Shaolin Temple: Beyond the movie screen

For many, their first contact with the Shaolin Temple was from watching movies like ‘Enter the Dragon’ (1973); ‘Five Shaolin Masters’ (1974); ‘Heroes Two’ (1974); and ‘Shaolin Temple’ (1976), which featured Bruce Le, the legendary impostor of the famous Chinese-American born star, Bruce Lee; and more recently, ‘Shaolin’ (2011). Contrary to the perception that many […]

For many, their first contact with the Shaolin Temple was from watching movies like ‘Enter the Dragon’ (1973); ‘Five Shaolin Masters’ (1974); ‘Heroes Two’ (1974); and ‘Shaolin Temple’ (1976), which featured Bruce Le, the legendary impostor of the famous Chinese-American born star, Bruce Lee; and more recently, ‘Shaolin’ (2011).
Contrary to the perception that many have of the site as being basically a temple and nothing more, it is a full-fledged monastery breeding disciples of Buddism as well as giving trainings in kung fu and martial arts for students from all over the world. 
During the visit, tourists had the opportunity to witness trainee monks in session, aspiring kung fu masters at the peak of training, as they proceeded into a hall where young kung fu acts displayed before their eyes, skills and ‘film tricks’ they had only watched in disbelief, exhibited in movies.
Youngsters not older than 12 years for 30 minutes, performed knife wielding acts, brick breaking feats, imitation boxing, Qigong, pole ‘fights,’ balloon piercing through glass with such dexterity and mastery that only diligent practice and concentration could bring forth. Their performances were unreservedly rewarded with thunderous applauses from the audience, even the Chinese ones, who at some point joined in a competition of flexibility and artistry with the youngsters who effortlessly led them.
“For someone not in the nitty-gritty of the acts, the performances no matter how often you watch them, you are always wowed by them,” said a Chinese tourist, Zhang Hui, to our reporter.
Looking at the structures and ongoing renovations in some parts of the monastery at the time our reporter visited, it was difficult to tell that they were not the original structures. They had been destroyed several times by fire or theft and had been rebuilt just as many times.
The tour guide informed that the monastery was abandoned from 1351 to about 1359 when government troops reclaimed the province, after it had been stripped of its valuables during the Red Turban Rebellion, by bandits who drove monks away after destroying a huge chunk of the monastery.
According to tour materials, rebel forces led by Li Zicheng sacked the monastery in 1641, due to the monks’ support of the Ming Dynasty and the possible threat they posed to the rebels. This further ruined the temple which was now housing only a handful of monks until the early 18th century, when it was restored in the Qing Dynasty.

Regardless the restoration, the Temple was worst hit in the same era in which it was rehabilitated by the leadership of dynasty for perceived anti-Qing activities.
According to records, various attacks on the Temple reportedly took place in 1647 under the Shunzhi Emperor, in 1674, 1677, or 1714 under the Kangxi Emperor, or in 1728 or 1732 under the Yongzheng Emperor. “The destruction is also supposed to have helped spread Shaolin martial arts through China by means of the five fugitive monks. Some accounts claim that a supposed southern Shaolin Temple was destroyed instead of, or in addition to, the temple in Henan: Ju Ke, in the Qing bai lei chao (1917), locates this temple in Fujian province. These stories commonly appear in legendary or popular accounts of martial history, and in wuxia fiction,” the materials informed.
The greenery and serenity of the environment are a sharp contrast of the intensity of the form of martial arts practiced therein but are introduction and welcome to the calm lives of the monks and their belief in respect for mankind and nature and the need to preserve it. 
The interior of the monastery covers a landmass of about 57,600 square metres and has seven main halls on its perimeter and seven other halls around, with several yards around the halls. There are at least 27 of them.
Built in 1735, The Mountain Gate which is located at the entrance with the sign ‘Shaolin Temple’ written in gold characters on black background by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty in 1704).
The Ciyun Hall which is home to the Forest of Steles was originally built in 1686, before it was changed in 1735 and reconstructed in 1984. It houses the Corridor of Steles which has 124 stone tablets of various dynasties since the Northern Qi Dynasty which existed from 550-570.
To the left and right side of the Temple, are the bell and drum towers. The Bell Tower was built in 1345 and reconstructed 1994. It is home to an 811-year-old bell which tourists give a token for to toll. The Drum Tower was built in 1300 and reconstructed in 1996.
Other buildings at the Monastery are Heavenly Kings, also called Devaraja Palace Hall, built in the Yuan Dynasty and repaired in Ming, and Qing dynasties. There is the Kimnara Palace Hall which was reconstructed in 1982.
The Dhyana Hall was reconstructed in 1981; the Guest Reception Hall, Dharma which is also the Sermon Hall, also called the Scripture Room, was reconstructed in 1993, all make up the Sutra Room along with the Abbot’s Room built in early Ming Dynasty and forms part of the East & West Guest Rooms, among others.
Tucked behind the trees which provide shade for tourists during the long walk on the grounds of the monastery on the Bodhidharma Pavilion built first in Song Dynasty, are the Bodhidharma Caves. A lot of them are still preserved with items like hair combs and mirrors. It is believed that a room which has such items was used by a female who although deceased centuries ago, still visits and makes use of the items during such visits.
The Forest of Pagodas Yard, according to tour materials, was built before 791 and is home to 240 tomb pagodas of various sizes from as far back as the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties which existed from 618-1911.
Trees as old as 1, 000 have carried holes all through the centuries as a result of kung fu finger-punching exercises. The grounds of the halls *which house the shrines of various budas and their statues also have tell-tales signs of the intense exercises which go on there with the now contoured floors bearing most of the burden.
These seeming ‘defects’ do not matter for devotees who throng to their Monastery in their multitude. 
The Shaolin Temple is a Chan Buddhist temple in Dengfeng County, Zhengzhou, of China’s Henan Province. The temple is said to be at least 1, 500-years-old and got its name from one of the seven peaks of Song Mountains which surround it. It has retained its place as a school of Buddhism till date with disciples all over the world.
In 2010, the Temple along with the surrounding Pagoda Forest was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 as part of the ‘Historic Monuments of Dengfeng.’