182
Chapter 7
Suspect Rebels
In the spring of 1679, Gu Yanwu (1613–1682) traveled to the Shaolin
Temple. The renowned historian had turned his attention to military affairs
following the Manchu conquest, which had demonstrated to the Chinese
elite the fatal consequences of its disregard for warfare. The demise of the
native Ming rule and the establishment of the alien Qing dynasty (1644–
1911) created a surge of interest in military questions—from the strategic
significance of diverse provinces to the popular martial arts. It kindled
Huang Zongxi’s curiosity about the “internal” fighting techniques of Wang
Zhengnan, and it prompted Gu Yanwu’s investigation of the Shaolin “exter-
nal” martial arts. At the monastery, Gu carefully examined the historical re-
cords of the monks’ military activities. He transcribed the Tang steles that
recorded their heroic support of Li Shimin, relying on them as one source
for an essay on Buddhist warfare.^1
The scholarly satisfaction that accompanied Gu’s visit was matched by a
sense of moral purpose. His research trip was motivated by intellectual curios-
ity and sentiments of loyalty to the Ming alike. Shaolin monks had been fa-
mous for their unfailing support of the former regime, for which they fought
through to its bitter end. During the first decades of the Qing dynasty, their
monastery was regarded by many as a symbol of its predecessor. In this respect
Gu’s Shaolin trip resembled his repeated pilgrimages to the Ming royal
tombs—he had paid his respects at the dynasty’s burial grounds north of Bei-
jing no fewer than six times, and at the Nanjing mausoleum of its founder no
fewer than seven.^2
Indeed, more than three decades after Beijing’s fall, the monastery’s deso-
lation testified to the demise of its erstwhile patrons. Gone were the days when
a Ming official complained that Shaolin’s splendor was too extravagant for
Buddhist meditation—the temple Gu visited was in ruins. The lofty halls once
b e de c ke d w it h pr e c iou s g i f t s f r o m i mp er i a l donor s wer e over g r ow n w it h we e d s ,