By
Co-Authored by Richard Loewenhagen
Wing Chun, Bak
Mei, Hung Gar, and other Kung Fu systems all refer to the burning of the
Shaolin Temple in their lore. Most of these legends do not make a
distinction between a Southern Shaolin Temple and a Northern Shaolin
Temple. Consequently, some experts of today suggest that there was no
Southern Shaolin Temple, leaving practitioners in a state of confusion
between the legends and current historical findings. This article
highlights the evidence of the Southern Temple's existence, destruction,
and present day reconstruction in the southern Province of Fujian, China.
The Southern
Shaolin Temple was ultimately the result of Northern Temple monk warriors
responding to a request for martial assistance from a young Tang Dynasty.
Pirate incursions in Fujian Province threatened stability and prosperity
in Southern China and the new dynasty needed help. At the Emperor's
request, three of the legendary Shaolin Thirteen Cudgel fighting monks,
Dao Guang, Seng Man and Seng Feng, led approximately 500 warrior monks
south in the early 7th Century A.D. to engage in battle against the
pirates. They helped the Tang soldiers turn back the tide, so to speak,
and the coastal war was won. According to research performed over the last
decade by three independent Chinese Government historical organizations
(the Fujian Province Archeologist's Association, the Fujian Museum, and
the Putian Southern Shaolin Temple Investigatory Association) many warrior
monks fell in the ensuing battles. To commemorate their fallen comrades,
some of the Shaolin monks stayed behind in the Southern provinces. They
were welcomed and followed by local monks seeking to become Shaolin
disciples. Dao Guang initially returned to Song San Shaolin Temple and
visited Tan Zong, the grandmaster. Tan Zong wrote a poem for him and asked
him to select a site resembling the Song San "Jiu Lian" Mountain and then
build a Southern Shaolin Temple to commemorate their fallen brothers. The
grandmaster asked him to remember their ancestors and to spread the Chan
Buddhist philosophy native to the Song San Temple (also called "Zen" in
today's Japanese culture). The literal meaning of the poem is: "Days and
months fighting roving bandits, wishing a temple to stay at the foot of
Jiu Lian Mountain; Southern and Northern Shaolin originates from the same
temple with Chan Buddhism engraved in the heart forever".
Dao Guang
returned to Fujian and selected Putian Linshan Mountain (which resembled "Jiu
Lian" mountain in topography) as the site of the Southern Shaolin Temple.
Evidence amassed by the three above referenced historical and
archeological organizations establishes that the Tang Emperor, Lee Shimin
(600-649 AD), approved the proposed site and the construction of a
Southern Shaolin Temple. He was particularly appreciative, as the warrior
monks had earlier saved his life in a conflict with a rogue General who
challenged his ascendancy to the throne. Lee Shimin (Imperial title - Tai-Tsung)
reigned from 626-649 AD. He brought Taoism and Buddhism together with
Confucian policy to rule the country. The Chan tradition of the Southern
Shaolin was also created at this time, together with that temple's
practice of martial arts.
Centuries
later, events during the Ming / Qing transition produced a political
climate that precipitated an increased need for martial arts development
in the south. During that time, Ming supporters and Southern Shaolin
warriors formed a secret society called the Hung Fa Wui. Additional
society members included high-level ex-Ming military officers and members
of the Ming royal family. The actual meeting hall of the Hung Fa Wui,
called the Hung Fa Ting, was the only original building left standing when
the temple was excavated. The Government of China dates the creation of
the Hung Fa Ting and the Hung Fa Wui to 1646 A.D. - two years following
the collapse of the Ming Dynasty in Northern China. The martial experts of
the Hung Fa Wui pooled their knowledge to create a combat system that
would be quick to learn and effective against all styles via the mapping
of spatial, temporal, and energetics characteristics of the battlefield to
human physiological structure. The highly scientific paradigm shift of
this fighting system occurred in the Southern Shaolin Temple through the
combined efforts of Shaolin monks and the Hung Fa Wui secret society -
specifically in a place called the "Weng Chun Tong".
