What is Shaolin Temple ? - Songshan Shaolin Temple China

Shaolin Temple China

Shaolin Temple (少林寺)is situated at the western foot of the Song Shan Mountains, 13 kilometers northwest of Dengfeng City, Henan province. With the back against the Wuru Peak, it is surrounded with disorderly but interestingly joined mountains that form a natural defense. In 1983, the state defined the Shaolin Temple as the key national Buddhist temple. Shaolin Temple was established in 495AD (the 19th year of Taihe, Northern Wei Dynasty). A follower of Buddhism, Emperor Xiaowen, much worshipped an Indian monk spreading Buddhism in Luoyang called Batuo.

History of shaolin temple

Shaolin Temple, in the region of Song Mountain, Dengfeng City, Henan Province, is reputed to be ‘the Number One Temple under Heaven’. Included on UNESCO’s World Cultural & Natural Heritage List in 2010, it is the cradle of the Chinese Zen Buddhism and the Shaolin Martial Arts such as Shaolin Cudgel. One can see wild flowers and pines on the mountain. With birds singing and a brook spattering, a beautiful scene full of life and vitality is revealed to the visitors.

Shaolin Temple embraces many exciting attractions, such as the Hall of Heavenly Kings (Tianwangdian), the Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian), the Pagoda Forest, the Dharma Cave and the Martial Art Training Center. Visitors may follow the virtual guide to visit the temple.

The golden temple with treasured bells twinkles clearly with swing.” Especially in the year of 723, Emperor Xuanzong assigned the astronomer Seng Yixing to Shaolin Temple to build a “Buddhist temple” with so exquisite working shop that “it shines like the sun and moon in the sky and the Buddhist garden is full of vapour and colors”. In the year of 695AD (the first year of Tiance Wansui), empress Wu Zetian offered sacrifice to the gods at the Songshan Mountains and renamed the reign title as the first year of “Wansui Dengfeng”, from which Dengfeng County was sourced. In the Tang Dynasty, Shaolin Temple saw an age producing famous monks, including Shanhu, Zhicao, Tanzong, Fary and Tongguang, etc.

Recent history – Destructions and renovations

In the Song Dynasty, the Confucian school of idealist philosophy was in the making, while the three religions of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucian were in collaboration. Since the Confucian ideals were influenced by the Chan sect, the Chan sect and the Chan sect origin, Shaolin Temple were also developed .During the Yongxi period of the Song Dynasty, Shaolin Temple reserved over 9,500 volumes of the Buddhist Scriptures, and Shaolin Temple was titled as the “First Temple of the world” .

The Yuan Dynasty was the resurgent period of the Shaolin Temple. The famous monk, Fuyu presided the Shaolin Temple, “allowing difference and preaching Buddhism, and always giving charity to visitors coming from time to time”. In those days, there were over 2,000 monks, while Shaolin Kung Fu developed further. In the Ming dynasty, Shaolin Temple was rehabilitated to become brand new and shining. In the period of Jialing, due to the great service rendered by Shaolin Kung fu monks in resisting the Japanese, the Ming Governments exempted Shaolin Temple from paying farm tax and granted it with the Tripitaka, building the thousand-Buddha hall to serve the Tripitaka.
During the Qing Dynasty, Shaolin Temple was totally renovated and expanded. In the 13th year of Emperor Yongzheng (1735), the emperor personally came to the temple to receive the planning finalized the program for republishing the gate and the thousand-Buddha hall. In the 1750, Emperor Qianlong, came personally to Shaolin Temple, spent nights in the Abbot’s room, wrote a poem in his own handwriting and set up a monument.

In the late Qing Dynasty, Shaolin Temple was declining day by day. In 1928, the militiaman Shi Yousan set fire to the Shaolin Temple, burning down the Buddha-worshiping Hall, Tianwang Hall and Daxiong Palace and over one thousand copies of the Buddhist Classics. Most of the halls and houses in the ancient temple with a history of one thousand years were then burned down and left in ruins.

After the New China founded, Shaolin Temple was rebuilt and benefited from the reform and opening-up policy. The central Government went on to list the Shaolin Temple as the key national Buddhism temple. The government also allocated funds to restore the Tianwang Hall, Daxiong Palace, the Buddha-worshipping Hall, the bell tower, drum-tower and other major architectures. During the period from 2004 to the first half of 205, Shaolin Temple was rebuilt on a large scale. Shaolin Temple now stands renovated with a new but traditional appearance.

year of Emperor Yongzheng (1735), the emperor personally came to the temple to receive the planning finalized the program for republishing the gate and the thousand-Buddha hall. In the 1750, Emperor Qianlong, came personally to Shaolin Temple, spent nights in the Abbot’s room, wrote a poem in his own handwriting and set up a monument.

In the late Qing Dynasty, Shaolin Temple was declining day by day. In 1928, the militiaman Shi Yousan set fire to the Shaolin Temple, burning down the Buddha-worshiping Hall, Tianwang Hall and Daxiong Palace and over one thousand copies of the Buddhist Classics. Most of the halls and houses in the ancient temple with a history of one thousand years were then burned down and left in ruins.

After the New China founded, Shaolin Temple was rebuilt and benefited from the reform and opening-up policy. The central Government went on to list the Shaolin Temple as the key national Buddhism temple. The government also allocated funds to restore the Tianwang Hall, Daxiong Palace, the Buddha-worshipping Hall, the bell tower, drum-tower and other major architectures. During the period from 2004 to the first half of 205, Shaolin Temple was rebuilt on a large scale. Shaolin Temple now stands renovated with a new but traditional appearance.

The Shaolin Temple Wushu (Martial Arts) Training Center comes last. Its perfect scenery makes it an ideal place for practicing the Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu. Shaolin monks have been practicing Kung Fu for over 1,500 years. The system was invented by Dharma who taught the monks basic methods to improve their health and defend themselves. The Martial art performance shows the true Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu. For example, Tong Zi Gong, performed by teenagers, is a kind of martial art to train one’s flexibility and strength.

In a word, Shaolin Temple is worthy of a visit. It will give you a better understanding of Chinese Buddhism and the Chinese martial arts.

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