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127-527: Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple refers to the main cemetery for Buddhist monks at the Shaolin Temple under Mount Song . Consisting of about 250 memorial pagodas beneath or in which the ashes of the deceased were placed, the cemetery covers about 21,000 m (5.2 acres). The cemetery is forested. Its name, "tower forest" (Chinese 塔林, Ta Lin ) reflects that fact, whether because the pagodas are like

254-563: A 17th-century qigong manual known as the Yijin Jing . The oldest available copy was published in 1827. The composition of the text itself has been dated to 1624. Even then, the association of Bodhidharma with martial arts only became widespread as a result of the 1904–1907 serialization of the novel The Travels of Lao Ts'an in Illustrated Fiction Magazine : One of the most recently invented and familiar of

381-469: A United Nations World Heritage site in order to obtain annual funding for maintenance and development from the UN. After repeated submissions, their application was finally accepted by the 34th World Heritage Committee on 1 August 2010. UNESCO reviewed and approved eight sites and eleven architectural complexes, including Shaolin's Resident Hall, Pagoda Forest, and Chuzu Temple as World Cultural Heritage. In 1994,

508-509: A balance between historical authenticity and tourist sustainability. UNESCO was not far behind this change in management technique. It took an interest and was invited to participate. In 2010, several ancient sites around Dengfeng were united into a single UNESCO World Heritage Site, with eight distinct scenic spots. The Shaolin Scenic spot contained three of the WHS components, collectively called

635-457: A forest, or are in a forest. The usual English translation is " Pagoda Forest ." Its center is about 250 m (270 yd) from monastery grounds. These memorial "pagodas" are not real ones, which are inhabitable buildings of one or more stories with roofs bearing upturned eaves. Symbolically the memorial imitations are habitations of the dead, representing real towers. In English the upturned roofs are often termed "tiers." The number of tiers in

762-627: A geopark may be defined for its cultural merits as well. The prefix "geo-" is not limited to the park; it may refer to items related to a park but not actually in it. The Songshan WHS was designed to include 367 buildings in eight groups arranged around the inside perimeter of the Shaoyang Valley. In contrast to the Songshan Scenic Area, the WHS is actually in the valley and occupies locations of downtown Dengfeng, although often in sequestered grounds. The mountain also features

889-452: A length rounded off to 100 km (62 mi). Since the global geopark covers the entire area, its estimated area may be taken as the range's area; that is, 450 km (170 sq mi). The eastern, or "Taishi" part of the landform extends from the valley to the outskirts of metropolitan Zhengzhou , say to Highway G3001. An axis connecting the two points would head NE and be 55 km (34 mi). A perpendicular axis running from

1016-1004: A means of foreign cultural exchange. Batuo , also referred to in the Chinese sources as Fotuo and in Sanskrit as Buddhabhadra, had enjoyed the sponsorship of the Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei since arriving in Pingcheng via the Silk Road , around the year 490. Yang Xuanzhi , in the Record of the Buddhist Monasteries of Luoyang (AD 547), and Li Xian, in the Ming Yitongzhi (1461), concur with Daoxuan's location and attribution. The Jiaqing Chongxiu Yitongzhi (1843) specifies that this monastery, located in

1143-531: A mystical figure taken from the cosmology of the Chan Buddhists. In their ancient myth, Shaoshi and Taishi each have 36 peaks, one set of Yin and one set of Yang, which cancel each other out at the monastery, achieving a zero sum (of what remains speculative). The numbers are not based on counting. The Yellow River (Huang He) is the second-largest of China, the first being the Yangtze , which reaches to

1270-490: A point on Route S85 to the south to the Yellow River would be 115 km (71 mi). The western, or "Shaoshi" part of the landform, is geomorphologically different. A scimitar-like series of parallel ridges with the convex side facing south extends E-W between the central valley and the city of Luoyang for about 46 km (29 mi). The N-S width on the east is as much as 10 km (6.2 mi), but at Luoyang it

1397-558: A popular contemporary boxing manual, Secrets of Shaolin Boxing Methods, and the first Chinese physical culture history published in 1919. As a result, it has enjoyed vast oral circulation and is one of the most "sacred" of the narratives shared within Chinese and Chinese-derived martial arts. That this story is clearly a twentieth-century invention is confirmed by writings going back at least 250 years earlier, which mention both Bodhidharma and martial arts but make no connection between

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1524-690: A regular basis. At the end of the Sui dynasty , the Shaolin Temple, with its huge monastery properties, became the target of thieves and bandits. The monks organized forces within their community to protect the temple and fight against the intruders. At the beginning of the Tang dynasty , thirteen Shaolin monks helped Li Shimin , the future second emperor of the Tang dynasty, in his fight against Wang Shichong . They captured Shichong's nephew Wang Renze, whose army

1651-572: A set of boxing and staff fighting techniques to be used against Japanese pirates. Owing to the monks' merits in fighting against the Japanese, the government renovated the temple on a large scale, and Shaolin enjoyed certain privileges, such as food tax exemption, granted by the government. Afterward, Shaolin monks were recruited by the Ming government at least six times to participate in wars. Due to their outstanding contribution to Chinese military success,

1778-477: A significant Buddhist presence. It is home to the Shaolin Temple , traditionally considered the birthplace of Zen Buddhism , and the temple's pagoda forest is the largest collection of pagodas in China. The mountain and its vicinity are populated with Taoist and especially Buddhist monasteries. The Zhongyue Temple located there is one of the earliest Taoist temples in the country, and the nearby Songyang Academy

1905-491: A third type, county. The IUCN standards that apply are II, V, and VI. The purpose of the Forest Park is to protect the forest. Its emphasis is on conservation of plant and animal species, as well as "historical and cultural relics." Recreation and education may be conducted there. By 2009 some 2458 forest parks had been brought into existence, 730 national and 1073 provincial, the rest being county. They are administered by

2032-401: A two-peak range when actually there are as many as the counter cares to count. The possible number depends on the counter's minimum allowed prominence . PeakVisor, which records reported peaks in a given area, has recorded 44 for Denfeng, the lowest elevation being 959 m (3,146 ft). The Internet reports widely that Mount Song comprises 72 peaks, sometimes rounded off to 70. This is

