Functions of Shaolin Kongfu

As a martial art and fitness activity, Shaolin Kongfu has been closely linked with fight and body building. It has become an excellent form of national culture for important social functions and values. In the course of inheritation and development, Shaolin Kongfu has developed into distinctive culture.

I. Martial arts and military affairs

As a martial art, Shaolin Kongfu has been closely linked with military affairs. Shaolin Kongfu has been introduced in military affairs and has played important role ever since Shaolin temple organized monks to fight against farmers’ rebellion in late Sui Dynasty. In early Tang Dynasty, Shaolin temple had begun to organize and train armies publicly since the eminent 13 monks of Shaolin temple had helped King Li Shiming beat Wang Shichong. Shaolin Kongfu had been frequently applied into war ever since. Shaolin Kongfu had made great important contribution once again during Ming Dynasty. In early Ming Dynasty, army of Shaolin temple had helped Zhu Yuanzhang to claim throne. In the middle of Ming Dynasty, monks of Shaolin temple went into war again, displaying brilliant military exploits when the Japanese invaded the Northern part of China. Kongfu monk Yuekong had took over 30 monks to the front of war and killed a great many Japanese enemies. The eminent anti-Japanese general Yu Dayu had included Kongfu monks in his army. During the rule of Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty, China was confronted with serious border issues and the Emperor had dispatched Kongfu monks to guard border. The Shaolin Kongfu master Sanqi had took more than 1000 monk soldiers to go to war in Shaanxi, Shanxi and other places. Later on, Sanqi had sent by the government to conquer Yunnan when the upper class in Yunnan launched offensive insurrection. In addition, Shaolin Kongfu monks Wanan and Zengshi had participated into war for a great many times and been awarded by the Emperor for brilliant military exploits. Besides, Shaolin Kongfu monks had participated in suppression of farmers’ rebellions such as the Red Scarves, Shang Zhao’s rebellion and Li Jiyu’s uprising.

In modern times, Shaolin Kongfu monks had participated in war for a great many times as well. In early period of the Republic of China, Shaolin Kongfu monk Henglin had been appointed with recommendation of Gao Qiang as head of the protection unit of Shaolin district owning to his eminent martial arts skills. Hengxin had led Shaolin Kongfu monks to participate in war for a dozen times. Shaolin Kongfu monk Miaoxing had gone into war for multiple times and been appointed as under head of Wu Peifu. In addition, Shaolin Kongfu monks had joined anti-Japanese aggression war as well. Take two generals of People’s Liberation Army as another example. General Xu Shiyou and General Qian Jun had made use of Shaolin Kongfu skills they’d learnt and had won brilliant military exploits. To short, Shaolin Kongfu has made tremendous contributions in battlefield in China’s history.

Buddhism was derived from India and was introduced into inner land of China during Han Dynasty. The eminent Indian monks Batuo and Dharma had preached Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism respectively. According to their preaching, life is miserable and man has to practice Buddhism to become Buddha to enter pure land. This doctrine was against traditional Chinese thought of fidelity and loyalty and as a result, Buddhism failed to get deep rooted in China. In early period of Tang Dynasty, Huineng had reformed Bodhidharma Zen and proposed the concepts that mind is Buddha and Buddhahood upon enlightenment. He preached the method of circulation by four positions of walking, standing, sitting and lying down; as long as Zen was integrated into daily life with loyalty to Buddha, Buddhahood could be inspired in people in a natural way. Acoording to his preaching, every person could become Buddha or even a butcher could become a Buddha the moment he drops his Cleaver. The practicing method is based upon Buddhist prospects and has become distinctive Zen Buddhism with Chinese characteristics by incorporation with Taoism and Confucianism. Zen’s creeds cater for self esteem of Chinese people and agree with traditional Chinese custom and culture. As a result, it has been accepted by different walks of life in China and even infiltrated into Shaolin Kongfu. The effects of Zen on Shaolin Kongfu could not be neglected, Shaolin Kongfu is indispensible from Zen and the two are integrated into unique system on basis of understanding Zen. The effects of Zen on Shaolin Kongfu are evident in boxing principles of eminent Shaolin monk Miaoxing.

