Shaolin Temple is located at the north side of the Chinese cultural mountain--Shaoshi Hill of the Songshan Mountain. In Chinese, Shaolin means the forest of the Shaolin Hill, so is the Shaolin Temple named.
  In the 19th year of the Tai He era of the North Wei Dynasty (A.D.495), the Emperor Yuan Hong had the Shaolin Temple established for an eminent monk from India. In the 3rd year of the Xiao Chang era of the North Wei Dynasty (A.D.527), the eminent monk Bodhi-Dharma arrived at Guangzhou from ancient India by sea and finally settled down in the Shaolin Temple.

  After 9 years' meditation facing the stone wall in a hole, he started to disseminate Zen. He was respectfully called "the Great Patriarch of the Chinese Zen" and the Shaolin Temple was called the "ancestral temple of the Chinese Zen".
  In the 3rd year of the Jian De era of the North Zhou Dynasty. Emperor Wudi officially abolished the dissemination of Buddhism and the Shaolin Temple was destroyed. During the Da Xiang era (A.D.589--581), Emperor Jingdi of the North Zhou Dynasty restored Buddhism. Shaolin Temple was reconstructed and renamed "Shegu Temple".

  Buddhism prevailed since the era of the emperor Wendi, named of the Sui Dynasty. In the first year of the first emperor of the Sui Dynasty (A.D.581), the temple name was changed from Shegu Temple back to Shaolin Temple.
  During the period of the end of the Sui Dynasty and the early stage of the Tang Dynasty, 13 monks of the Shaolin Temple were given handsome rewards including high posts and 40 qing of lands for their offering helps to the Tang Dynasty. Under the supports of the emperors of the Tang Dynasty, during the period from the very beginning of the Tang Dynasty to Kai Yuan era, the Shaolin Temple was expanded.

  During the period of the Song and Yuan Dynasty, the Shaolin Temple still remained a large size. In the Yuan Dynasty, the Shaolin Temple entered into a booming era. Kublai, the fifth emperor of the Yuan Dynasty appointed the eminent monk Fu Yuan as the abbot  of the Shaolin Temple to be in charge of the temples of the whole country, thus, the Shaolin Temple became the focus of Zen.

  In the Ming Dynasty, the Shaolin Wushu had won great fame throughout the world. In the Jia Jing era (A.D.1522--1566), the Shaolin Temple has sent monks to help the imperial government in fighting against invaders for several times and been granted rewards for their contribution.

  The emperors of Qing Dynasty had also thought highly of the Shaolin Temple. Emperor Kang Xi inscribed for the Shaolin Temple, in the fifth year of the Qian Long era (A.D.1750), Emperor Hong Li paid visit to the Shaolin Temple and stayed in the abbot's room for a night.
  In 1963, Shaolin Temple was officially announced as provincial historic reservation by the government of the Henan province. In 1983, it was officially announced as state major temple by the State Council.

  Since 1979, the Shaolin Temple has been restored due to the supports from the government and people. Many thousand people come to the Shaolin Temple to study Wushu, to learn Zen, to pay their homage or for trip everyday. Shaolin Temple, the ancestral temple of Zen, is taking on a new look.
  The Forest of Pagodas, located about 500 meters west to the Shaolin Temple, is a group of tomb pagodas of the abbots and eminent monks of past ages. According to the rule of Buddhism, a pagoda is to be built for an eminent monk after his Parinirvana. As the large forest of pagodas in China with land area of about 14000 square meters, the Forest of Pagodas of the Shaolin Temple contains all the brick tomb pagodas of up to 231 since the 7th year of Zhenyuan era in Tang Dynasty (A.D.791).

  The pagodas range from one to seven levels with maximum height of 15 meters, on which there are exquisite inscriptions and sculptures. There are various types in shape including: quadrangular, hexagonal, columnar, linear, parabolic, bottle type and etc. The Forest of Pagodas is a treasury-house of Chinese Buddhism, brick architectures, sculptures and calligraphy etc.
  The Great Patriarch's Convent, situated 2 kilometers northwest to the Shaolin Temple, was built to commemorate Dharma.

  Though having been repaired in the past ages, the Grand Hall of 180 square meters, built in the seventh year of the Xuanhe era of the North Song Dynasty, remains most of its original structural parts of the Song Dynasty, and is the most precious wooden architectures. In front of the Grand Hall, there are many ancient stone inscriptions and the cypress that, according to legend, was planted by the sixth Zen patriarch.

  Situated in the central region of the Central Plains, the surrounding terrain of the Songshan is of great strategic importance, the Shaolinkou is the key link between the ancient city Luoyang and the wide plain in the southeast area. The people in the Shaolin area are fond of practising Wushu from ancient times.

  Originated from the local tradition of practising Wushu, the Shaolin Wushu has been developed into a treasure of Chinese Wushu with the efforts of the Shaolin monks of successive generations. "The Wushu is famous for the fame of the temple, the temple is famous for its Wushu". Now, the Shaolin Wushu has enjoyed global reputation and the disciples of the Shaolin Wushu can be found all over the world.

  The Shaolin Wushu has two characters: to practise Wushu with Zen and to practise Wushu for the practice of Zen, thus is called "Wushu Zen". There are three states for the Wushu Zen: the first state is to practise Wushu for health and protection of the Shaolin Temple and the country. The second state is to carry forward Buddhism by Wushu performance. The highest state is to comprehend Zen and see into one's own nature in the course of Wushu practice.

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