2159-399: A water mill are granted. The Tang dynasty also established several Shaolin branch monasteries throughout the country and formulated policies for Shaolin monks and soldiers to assist local governments and regular military troops. Shaolin Temple also became a place where emperors and high officials would come for temporary reclusion. Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu Zetian often visited

2286-631: A widely maeandering course to the East China Sea north of Shanghai. Its lower course is totally controlled in long straight lines; in fact, very little of the topography there is natural. The median line of the divide is thus called the Qin-Huai Line, which has more than a geographical significance. As it turns out, the divide is a climate barrier. North of it the climate is temperate and dry; south, subtropical and wet. The two regions have been dubbed "North China" and "South China." Songshan has

2413-467: Is 160 by 360 meters (520 ft × 1,180 ft), or 57,600 square meters (620,000 sq ft). The buildings are arranged in three lengthwise strips. It has seven main halls on the central axis and seven other halls around, with several yards around the halls. These halls are primarily museums containing Buddhist artifacts. Memorials and monuments are scattered freely around the place, as are ancient ginkgo trees. The architecture below follows

2540-620: Is a monastic institution recognized as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Shaolin kung fu . It is located at the foot of Wuru Peak of the Songshan mountain range in Dengfeng County, Henan province, China. The name reflects its location in the ancient grove ( 林 ; lín ) of Mount Shaoshi, in the hinterland of the Songshan mountains. Mount Song occupied a prominent position among Chinese sacred mountains as early as

2667-508: Is a park protecting scenic views, but open to tourism and some minor changes in support of it, such as a cable car. Having begun under the Republic in the 1920s, scenic areas increased but slowly under provincial dominion during the troubled years of the civil war. Mao maintained them but did not improve them. Under the law of 1982 the government organized the scenic areas into provincial or province-level and national or state-level (ratified by

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2794-506: Is about 240 m (790 ft). The observer therefore would see a mountain wall above the horizon rising to 446 m (1,463 ft) over the plain. The slope of the plain would be 130/16 m/km or 0.8125%, scarcely different from flat. Once agricultural, the land is suburban Luoyang today. Three major orogenies formed the area: The Songyang orogeny of 2.5 billion years ago, the Zhongyue orogeny of 1.85 billion years ago, and

2921-455: Is being supplemented by an increasing number of county plans. By 2018 there were more than 11,800 PA's in China of 17 different types. Tourism increased in record proportions. For example, in 2017 some 826 million tourists visited 3505 PA's of a type called "Forest Park." However some of the types were already in existence before the end of the Cold War. The scenic area is a case in point. It

3048-426: Is considered the first patriarch of Chan tradition. Using the teachings of Batuo and his disciples as a foundation, Bodhidharma introduced Chan Buddhism, and the Shaolin Temple community gradually grew to become the center of Chinese Chan Buddhism. Bodhidharma's teaching was transmitted to his disciple Huike, who the legend says cut off his arm to show his determination and devotion to the teachings of his master. Huike

3175-535: Is located. The mountains around the valley, forming an upside-down U, have been defined as the Songshan Scenic Area. The pass over the U is located directly north of the valley. On the western side is the Shaolin Scenic Spot, accessed by China National Highway 207 (G207), which winds over the pass from the direction of Luoyang and runs past the scenic spot, before descending into the valley and joining other roads leading to Zhengzou. The north entrance of

3302-670: Is manifested through a system of different skills that are based on attack and defense movements with the form ( 套路 ; tàolù ) as its unit. One form is a combination of different movements. The structure of movements is founded on ancient Chinese medical knowledge, which is compatible with the laws of body movement. Within the temple, the forms are taught with a focus on integration of the principles of complementarity and opposition. This means that Shaolin kung fu integrates dynamic and static components, yin and yang, hardness and softness, etc. The Shaolin community invests great effort in safeguarding, developing, and innovating its heritage. Following

3429-533: Is named after it. The highest peak in the range is Lian Tian Feng at 1,512 metres (4,961 ft), also most prominent at 1,221 m (4,006 ft). It is located at the coordinates shown for the article. On its upper slopes is the Sanhuangzhai Scenic Spot, further west seen from Route G1516 (Yanluo Expressway), which skirts the range on the south. The location is across the Shaoyang valley on

3556-430: Is only a band of hills about 4 km (2.5 mi) N-S in the order of 300 m (980 ft) high, with prominences much less. The western extension has another name, Wan'anshan, which is considered a branch of Songshan. Eastern Mount Song is on the right bank of the Yellow River, but not western. At about 34°50′08″N 113°03′59″E  /  34.835604°N 113.066483°E  / 34.835604; 113.066483

3683-561: Is prominent and continuous. The professionals - geographers, geologists, archaeologists - refer to the whole thing in English as "the Songshan Mountains." The length from end to end, wherever the topographical map shows a prominence, taking into account the changes of direction, is about 104 km (65 mi) from city-edge to city-edge. The width varies considerably. One source gives an average of 60 km (37 mi), with

3810-648: Is rooted in Mahayana Buddhism, while the practice of Chan is its nucleus and finally, the martial arts, traditional medicine, and art are its manifestations. Thanks to the efforts of the abbot Shi Yongxin, the monastic community, and the temple's disciples from all over the world, Shaolin culture continues to grow. During its historical development, Shaolin culture has also integrated the essential values of Confucianism and Taoism. The contemporary temple establishment offers to all interested individuals and groups, regardless of cultural, social, and religious values,

3937-501: Is thus a historical document. However, the plaques didn't always survive on the memorial. They were torn off or broken open to give access to the chamber inside, presumably an act of robbery, since it vandalized the pagoda. Political destruction would have done more damage to the structure. The surviving inscriptions are works of art. The calligraphy is in the style of the period, providing another means of period identification. A pagoda can be dated archaeologically by size, shape, material of

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4064-513: Is very ancient universally (witness the Persian paradeisos), but in China only the upper classes had them. The notion that land could belong to the people or that the people had the right to enjoy themselves there was subversive. The land belonged to a class dubbed "landlords" by the people. Whether the revolution was Nationalist or Communist, the chief target of popular spite was that very class. They were soon answering for their misdeeds in courts of