The fighting
effectiveness and revolutionary activities of the Southern Shaolin systems
astounded the Qing Emperor at that time. In response, the Qing ordered the
destruction of the Southern Shaolin Temple through the use of overwhelming
odds. Surviving members scattered throughout the Southern Provinces.
Supported by other secret societies, these revolutionaries continued to
spread their activities and fighting style. Many of today's Southern kung
fu systems trace their roots to the Weng Chun Tong, such as Chi Sim Weng
Chun and Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun.
The National
Culture Bureau discovered the ruins of the center temple, "Lin Quan Yuan,"
in 1986 - more than 300 years after its destruction. The ruins are located
at Jiu Lian Mountain (above sea level 500 meters) and are surrounded by
mountains North, South, and East. The Temple's western side was opposite
the Supine Buddha Mountain (above sea level 570 meters) with a river in
between. The ruins are 200 meters long from west to east with a total area
of about 30,000 square meters. The terrain and its features bear a strong
resemblance to Song San Shaolin Temple. The topography of the Southern
Shaolin Temple is strategically located and quite difficult to access.
From a military perspective, it was easy to defend and difficult to
challenge. In essence, it was an ideal place for executing revolutionary
command and control of military strategy and tactics. There are more than
10 fortified mountain villages around it. Today the ruins of these
villages still exist. The four stone inscriptions of Zhang Jiang Village
confirm that it was built at the end of Ming Dynasty (1645 A.D) when Cibo
Huang fought against Qing soldiers. There are also place names related to
the Shaolin Temple at Lin Shan Village, such as Yuan Qian, Yuan Hou, Yuan
Ke, Ta Li, Ta Xi, Fangseng Chi, Liangong Tan, etc. Likewise, there are
some camp names related to martial arts practice as well, and a stone
trough for the monk soldiers to treat wounded and ill casualties. The
stone trough is 226 cm long and 100 cm wide with the inscription "Bathing
and boiling herb medicine for monks." Overall, these ruins suggest a
significant level of prosperity for the participants in warfare during the
Ming/Qing struggle.
Due to existing
material objects, folk legend and historical literature all pointing to
the existence of a Southern Shaolin Temple, the Putian Southern Shaolin
Research Association was the first to apply for Government permission to
engage in formal archaeological studies for the Southern Shaolin Temple.
From Dec. 1, 1990 to May 25, 1991, approved by National Cultural Affairs
Bureau, the Fujian Provincial Archeology Team also set out to do the same
by excavating 1325 square meters of a total 30,000 square meters of Lin
Quan Yuan. This represented the first phase of the recovery of the
Southern Shaolin Temple. The initial dig unearthed many precious
historical relics of dynasties ranging from the Tang to the Qing.
In June, 1991,
the Northern Shaolin Temple sent their Martial Monks to teach martial arts
at Putian. Hand in hand with the Putian Southern Shaolin Research
Association, they started to rebuild the "Southern Boxing and Northern
Kicking" magnificent martial arts era. The Putian Southern Shaolin
Research Institute was further invited to make a horizontal inscribed
board with the words on it saying "World's No. 1 Temple" on August 21st,
1991. The board has been hung at the top of the gate of Tian Wang Dian of
Song San Shaolin Temple signifying the unity of the two temples as one
Shaolin identity. The reconstructed Southern Shaolin Temple has been a
very effective driving force for propagating and developing Chinese
traditional martial arts, while simultaneously strengthening relations
with the Chan Grandmaster of the Northern Shaolin Temple.
On Sept. 14,
1991, the Chinese Martial Arts Association, the Fujian Sport Committee,
and the Fujian Martial Arts Association co-organized a conference to
expound and prove the existence of the Southern Shaolin Temple. More than
30 experts in martial arts, history, religion and archeology firmly
asserted that the central temple Lin Quan Yuan of Southern Shaolin Temple
was built around 557 A.D during the Nan (South) Dynasty. This is only 61
years later than the Song San Shaolin Temple and even one year earlier
than the most famous Guan Hua Temple at Putian. Therefore it is the
earliest temple built in Fujian. According to the above referenced
research teams, it was ultimately ordered burned by Kang Xi of the Qing
Dynasty because of its participation and leadership in revolutionary
activities. The Chinese Buddhism Association council member, De Chan, who
is also the 29th grandmaster of Song San Shaolin Temple, confirmed these
facts via historical literature maintained in the Northern Temple. In
recognition, he granted an inscription for the reconstructed Southern
Shaolin Temple. The meaning of the inscription is, "At the foot of "Jiu
Lian Mountain", there exists a Southern Shaolin Temple".