First of all, Shaolin Kongfu players shall swallow their pride and guard against frivolous activity to prevent harm to other people out of their carless practice of Kongfu. This is the basic principle of Buddhism. With regard to Bodhidharma meditation, the key is Xingru, patience, which includes revenge practice, karma practice, desireless practice and religious practice. Shaolin Kongfu players have attached high importance to not care about actual losses and gains. As Miaoxing has said, “we could stay calm and peaceful inside regardless of whatever obstacle, sarcasm and insulation from the outside (New Shaolin Temple Records). In Shaolin Boxing Book, the players are required to not compete with others and not to become angry with humiliation, curse and repulsion. In addition, the players are required to guard against stealing, greed, lust and frivolous behaviors.

Secondly, a basic practice in Shaolin boxing Kongfu is to stand on saddle piles, which is designed to enhance leg strength and lower body stability, and to cultivate peaceful mentality. The practicing method agrees with Zen meditation. Standing on the piles, the players are required to concentrate their minds, meditate on key postures and muscular changes, and let mind govern action. According to Miaoxing, the players shall leave himself and other things out of mind, concentrate and meditate on practice. The concentration during practice could be as firm as surface of wall and the effects could be compared with that of Zen meditation. In addition, the players are required to count from 1 to 100 to concentrate their mind while standing on the piles, which is similar to Zen meditation as well.

Thirdly, the courage enhancement method of Shaolin boxing practice incorporates Zen relief method. The players are supposed to be bold enough to be fearless in heart. According to experts in Shaolin boxing, the greatest courage resides in no fear for death and once this mentality has been attained, the players could use the skills flexibly. In comparison, Zen relief method resorts to deterioration of the shackles of worldly troubles by meditation to make understanding in agreements with doctrine. In this way, one could become free from all kinds of restrictions. In terms of boxing techniques, meditation could help players to put aside life and death and to concentrate on practicing.

Finally, Shaolin Kongfu is distinctive by the combination of Zen and Shaolin boxing. Zen meditation concepts after having been expanded by Huineng are no longer restricted to sitting and meditation. Instead, Buddhahood is believed to be attained by meditation and enlightenment. This theory is similar to art of Kongfu. Hence, the combination of Zen and boxing has helped to explain and understand boxing skills.

III. Martial art and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

TCM is a medicine to help Chinese people treat diseases and attain longevity. In comparison, Shaolin Kongfu helps to strength physique and defend oneself in danger, which has promoted the application of TCM in Shaolin temple. In addition, monks of Shaolin temple have attached great importance to TCM since they are inevitably injured in practice and fight and during use of weapons. As said by medical monk of Shaolin temple in Injury Recipes of Shaolin Temple, the injury of monks are inevitable in practice and fight, which makes monks practice medicine naturally... Recipes of Shaolin temple are all independently developed and never disclosed to the outside. In addition to injury recipes, a great many treatment methods have been developed by Shaolin temple, which include massage therapy, meridian and acupuncture therapy, Qigong therapy, Chinese medicine regimens and acupuncture therapy.

Qigong and boxing of Shaolin Kongfu have important role in Chinese martial arts and Qigong. The basic content of the two skills are attack and defense and the movement structure, configuration and practicing method hereof are different. They are not targeted at fight but effects on the practitioners themselves in terms of body building, longevity and treatment of diseases. Shaolin Kongfu such as Baduanjin and Yijinjing has the effects hereabove. It has incorporated medical theory of disease treatment and martial arts. Hence, Shaolin Kongfu could enhance physique, improve skills of martial arts and has been passed on generation after generation as a representative of Qigong.

In terms of TCM, Shaolin temple has two categories of Pro-Gong medications, taken orally and applied externally respectively. Oral medication could enhance sinews and bones, invigorate activity of organs and prevent fatigue due to practice. Major effects of externally applied medication reside in stimulation of blood circulation, relaxation of muscules and joints, treatment of inflation and kill of aches. In this way, the medication could prevent aging and death of cells. The oral medications have been gradually made into prescriptions and the external meditation into experiential effective recipes.

To short, Shaolin Kongfu had developed by independent development of medication and employment of TCM. With application and development of TCM in Shaolin Kongfu, TCM skills have become a skill of monks of Shaolin temple in their kind deeds to help the poor. In this way, Shaolin Kongfu has incorporated its own TCM medical system, and TCM has in turn become an integral part of Shaolin culture.