4191-1177: The Kangxi Emperor , or in 1728 or 1732 under the Yongzheng Emperor , this destruction is also supposed to have helped spread Shaolin martial arts throughout 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 . These stories commonly appear in legendary or popular accounts of martial history and in wuxia fiction. While these latter accounts are popular among martial artists and often serve as origin stories for various martial arts styles, they are viewed by scholars as fictional. The accounts are known through often inconsistent 19th-century secret society histories and popular literature, and also appear to draw on both Fujianese folklore and popular narratives, such as

4318-719: The Shaolin orogeny of 570 million years ago. They were named after local attractions in the area. The Songshan Geopark is also called "a textbook of geological history". The high points of the range form a u-shaped divide between the Yellow-River system draining to the NE and the Huai-River system draining to the SE. The concave side of the u faces south. Around it is a half-ring of high-altitude, high-prominence mountains, "sacred" to

4445-550: The Tang dynasty . If true, this would have made Shaolin the only temple in China that did not prohibit alcohol. Regardless of historical veracity, these rituals are not practiced today. This legend is not corroborated in any period documents, such as the Shaolin Stele, erected in AD 728. The stele does not list any such imperial dispensation as reward for the monks' assistance during the campaign against Wang Shichong; only land and

4572-694: The UNESCO World Heritage List . Apart from its contribution to the development of Chinese Buddhism, as well as for its historical, cultural, and artistic heritage, the temple is famous for its martial arts tradition. Shaolin monks have been devoted to research, creation, and continuous development and perfecting of Shaolin Kung Fu . The main pillars of Shaolin culture are Chan Buddhism ( 禅 ; chán ), martial arts ( 武 ; wǔ ), Buddhist art ( 艺 ; yì ), and traditional Chinese medicine ( 医 ; yī ). This cultural heritage, still constituting

4699-481: The Yellow River . The massif is terminated by Luoyang on the west side and Zhengzhou on the east. The straight-line distance from Luoyang to Shaolin is about 50 km (31 mi); from Zhengzhou, about 73 km (45 mi). Either city is a popular starting point for a bus or automobile tour to the site. Mount Song is divided by an extensive valley on its south-central side, where much of Dengfeng

4826-674: The "architectural complex". By this, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) of UNESCO designated three ancient sites: the Shaolin Temple compound, assigned the name "Kernel Compound"; its cemetery, the Pagoda Forest; and its subsidiary, the Chuzu Temple. The Shaolin Temple Scenic Spot is located approximately in the middle of Mount Song , an E–W trending massif on the right bank of

4953-744: The 1970s, cultural exchanges between Shaolin Temple and the rest of the world have continuously improved in terms of content, scale, frequency, and scope. The temple has been visited by European and American dancers, martial artists, NBA players, Hollywood movie stars, but also renowned monks from traditional Buddhist countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Also, a number of political leaders, such as Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, British Queen Elizabeth II, Spanish King Juan Carlos I, Australia's former prime minister John Howard, South Africa former president Nelson Mandela, Russian president Vladimir Putin, former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, and Taiwanese politician James Soong have met with

5080-563: The 19th century, when Western explorers and missionaries first started to come into contact with Buddhist monks in Asia. The monks were typically romanticized as otherworldly, enigmatic individuals who had achieved a profound spiritual perception of reality. Despite being a poor oversimplification of the variety of beliefs, practices, and experiences among Buddhist monks, the stereotype has persisted. Jane Iwamura calls this phenomenon "virtual Orientalism" and states that it "declares an independence from

5207-637: The 1st century BC, when it was proclaimed one of the Five Holy Peaks ( 五岳 ; wǔyuè ). It is located some 48 km (30 mi) southeast of Luoyang , the former capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534), and 72 km (45 mi) southwest of Zhengzhou , the modern capital of Henan Province. As the first Shaolin abbot, Butuo Buddhabhadra devoted himself to translating Buddhist scriptures and preaching doctrines to hundreds of his followers. According to legend, Bodhidharma ,

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5334-613: The 28th patriarch of Mahayana Buddhism in India, arrived at the Shaolin Temple in 527. He spent nine years meditating in a cave of the Wuru Peak and initiated the Chinese Chan tradition at the Shaolin Temple. Thereafter, Bodhidharma was honored as the first patriarch of Chan Buddhism. The Temple's historical architectural complex, standing out for its great aesthetic value and its profound cultural connotations, has been inscribed in

5461-542: The 43rd year of the Kangxi Emperor 's reign (1704), the emperor gifted a tablet to the temple, with the characters 少林寺 ( shàolín sì ) engraved on it in his calligraphy (originally hung in the Heavenly King Hall and later moved by the Mountain Gate). In the 13th year of the Yongzheng Emperor 's reign (1735), important reconstructions were financed by the court, including the rebuilding of the gate and

5588-796: The Central Committee made Deng Xiaoping paramount leader . He had been sidelined by Mao for his opposition to the Cultural Revolution but now he was rehabilitated to establish a market economy. Deng's main concern was the Constitution of the People's Republic of China . There was one in 1954, another is 1976, and Deng promulgated a third in 1978 with the full support of the Party. There would be another in 1982, and five revisions after. The 1978 and 1982 constitutions normalized

5715-718: The Chinese Empire, in the Chinese Communist Revolution , forcing them to move their republic to the Island of Taiwan . As the United States had aided and abetted the Republic, it became the antagonist of the People's Republic in the succeeding Cold War . The communists collectivized Chinese economic undertakings, dividing the workers into work units , or collectives , on the Soviet model. In

5842-722: The Management Committee of the geopark and are published in an informational sign on-site. According to the sign, Pagoda Forest passed under state control on November 20, 1996. It comprises 14,000 m (3.5 acres) containing 248 markers, most pagodas. Its cemetery is 300 m from the west of the temple. For time periods it gives Tang, Wudai, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and modern. Other sources give other figures. No matter what borders are considered, however, some pagodas will not be within them. The pagodas are constructed of stone or brick, The pagoda forest in Shaolin stands at