On April 25th,
1992, the Southern Shaolin Temple confirmation conference was held in the
Beijing People's Conference Hall. The conference officially approved the
reconstruction of the Southern Shaolin Temple. After the press conference,
the Xin Hua News Agency distributed press releases to the world announcing
that the Southern Shaolin Temple was to be rebuilt at Fujian Putian. The
Central News Agency also carried an article on April 26th stating,
"Experts revealed the historically secret Southern Shaolin Temple to be
rebuilt at Fujian". The article asserted that the controversy over the
location of the ruins of the Southern Shaolin Temple had been resolved.
The discovery
of the Southern Shaolin Temple caused a great response both at home and
overseas. Putian city has held five Shaolin Boxing Competitions since
then. People from all over the world have been attracted to Putian to
visit the temple for respect and Martial Arts practice in an endless
stream. On August 8, 1992, the provincial government officially approved
the request to start the reconstruction. On Dec. 24th, 1994, actual
construction began. The city and county government and many compatriots
from Hong Kong and Macao participated in the opening ceremony. The first
phase of the project was completely designed by the Provincial Classical
Architecture Institute. With an investment of over 80 million yuan, they
completed the construction of the mountain highway, the large and small
Pailou (Decorated archways), the Daxiong Treasure Hall, the Long Corridor,
the monks' dormitory, Fangseng Chi, the Temple moat, the Temple bridge,
and mountain gate. By Dec. 8, 1998, these opened to the public.
The second
phase of the project was designed by the National Architecture Department.
The design called for the construction of 13 attraction areas, including a
martial arts training hall, encompassing 25 viewing spots of the temple
grounds. The total investment called for 36 million yuan. Up to now, the
parking lots, administration offices and communication equipment have been
finished. The Fine Arts Institute of the Southern Shaolin Temple was also
constructed to enhance Chinese Martial Art culture and promote the
exchange and creation of Chinese traditional paintings and calligraphy. By
October 2000, 130 masterpieces from famous artists had been collected and
are now open to public view.
In 2001, the
opening ceremonies of the Fujian Sports Festival and the Fujian
International Southern Shaolin Martial Arts Festival were held at Xi Tian
Wei Township. During these festivals, Song San Shaolin and Southern
Shaolin performed together. Their production, entitled "Great Shaolin
Martial Arts", promoted the exchange of martial arts between the two
temples. Many martial arts professionals and practitioners participated in
these activities as well. Today, the Southern Shaolin Temple is becoming
well known in the Asian world. The people from the hometown of the
Southern Shaolin Temple sincerely welcome other peoples the world over. We
in the martial arts community look forward to a new future for Southern
Shaolin Kung Fu development.
The information
in this article presents strong evidence and validity as to the origins
and existence of the Southern Shaolin Temple, in concurrence with current
VTM research. The information is supported by rigorous historical and
archeological research and is openly acknowledged as correct by the
Northern Shaolin Temple at Song San. It also establishes the path taken in
the spread of Chan (Zen) philosophy and Shaolin Kung Fu to the southern
provinces of China. The Government of China considers the discovery of the
Southern Shaolin Temple and the Hung Fa Ting one of, if not the most,
significant archeological finds in the history of martial arts. The lore
of ancient Southern Shaolin systems such as Chi Sim Weng Chun and Hung Fa
Yi Wing Chun take on greater significance with their consistent references
to Southern Shaolin philosophies and training methodologies. Likewise,
Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun's lore has always contained references to its roots
in the Hung Fa Wui and Hung Fa Ting. These recent archeological
discoveries simply validate further the accuracy of Chi Sim and Hung Fa Yi
lore. T
