Shaolin Monastery

Shaolin Monastery (少林寺; shàolín-sì), also known as Shaolin Temple, is a Mahayana Buddhist 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 Mount Song mountain range in Dengfeng, Zhengzhou prefecture, in Henan, China. The name reflects its location in the ancient grove (林; lín) of Mount Shaoshi, in the hinterland of the Mount Song range. Mount Song occupied a prominent position among Chinese sacred mountains as early as the 1st century BC, when it was proclaimed one of the Five Holy Peaks. 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. The first Shaolin abbot, Batuo, devoted himself to translating Buddhist texts and preaching doctrines to hundreds of his followers. According to legend, Bodhidharma, the 28th patriarch of Mahayana Buddhism, arrived at the Shaolin Temple in 527 from India. He spent nine years meditating in a cave of the Wuru Peak and initiated the Chan tradition at the Shaolin Temple. Thereafter, Bodhidharma was honored as the first patriarch of Chan Buddhism. The Temple's historical architectural complex, known for its great aesthetic value and profound cultural connotations, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Apart from its contributions to the development of Chinese Buddhism and to 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; 禪; chán), martial arts (武; wǔ), Buddhist art (艺; 藝; yì), and traditional Chinese medicine (医; 醫; yī)....