5969-535: The Mount Song region. Around AD 710, Da Mo is identified specifically with the Shaolin Temple (Precious Record of Dharma's Transmission or Chuanfa Baoji) and writes of his sitting facing a wall in meditation for many years. It also speaks of Huike's many trials in his efforts to receive instruction from Da Mo. In the 11th century (1004), a work embellishes the Da Mo legends with great detail. A stele inscription at

6096-526: The North China climate. The landform (or geoform) that is referenced as Mount Song, or on which Mount Song is defined arbitrarily to be, is a range of irregular shape, more E-W than N-S, generally not located any more precisely than "between the cities of Luoyang and Zhengzhou ," or "in Dengfeng 登封 district ( Henan ), not far from Luoyang." Except for a few islands on the west, the whole landform

6223-626: The People's Republic of China was passed. The Songshan Scenic Area , established that year, came to include the Shaolin Temple Scenic Spot. "Scenic areas" were created by the 1982 law as protected regions valuable to the public for their natural or cultural assets. The Songshan Scenic Area covered the mountains around Denfeng. In 1990, the Ministry of Construction and Tongji University proposed that scenic areas be divided into subregions called "Scenic Spots". When this measure

6350-542: The People's Republic of China, the title of which says it all. The internal collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 brought a swift end to the cold war. The borders of the People's Republic were opened. The Chinese people everywhere began to express a spontaneous and passionate interest in preserving the cultural and natural heritage of China and making it available to the rest of the world. In parallel to other countries they began to establish parks, which were brought under

6477-589: The Red Turban attacks returned. At the beginning of the Ming dynasty, the government did not advocate martial arts. During the reign of the Jiajing Emperor , Japanese pirates harassed China's coastal areas, and generals Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang led their troops against the pirates. During his stay in Fujian, Qi Jiguang convened martial artists from all over China, including local Shaolin monks, to develop

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6604-477: The Shaolin Monastery dated to 728 AD reveals Da Mo residing on Mount Song. Another stele from AD 798 speaks of Huike seeking instruction from Da Mo. Another engraving dated to 1209 depicts the barefoot saint holding a shoe, according to the ancient legend of Da Mo. A plethora of 13th- and 14th-century steles feature Da Mo in various roles. One 13th-century image shows him riding a fragile stalk across

6731-474: The Shaolin Monastery to send a message to other temples and the Chinese Catholic Church . The monastery was historically led by an abbot . However, Communist restrictions on religious expression and independence have changed this ancient system. The monastery is currently led by a committee composed primarily of government officials. The treasurer is appointed by the government and as such,

6858-435: The Shaolin Temple for good luck and made large donations. Empress Wu also paid several visits to the Shaolin Temple to discuss Chan philosophy with high monk Tan Zong. During the Tang and Song dynasties, the Shaolin Temple was extremely prosperous. It had more than 14,000 acres of land, 540 acres of temple grounds, more than 5,000 rooms, and more than 2,000 monks. The Chan Buddhist School founded by Bodhidharma flourished during

6985-536: The Shaolin Temple officially became a Chan Buddhist Temple, while up to that point it was a Lǜzōng temple specialized in Vinaya, with a Chan Hall. At the beginning of the Yuan dynasty , Emperor Shizu of Yuan installed the monk Xueting Fuyu ( 雪庭福裕 , 1203–1275) as the abbot of Shaolin and put him in charge of all the temples in the Mount Song area. During this period, the abbot undertook important construction work, including

7112-485: The Shaolin historical narratives is a story that claims that the Indian monk Bodhidharma, the supposed founder of Chinese Chan (Zen) Buddhism, introduced boxing into the monastery as a form of exercise around a.d. 525. This story first appeared in a popular novel, The Travels of Lao T'san , published as a series in a literary magazine in 1907. This story was quickly picked up by others and spread rapidly through publication in

7239-509: The State Council), the latter being an upgrade of the former. A national scenic area (in translation a national park, though bona fide national parks came later) was held to stricter standards, not meeting which would cause the park to drop to a provincial. Currently IUCN standards II, III, and V apply. At the time there were to be 44 scenic areas, each containing one or more scenic spots, or scenic places within scenic areas. Songshan

7366-695: The State Forest Administration. That year they were visited by 332 million tourists. The Shaolin Monastery is located within the Songshan Strategerati Graphical Organization & Structural National Geopark. Eight locations at the foot of the mountain in Dengfeng have been a World Heritage Site since 2010. Strictly speaking a geosite is a location of public interest in a geopark . Geosites are not necessarily "Earth Science" sites, as

7493-472: The Tang dynasty and was the largest Buddhist school of that time. Information about the first century of the Northern Song dynasty is scarce. The rulers of Song supported the development of Buddhism, and Chan established itself as dominant over other Buddhist schools. Around 1093, Chan master Baoen ( 报恩 ; bào'ēn ) promoted the Caodong School in the Shaolin Temple and achieved what is known in Buddhist history as "revolutionary turn into Chan". This meant that

7620-407: The Ten Stages Sutra (Sanskrit: Daśabhūmika Sūtra ; simplified Chinese: 十地经 ), an early, influential Mahayana Buddhist scripture. After that, Huiguang promoted the Vinaya in Four Parts ( 四分律 ; sì fēn lǜ ; Sanskrit: Dharmagupta-Vinaya ), which formed the theoretical basis of the Luzong ( 律宗 ; lǜzōng ) School of Buddhism, formed during the Tang Dynasty by Dao Xuan (596–667). In the third year of

7747-438: The Thousand Buddha's Hall. In the 15th year of his rule (1750), the Qianlong Emperor personally visited Shaolin Temple, stayed at the abbot's room overnight, and wrote poems and tablet inscriptions. A well-known story of the temple from this period is that it was destroyed by the Qing government for supposed anti-Qing activities. Variously said to have taken place in 1647 under the Shunzhi Emperor , in 1674, 1677, or 1714 under

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7874-409: The US and England. Official Shaolin cultural centers exist in numerous countries in Europe, the US, Canada, and Russia. Every year, the temple hosts more than thirty international events with the aim to promote cultural exchange. Shaolin Temple is an important religious and cultural institution, both in China and internationally. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and especially since

