culture of Yecheng City, said both propositions were found in their studies. However, they are leaning toward the textual research by Professor Ma Aimin of Anyang Normal University, who concluded that the first Shaolin Temple abbot Buddhabhadra and Indian monk Bodhidharma were eminent monks on Buddhism, but not on martial arts.

Bodhidharma came to visit the nearby area of Shaolin Temple during the Northern Wei Dynasty in the year of 486, and left before 495, while Shaolin Temple was built in the west of Songshan Mountain in 495, when Bodhidharma had already moved on. It was not until Monk Chou came to Shaolin Temple with his Wushu skills when he was 33 that Shaolin monks started to practice martial arts, according to Ma.

Historical records indicate that Monk Chou was born and lived in the area around Anyang all along. He already had excellent skills in martial arts before coming to Shaolin Temple to study Buddhism from Buddhabhadra. As Shaolin Temple's second abbot and its earliest Kung Fu instructor, Monk Chou combined the martial arts with Buddhism ideas, which had profound influences on the formation and the enduring characteristics of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Ma published his research with a number of academic essays on several periodicals to explain his idea in detail about Shaolin Kung Fu being originated from Yexia Temple.

Intriguing theory. Anyone every been to Yexia Temple?

[LFJ]

Professor Ma seems a little behind on the times if he's still trying to refute Bodhidharma as being the originator of Shaolin martial arts. That aside, neither the dates of Bodhidharma's arrival in the Shaolin area, nor the dates of the founding of the Shaolin Monastery are ever solid enough to compare the two like that. Not to mention even the historicity of Bodhidharma himself, so it means nothing.

But to the main point, regardless of whether it was at Shaolin Monastery or some other monastery where monks first practiced martial arts, the monks weren't the originators of the martial arts they practiced. The origin of the martial arts won't be traced to a Buddhist monastery, but rather to the military which the monks, like Chou were often retired from.

It's interesting to talk about which monastery first had martial arts practicing monks, but to conclude that the origin of the martial arts were at these monasteries and through these monks is quite ridiculous.

[ngokfei]

Actually its hard to say. Kind of like the chicken or the egg.

History does document the temples role but more to the point the skills that were passed on by its descendents to the mainstream.

Shaolin is not a style but an idea. More like the MMA of its day.

[Xian]

Intriguing theory. Anyone every been to Yexia Temple?

It should be obvious that Kung Fu is older than Bodhidharma or Shaolin temple, but It cannot deny that Bodhidharma had an tremendous amount of impact on Shaolin and his Martial Arts.
To follow up and suggest(of course between the lines) a disconnection between the devolpment of Shaolin Kung Fu and Bodhidharma is weird.


Kind regards,
Xian

[Fa Xing]

It should be obvious that Kung Fu is older than Bodhidharma or Shaolin temple, but It cannot deny that Bodhidharma had an tremendous amount of impact on Shaolin and his Martial Arts.
To follow up and suggest(of course between the lines) a disconnection between the devolpment of Shaolin Kung Fu and Bodhidharma is weird.


Kind regards,
Xian

Actually, it can and does because there is no evidence he existed at the time he was supposed to.

[mawali]

Just a guess!
Many of the earlier references say that when Damo got to China, martial systems were being practiced! His main contribution was meditation that allowed said monks to be more attentive and alert and from that image of Damo went from a little innovation to the founder of Shaolin!

If we look at 5 arts of the same origin, exact same 'lineage' (more or less), you will find that if you add Damo as part of the naming scheme, that art will usually have more adherents! (followers, wannabeez, etc). Somehow Shaolin Karate didn't take off but Shaolin Kenpo has its special team of adherents! oops, I take that back!

[ngokfei]

Shaolin Karate?

I think your referring to Shorin ryu which is very popular and has a very large following

[David Jamieson]

Interesting theory. But irrelevant to my own practice.

[GeneChing]

《Journal of Shandong Institute of Physical Education and Sports》 2009-03
Chou Monk's Wugong and Yexia Temple's learning Wushu activities in the Bei Dynasty
MA Ai-min (Dept.of PE,Anyang Teachers' University,Anyany 455000,China)
Consulting historical documents and on-the-spot investigation,it made an analysis of Buddhist Monk Chou,who mastered Wushu and the monks of Yexie Temple practised Wushu.The purpose is to discus the relation between Buddhist monks of temples North Dynasty origin and development.The research shows rhat Yexia Temple was the earliest temple which had a lot of monks with Wushu according to the historical document available.The Buddhist monks' Wushu activities sourced mock ancient tradition of encouraging to learn Wushu.
【Key Words】： Yexia's monk Wushu learning activity Wushu tradition Chou monk
【CateGory Index】： G852
【DOI】： CNKI:SUN:TIRE.0.2009-03-014

I recently posted a link to an academic journal site and some members here got upset because you had to pay for it.