Acknowledgments
Two friends have contributed most to this study: A’de guided me at the
Shaolin Monastery and generously shared with me his intimate knowledge
of its history and epigraphic treasures; Gene Ching revealed to me the com-
plexities of the contemporary martial world. His dedication to his art has
been a source of inspiration.
I have troubled no fewer than five scholars to read my manuscript, and I
am deeply grateful for their comments and suggestions. They are Bernard
Faure, Barend ter Haar, Valerie Hansen, Patrick Hanan, and John Kieschnick.
For advice, rare materials, and/or hospitality, I am also indebted to Carl Biele-
feldt, Susan Bush, Stanley E. Henning, Wilt Idema, Paul Katz, Li Fengmao,
Liao Chao-heng, Wu Jen-shu, Zhou Qiufang, Zhou Weiliang, and Robin Yates.
Invaluable help with the maps and the illustrations was provided by Dina Sha-
har, Gideon Zorea, and Patrick Lugo. Patricia Crosby of the University of
Hawai‘i Press has been helpful and encouraging throughout.
My research benefited from an Israel Science Foundation Grant (no. 851),
and the leisure for writing was provided by the generosity of Yad-Hanadiv
Foundation, Jerusalem.
xi