8001-414: The World Heritage Site (WHS) arrangement. Shaoshi Mountain The name Songshan also applies to a peak of the range located at 34°30′38″N 112°56′05″E  /  34.510627°N 112.934647°E  / 34.510627; 112.934647 , elevation 1,492 m (4,895 ft). It is the 4th highest peak, but second in prominence at 869 m (2,851 ft). Songshan National Scenic Spot

8128-462: The Xiaochang era (527) of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei , Bodhidharma ( 达摩 ; dá mó ), the 28th patriarch of Mahayana Buddhism in India, came to the Shaolin Temple. The Indian arrived as a Chan Buddhist missionary and traveled for decades throughout China before, settling on Mount Song in the 520s. Bodhidharma's teachings were primarily based on Lankavatara Sutra, which contains the conversation between Gautama Buddha and Bodhisattva Mahamatti, who

8255-437: The Yangtze River. In 1125, a special temple was constructed in his honor at the Shaolin Monastery. Emperor Wen of Sui , who was a Buddhist himself, returned the temple's original name and offered to its community 100 hectares of land. Shaolin thus became a large temple with hundreds of hectares of fertile land and large properties. It was once again the center of Chan Buddhism, with eminent monks from all over China visiting on

8382-488: The Yangtze Valley and the Yellow River Valley, both running roughly E-W, are separated from each other by a divide. If it should be breached at any point then one river would capture the other upstream from the breach. Instead they are totally distinct. The Yellow exits into the Bohai Sea some 744 km (462 mi) north of Shanghai. The Yellow River descends from Gyaring Lake in the high plains of Tibet at an altitude of 4,293 m (14,085 ft). The distance from

8509-411: The Yellow River merges with a right-bank tributary, the Yi Luo. At about 34°40′54″N 112°48′02″E  /  34.681599°N 112.800579°E  / 34.681599; 112.800579 the Yi he ("Yi River") to the south and the Luo he ("Luo River") join to form the Yi Luo he. Western Songshan is on the continuous right bank of the Yi and Yiluo, but not directly. A plain separates them through which

8636-421: The Yuan dynasty and the establishment of the Ming dynasty brought much unrest, in which the temple community needed to defend itself from rebels and bandits. During the Red Turban Rebellion in the 14th century, bandits ransacked the monastery for its real or supposed valuables, destroying much of the temple and driving the monks away. The monastery was likely abandoned from 1351 or 1356 (the most likely dates for

8763-586: The abbot has little control over monastery finances. The monastery splits its profits with Dengfeng : the municipality takes two thirds of the profits, and the monastery retains one third. Shaolin Temple has developed numerous complementary cultural aspects that permeate and mutually reinforce each other and are inseparable, when it comes to presenting the temple's material and intangible cultural heritage. The most prominent aspects are those of Chan ( 禅 ; chán ), martial arts ( 武 ; wǔ ), traditional medicine ( 中医 ; zhōngyī ), and art ( 艺 ; yì ). Shaolin culture

8890-410: The ancient Chinese principle of harmony between heaven and humans, temple masters work on the development of the most natural body movement in order to achieve the full potential of human expression. Shaolin has developed activities related to the international promotion of its cultural heritage. In 2012, the first international Shaolin cultural festival was organized in Germany, followed by festivals in

9017-487: The ancient religions of China, which were Taoism and Buddhism. Within the u is the Shaoyang Valley, now part of metropolitan Denfeng, which conducts its daily business, so to speak, in the shadow of the mountains. It contains the remains and reconstructions of the ancient religious buildings, once a revolutionary target of the Chinese Communist Party, now supported by them as the basis of hugely profitable geotourism, geosports and geotheatre industries as well as vacation spot for

9144-416: The attack) to at least 1359, when government troops retook Henan. The events of this period would later figure heavily in 16th-century legends of the temple's patron saint Vajrapani , with the story being changed to claim a victory for the monks, rather than a defeat. With the establishment of the Ming dynasty by mid-14th century, Shaolin recovered, and a large part of the monastic community that fled during

9271-486: The bricks and the content of the cement; architecturally by the ornamental features. The first pagoda in the cemetery is that of Master Faru, which is dated to 689. As he had a long career at the monastery, it must be presumed to have begun much earlier. The date is in the Tang dynasty . All subsequent dynasties through the Qing dynasty are represented, covering a span of 618–1911. However, pagodas continue to be erected up to

9398-659: The building of the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. He also introduced the generational lineage system of the Shaolin disciples through a 70-character poem—each character in line corresponding to the name of the next generation of disciples. In 1260, Fuyu was honored with the title of the Divine Buddhist Master and in 1312 posthumously named Duke of Jin ( 晉國公 ; jìn guó gōng ) by the Yuan emperor. The fall of

9525-470: The cemetery is the largest, not all the commemorative pagodas are located there. Other monasteries in the vicinity have pagodas as well. Pagodas also are not the only form of commemorative architecture. Steles may be found at various locations. The more famous historical figures warrant statuary or wall painting. The pagodas are dated by many methods. Each memorial bears an inscription—name and date—on stone or on an inscribed plaque. Each surviving inscription

9652-541: The chairman's view, tourism was unnecessary, and so therefore were tourist sites. "Heritage sites" had no value as such and were converted to other purposes. Similarly ancient artifacts were destroyed as well, except for a select few chosen as national symbols. The anti-tradition side of the dichotomy was not unmitigated. The CPC attempted many times to draw up lists of buildings to be protected or to pass regulations defending heritage sites; however, higher-priority needs always seemed to nullify them. Of especially high priority

9779-587: The chance to experience Shaolin culture through the Shaolin cultural exchange program. This program offers an introduction to Chan meditation, Shaolin kung fu, Chan medicine, calligraphy, art, archery, etc. Chan practice is supposed to help the individual in attaining calm and patience necessary for living optimistically, meaningfully, wisely, and with compassion. Ways of practicing Chan are numerous, and they range from everyday activities such as eating, drinking, walking, or sleeping, to specialized practices such as meditation, martial arts, and calligraphy. Shaolin kung fu

