Shaolin Monastery, established in A.D. 495 by the Indian monk
known in Chinese as Ba To, was just one of many monasteries at the time,
but its location, historical circumstances, and possibly the disciplined yet
individualistic nature of the Zen (Chan) Buddhism that was introduced
there resulted in its subsequent fame as a center for martial arts. Built at the
foot of Mount Song in today’s Henan province, it was close to China’s so-
cial, political, and geomantic center at that time. As early as 140–87 B.C.,
Mount Song was known as the central among China’s five sacred moun-
tains, and it has been a popular destination for pilgrims over the centuries.
Shaolin Monastery’s singularly strong association with fighting arts
can be readily understood in terms of its exposed location between the an-
cient capitals of Loyang and Kaifeng, which made it extremely vulnerable
to the ebb and flow of war and social upheaval, requiring the monks to
maintain a self-defense capability.
As a group, the fighting monks of Shaolin Monastery first appear in
the midst of the confusion surrounding the collapse of the Sui dynasty and
the rise of Tang (A.D. 605–618). Two incidents (both recorded on a stele
dated 728) laid the foundation for the fighting fame of the Shaolin monks.
In the first incident, the monks managed to repulse an attack by marauding
bandits, but the monastery buildings suffered considerable damage in the
process. In the second, and most famous incident, the first Tang emperor’s
son, Prince Qin (Li Shimin or Emperor Taizong, who ruled between
627–649) requested the heads of the monastery to provide manpower and
join with other local forces to fight Wang Shichong, who had established
himself in the area in opposition to Tang rule. With Wang based near the
monastery and probably eyeing it for its strategic location, the monks read-
ily joined forces against him, helped capture his nephew, and assisted in his
defeat. As a result, the monastery was issued an imperial letter of commen-
dation and a large millstone, and ceded land comprising the Baigu Estate.
Thirteen of the monks were commended by name, one of whom, Tanzong,
was designated general-in-chief. Research has revealed that the primary mo-
tive for erecting the stele that records this information was to protect
monastery property gains resulting from this incident. And, indeed, with im-
perial favor, Shaolin Monastery retained its properties while other monas-
teries in the area were divested of much of theirs. The monks were recog-
nized for military merit. As for the actual martial arts skills of the thirteen
monks, the record fails to provide any specifics. Later writers have assumed
such skills, some even venturing so far as to refer to them as the Thirteen
Staff Fighting Monks of Shaolin Monastery. The monks’ main contribution
was more likely in providing the leadership necessary to direct local forces.
Martial arts skills were actually fairly widespread in the villages and
throughout the countryside, from whence they entered the monasteries.458 Religion and Spiritual Development: China