9906-681: The classical novel Water Margin . Modern scholarly attention to the tales is mainly concerned with their role as folklore. In the early days of the Republic of China , the Shaolin Temple was repeatedly hit by wars. In 1912, monk Yunsong Henglin from the Dengfeng County Monks Association was elected by the local government as the head of the Shaolin Militia (Shaolin Guarding Corps). He organized

10033-400: The daily temple life, is representative of Chinese civilization. A large number of prominent people, eminent monks, Buddhist disciples, and many others, visit the temple for pilgrimage and cultural exchanges. In addition, owing to the work of official Shaolin overseas cultural centers and foreign disciples, Shaolin culture has spread around the world as a distinctive symbol of Chinese culture and

10160-508: The divide on that line is therefore 164 km (102 mi). Songshan is on the northern slope of the divide, its south edge being higher than the north. The monastic communities are on its south slopes. East of Mount Song the divide is not as severe. Through it flows the Huai River (Huai he), which begins about 32°26′35″N 113°19′31″E  /  32.443119°N 113.325352°E  / 32.443119; 113.325352 and flows

10287-698: The east into Tibet (as does the Yellow). Its numerous tributaries on the way to the East China Sea just above Shanghai water a broad E-W swathe called the Yangtze Delta . Its low-altitude matrix of streams supports the great mass of Chinese people, the most numerous on Earth. The Yellow River creates a second swathe just north of the Yangtze Delta. It is sometimes said to be in the Delta, but

10414-659: The fire. Japan's activities in Manchuria in the early 1930s made the National Government very worried. The military then launched a strong patriotic movement to defend the country and resist the enemy. The Nanjing Central Martial Arts Center and Wushu Institute, together with other martial arts institutions, were established around the country as part of this movement. The government also organized martial arts events such as "Martial arts returning to Shaolin". This particular event served to encourage people to remember

10541-616: The foot of Shaoshi Mountain and is one of the largest pagoda forests in China. It was named a National Scenic Spot in 1996. Both the Shaolin Monastery and the Pagoda Forest were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 as part of the " Historic Monuments of Dengfeng ." [REDACTED] Media related to Songshan Pagoda Forest at Wikimedia Commons Shaolin Temple Shaolin Monastery ( 少林寺 ; shàolínsì ), also known as Shaolin Temple ,

10668-400: The government of Dengfeng had reconstructed or restored fourteen architectural items, mostly buildings. By 2010, it was obvious that management decisions were beyond merely the government. A new management was created that year to operate a joint venture between the government, a private company from Hong Kong, and the abbot of a newly constituted body of monks. They were empowered to maintain

10795-618: The government, and emphasized personal rights and freedom, but the CPC remained in power and was the only party allowed. Ironically the Red Guard was instructed to save and protect the very antiquities they had been created to destroy, too late for a large part of them. The People's Republic changed course, which was formally sanctified in 1982 with the Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage of

10922-430: The guards and trained them in combat skills to maintain local order. In the autumn of 1920, famine and drought hit Henan province, which led to thieves surging throughout the area and endangering the local community. Henglin led the militia to fight the bandits on different occasions, thus enabling dozens of villages in the temple's surroundings to live and work in peace. In the late 1920s, Shaolin monks became embroiled in

11049-543: The imperial court built monuments and buildings for Shaolin Temple on numerous occasions. This also contributed to the establishment of the legitimacy of Shaolin kung fu in the national martial arts community. During the Ming Dynasty (in mid-16th century), Shaolin reached its apogee and held its position as the central place of the Caodong School of Chan Buddhism. In 1641, rebel forces led by Li Zicheng sacked

11176-522: The importance of patriotism by celebrating the contribution of Shaolin martial arts to the country's defense from foreign invasion at numerous occasions throughout history. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the state officially became atheist, with roughly half of the population identifying as nonreligious or atheist. Some state-monitored religions and practices were allowed, while others, like Tibetan Buddhism, were persecuted after

11303-445: The memorial tower are compatible with the former status of the deceased. The continuity covers more than 1,200 years, but usage continues at a slow rate. Not every monk can be interred there; for the most part they are illustrious in some way. Apart from two pagodas representing groups of monks, the ordinary monks not in leadership positions were interred outside the Pagoda Forest in the graves of ordinary men. During their 1,200 years,

11430-452: The monastery due to the monks' support of the Ming dynasty and the possible threat they posed to the rebels. This effectively destroyed the temple's fighting force. The temple fell into ruin and was home to only a few monks until the early 18th century, when the government of the Qing dynasty patronized and restored it. During the Qing dynasty, Shaolin Temple was favored by Qing emperors. In

11557-621: The monastery, destroying some of its ancient towers and halls. The flames partially damaged the "Shaolin Monastery Stele" (which recorded the politically astute choice made by other Shaolin clerics fifteen hundred years earlier), the Dharma Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Sixth Ancestor Hall, Chan Hall, and other buildings, causing the death of a number of monks. A large number of cultural relics and 5,480 volumes of Buddhist scriptures were destroyed in

11684-477: The monastic facilities have undergone many changes, ending up as the complex martial arts and geotourism centers they are now. The original monastery was founded as the first chan center specializing in Kung Foo and related martial arts. The monks always maintained an affectionate respect for the masters, who are still known by name. The tombs are generally well kept and are in a protected location. Although

11811-467: The more established members of the party. In essence they had the power to kill or destroy anyone or anything they pleased. A great many antiquities were lost. Mao is said to have had some ancient tombs filled with concrete. On Mao's death in 1976 the chairmanship was assumed by his vice-chairman, Hua Guofeng , who stopped the cultural revolution by arresting Mao's co-conspirators, the Gang of Four . In 1978

11938-419: The present moment. Some foreign monks are attested in the inscriptions: a Japanese monk dated 1339, an Indian monk dated 1564. Distribution studies of the pagodas conclude that the great majority were constructed during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). However, exact numbers depend on the acreage accepted as the size of the cemetery. There were never any permanent, fixed borders of

12065-547: The province of Henan, was built in the twentieth year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei dynasty, that is, the monastery was built in AD 495. Thanks to Batuo, Shaolin became an important center for the study and translation of original Buddhist scriptures. It also became a place of gathering for esteemed Buddhist masters. Historical sources on the early origins of Shaolin kung fu show that at this time, martial arts practice

12192-428: The real but also co-opts or colonizes the real". The original Shaolin Temple was burned to the ground in 1928 by Shi Yousan , a renegade nationalist warlord. The monks were either killed or deported. The ground lay more or less abandoned, and under Mao Zedong 's Cultural Revolution , it suffered additional damage. However, in 1982, six years after Mao's death in 1976, the Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage of

12319-412: The reconstruction of the monastery as a tourist site. They were to rebuild nine halls, restore ten, and construct eight new ones. However, all documentation on the temple had been destroyed. Already familiar with the type of structure, the architects interviewed elders who had been at the monastery before 1928 for details. The task became greater than simply restoring the monastery of 1928. That monastery

12446-406: The river mouth is 1,965 km (1,221 mi). Lowland visitors run the risk of altitude sickness . The shallow lake collects muddy waters from the surrounding grassy plateau made of thick deposits of loess , a fine dust deposited by glacial winds in the remote past. Suspended loess stays in the water, imparting to the river the yellow color after which it is named. Deposition of this dust fills up

12573-607: The riverbed, resulting in course changes and extensive flooding. Frequent dams and reservoirs help control this formerly disastrous problem. The upper divide is the Qinling Range, a series of ridges trending roughly W-E, more exactly ESE, to the vicinity of Mount Song, which is considered to be in the range. Some consider Mount Song to be in the Funiu Mountains , another subrange of the Qinling, strictly speaking to

12700-478: The scenic spot adjoins G207. The North Gate is an entirely new complex built to facilitate the arrival and departure of visitors along the main point of entry, Highway G207. The local highway representing G207 in this case is East Ring Road, Dengfeng. The Shaolin bus stop is at the minimum of the southward-curving highway, at 34°30′59″N 112°56′56″E  /  34.51641°N 112.94883°E  / 34.51641; 112.94883 . The temple's inside area

12827-646: The south of Mount Song. The distance of a N-S line drawn from the Yellow River at 34°49′54″N 112°58′14″E  /  34.83161°N 112.97044°E  / 34.83161; 112.97044 through Shaolin Monastery to the Yangtze River at its exit from Dongdongting Lake is about 608 km (378 mi). The line enters the Yangtze River Valley at Nanyang, 33°15′25″N 113°00′32″E  /  33.25682°N 113.00890°E  / 33.25682; 113.00890 . The distance across

12954-565: The streams from Wan'anshan pass in their northward courses. An observer at the confluence of the Yi and the Luo looking south to the Wan'anshan would perceive its general prominence over the plain. The confluence has an elevation of about 110 m (360 ft). The terrain of the mountain due south has an elevation of about 556 m (1,824 ft) at 16 km (9.9 mi) away. The elevation at its foot

13081-488: The takeover of Tibet by the Chinese military, in 1959. During the Cultural Revolution, the monks of Shaolin Temple were forced to return to secular life, Buddha statues were destroyed, and temple properties were invaded. After this period ended, Shaolin Temple was repaired and rebuilt. The buildings and other material heritage that was destroyed, including the Mahavira Hall and the stone portraying "Bodhidharma facing

13208-411: The temple registered its name as a trademark. In the late 2000s, Shi Yongxin began authorizing Shaolin branches outside of mainland China in what has been called a franchise scheme. The branches are run by current and former monks and allow dispersion of Shaolin culture and study of Shaolin kung fu around the world. As of January 2011, Yongxin and the temple operated over forty companies in cities across

13335-485: The temple's abbot. Currently, there are more than forty overseas cultural institutions established by the temple's leadership and its disciples in dozens of countries around the world. Shaolin monks come to the centers to teach Buddhist classics, martial arts, meditation, etc. Another way of promoting Shaolin's intangible cultural heritage in the world is through Shaolin Cultural Festivals, the first of which

13462-413: The tract; rather, the monks simply decided to inter the master in some scenic land overlooking a stream to the west. Consequently, there is an area of highest concentration surrounded by circles of lower concentration, although some have chosen to see a pattern, such as a Chinese fan. Geosites, however, often require definite borders, which have been imposed upon the scene. Official borders have been set by

13589-415: The travel business out of the hands of foreigners and provide the Chinese people with a native tourism. The sites to be visited were taken from The Encyclopedia of Chinese Scenic Spots and Ancient Relics of 1922. This agency unwittingly acquired a power not given to western agencies: the power to decide what is a scenic spot and what a relic. Travel to one was not possible without government permission and it

13716-499: The two. Other scholars see an earlier connection between Da Mo and the Shaolin Monastery. The monk and his disciples are said to have lived at a spot about a mile from the Shaolin Temple that is now a small nunnery. In the 6th century, around AD 547, The Record of the Buddhist Monasteries says Da Mo visited the area near Mount Song . In AD 645, The Continuation of the Biographies of Eminent Monks describes him as being active in

13843-532: The umbrella of " protected areas (PA's)." This category was adopted in China by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in 1994 as part of its first Biodiversity Action Plan after China's becoming signatory in the United Nations ' Convention on Biological Diversity . The plan currently in effect is the second, adopted 2010: The National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2011–2030). It

13970-402: The very people they had ruled, with typically fatal consequences. Their land became the people's property. The western idea of a tourist agency that would book visits to scenic areas soon sparked a revolutionary counterpart in China. The China Travel Service was founded by Cheng Guanfu in 1927 under the authority of the Republic at the height of its anti-tradition phase. Its purpose was to take

14097-504: The wall", were reconstructed according to their originals. Others, such as the ancient martial arts training ground, the Pagoda Forest, and some stone carvings that survived, still remain in their original state. In December 1996, Chuzu Temple and Shaolin Temple Pagoda Forest (No. 4-89) were listed as national key cultural relic protection units. Shaolin Temple leadership aimed for its historical architectural complex to become

14224-410: The warlords' feuds that swept the plains of northern China. They sided with General Fan Zhongxiu (1888–1930), who had studied martial arts at Shaolin Temple as a child, against Shi Yousan (1891–1940). Fan was defeated and, in the spring of 1928, Yousan's troops entered Dengfeng and Shaolin Temple, which served as Fan Zongxiu's headquarters. On 15 March, Feng Yuxiang 's subordinate Shi Yousan set fire to

14351-423: The west side of which is Shaolin Monastery . The valley is well populated, in contrast to the forested and precipitous mountains. The literature associated with this monastery, or "temple" (si) relates two folk-names of the range still in popular use due to their legendary status: Shaoshi Mountain, meaning all peaks west of the valley, and Taishi Mountain, all peaks east of the valley. Mount Song thus appears to be

14478-554: The working people. The founders of the Republic; i.e., the Nationalist Party , developed a dichotomous policy toward heritage culture. On the one hand it was to be rejected and attacked as "backward." On the other hand, the "movable relics and archaeological sites" were to be proffered as symbols to "strengthen the national identity". This duality led to somewhat arbitrary decisions on what to destroy and what to cherish. Buildings were especially vulnerable. The Shaolin Temple

14605-635: The world, including London and Berlin, which have purchased land and property. In 2018, for the first time in its 1,500-year history, the Shaolin Monastery raised the national flag of China as part of a "patriotism drive" under the new National Religious Affairs Administration, a part of the United Front Work Department , which "oversees propaganda efforts as well as relations with the global Chinese diaspora". Senior theology lecturer Sze Chi Chan of Hong Kong Baptist University interpreted this move as Xi Jinping making an example of

14732-516: Was Mao's policy of the Great Leap Forward , with which he hoped to transform China into a modern state. To the contrary, the leap was too far, too fast. The demands made upon the workers far exceeded their ability to comply. The punishments brought into play for not meeting deadlines amounted to a terror. Economic collapse and social anarchy began. A famine ensued, increasing the death toll of this already sanguinary revolution greatly. It

14859-488: Was at this point that Mao made his greatest misjudgements, which, had he not died, would surely have led to his overthrow. He concluded that failure to meet deadlines was an act of sabotage conducted by secret capitalist enemies of the communist state, including party members. Hence began the 10-year cultural revolution , the worst terror of all. Recruiting the Red Guards from the youth, Mao set them against tradition and

14986-463: Was attacked and conflagrated in 1928 by Shi Yousan , a warlord of the Warlord Era of the revolution, along with many others. Monks everywhere were at risk. On the other hand, a number of new, western-style museums were constructed to house the revered artifacts. It was during the Republic's sojourn on the mainland that tourism and the designation of public parks began. The concept of a park

15113-760: Was existent in the temple. Batuo's teaching was continued by his two disciples, Sengchou ( 僧稠 ; sēngchóu , 480–560) and Huiguang ( 慧光 ; huìguāng , 487–536). In the first year of the Yongping era (506), Indian monks Lenamoti ( 勒那摩提 , in Sanskrit: Ratnamati ) and Putiliuzhi ( 菩提流支 , in Sanskrit: Bodhiruci ) came to Shaolin to set up a scripture translation hall. Together with Huiguang, they translated master Shiqin's ( 世親 ; shìqīn ; in Sanskrit: Vasubandhu ) commentary on

15240-403: Was forced to leave the temple during the persecution of Buddhism and Daoism (574–580) by Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou . In 580, Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou restored the temple and renamed it Zhi‘ao Temple ( 陟岵寺 ; zhìhù sì ). The idea that Bodhidharma founded martial arts at the Shaolin Temple was spread in the 20th century. However, martial arts historians have shown this legend stems from

15367-527: Was held in North America. These festivals and similar events convey the spiritual connotation of Chinese culture and Eastern values to societies internationally. Asian monks are typically portrayed in Western culture as being knowledgeable, at peace, as well as spiritual individuals. Additionally, they are depicted as wise mystics who offer spiritual advice. This stereotype's beginnings can be traced to

15494-670: Was not the whole range. Shaped like bean, its concave side faces the south. Shaoshi and Taishi are the masses on the side, as far as they go. The valley is not included, as it was already urban Dengfeng. In 1982 along with the scenic areas the State Council ratified a new type of PA, the Forest park or area, devised by the State Planning Commission (subsequent National Development and Reform Commission ), also dividing such parks into provincial and national, with

15621-569: Was passed by the state council (central government), the "Songshan National Scenic Area" (SNSA) acquired the "Shaolin Temple Scenic Spot" (STSS), consisting of the Shaosi side of the Scenic Area. Though named after the famous monastery in the south of the spot, it also included the north, where the government established a kung fu academy, the largest in China. The scenic spot consists of the entire park. The government promptly allocated funds for

15748-462: Was placed in the national category. In 1986 it received a Master Plan formulated by Tongji University , which was ratified in 1990 by the State Council of the People's Republic of China . Shaolin Monastery was featured as a scenic spot. Funds were allocated to restore it (It had burned down in 1928). Other scenic spots are Songyang Academy, Zhongyue Temple, Star Observatory, Daxiongshan Xianren Valley, Fanjia Gate, and Zhaixing Tower. This scenic area

15875-537: Was stationed in the Cypress Valley. In 626, Li Shimin, later known as Emperor Taizong, sent an official letter of gratitude to the Shaolin community for the help they provided in his fight against Shichong and thus the establishment of the Tang Dynasty. According to legend, Emperor Taizong granted the Shaolin Temple extra land and a special "imperial dispensation" to consume meat and alcohol during reign of

16002-503: Was the agency that passed it on. After the communists received this agency they made it a branch of the government. By 1940 they had designated 15 areas for public visitation, the core of the later scenic areas. In 1949 the People's Republic of China began under the leadership of Chairman Mao Zedong of the Chinese Communist Party . His party had defeated the forces of the Republic of China (1912–1949) , successor to

16129-485: Was the end point of a long line of development, which included reconstruction after some twenty or more previous destructions, and variations in size from twenty monks during the Tang dynasty (619–907) to more than 1,800 monks living in 5,000 rooms during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). No single configuration representative of the entire span of the monastery was apparent. Multiple possibilities existed, and deliberations about what to restore were complex and prolonged. By 1998,

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