The Shaolin Temple has been known for martial arts during different parts of history. Whilst the temple has been destroyed many times and in many cases their martial arts irradicated or dispersed among the community. There are a number of styles that were developed in its name or posthumously.
The Shaolin Temple was established in 495 AD on Mount Song during the Northern Wei Dynasty, commissioned by Emperor Xiaowen for the Indian monk Batuo. Early martial development began with Batuo’s disciples, such as Sengchou, who practiced various forms of striking and wrestling to maintain physical health and provide self-defence. The temple’s reputation as a military powerhouse was solidified in 621 AD when thirteen staff-wielding monks, including Tanzong and Zhicao, assisted the future Emperor Li Shimin in defeating the warlord Wang Shichong. This heroic service earned the monastery imperial patronage and the unique right to maintain a permanent force of monk-soldiers. During the Yuan Dynasty, Abbot Xueting Fuyu played a critical role in the temple’s institutional history, transforming the temple into a “melting pot” of martial styles, inviting masters from across China to share their knowledge. Masters like Jueyuan and the lay master Bai Yufeng are also credited during this broader medieval period with expanding foundational techniques into a comprehensive system.
The Ming Dynasty marked the “Golden Age” of Shaolin martial arts, where monks specialized in staff fighting and were repeatedly drafted to defend the nation against coastal piracy. Advanced military techniques from masters like Pucong and General Yu Dayou were integrated into the curriculum, and the deity Vajrapâÿi was elevated as the progenitor of Shaolin staff arts. However, the subsequent Qing Dynasty viewed the temple with profound suspicion, fearing the monks’ collusion with sectarian rebels.
China experienced significant instability in the late 1920s, characterized by internal struggle and warlord warfare. China was divided into rival groups after the Qing Dynasty collapsed in 1912, with local warlords fighting for dominance.
Known as the Warlord Era (1916–1928), this period was marked by a great deal of conflict, shifting allegiances, and widespread destruction. Chiang Kai-shek’s National Revolutionary Army (NRA) undertook the Northern Expedition in 1926 with the goal of uniting China by eradicating warlord authority. The Shaolin Temple was situated in Henan Province, which saw fierce military activity as a result of the campaign. The conflict between warlords and nationalist forces caused extensive damage. The situation worsened in 1928 when the NRA-aligned warlord Shi Yousan (石友三) burned the Shaolin Temple during a fight, destroying many of its martial arts texts, historical archives, and treasures. Many monks left the temple as anarchy spread throughout the area, taking what knowledge they could. Aware of the impending danger, Monk Yong Xiang was hand-copying Shaolin Quan Pu in its entirety with the help of Abbot Zhen Xu (贞绪) and Master De Chan (德禅) since 1926, finished transcribing Shaolin Quan Pu in early 1928 and, with his master’s guidance, departed for Changchun, Jilin, where he would keep the manuscript secret for many years. Even after the temple was destroyed, his activities made sure that the Shaolin martial tradition persisted. Near the end of his life, Shi Yong Xiang entrusted the manuscript to Master De Qian (释德虔) for safekeeping.
The temple’s modern revival was significantly accelerated by the 1982 film Shaolin Temple, which brought international fame to the monastery and its “Zen-Martial” tradition. During this transition into the modern era, Shi Suxi (the 30th-generation senior monk) became a pivotal figure, serving as a “living treasure” who protected and passed down traditional routines through decades of hardship. The Shaolin legacy also remains vibrant through lay grandmasters like Liang Yiquan, who established one of the largest martial arts schools in Dengfeng to preserve the “National Arts” for future generations. Today, the monastery serves as both a flourishing Buddhist sanctuary and a global centre for the study of Chinese martial arts. Master Shi De Qian (释德虔) played a pivotal role in preserving and expanding upon Shaolin Quan Pu. He dedicated over two decades to an extensive research journey across 17 Chinese provinces and various Southeast Asian countries, aiming to preserve and document the rich heritage of Shaolin martial arts. His meticulous efforts involved collecting rare manuscripts, conducting interviews with martial arts masters, and compiling detailed records of various styles and techniques. His collaboration with Shi Sufa, originally known as Xu Zhifa (徐祗法) was also significant (Sufa had studied with Shaolin M Ma Xigong, a disciple of Shi ZhenXu), together they researched and wrote vast amounts of books in an attempt to restore the Shaolin martial tradition.
Northern Shaolin
Yang Xiushan (杨修山 1869-1947)
Born into poverty in Yixian (now Jiafang Village, Zaozhuang),Yang Xiushan began working as a child laborer at age eight. He secretly learned the fundamentals of Po Lian Quan from the hired boxing master Luo Gengxin, who was teaching the landlord’s sons. Recognizing Yang’s dedication after witnessing him effortlessly defeat the three sons in sparring, Luo Gengxin formally took him as a disciple and imparted the complete art, including three routines of paired practice, Qin Na drills, Lu Shi Jia, and six routines of Po Lian Quan. Later, as a young man famously known as the “Barefoot Immortal” for his barefoot practice, his skills were further elevated when he rescued and cared for a sick Shaolin monk. The monk, revealed as a 27th-generation Shaolin warrior monk, spent three years teaching him the ten routines of Shaolin boxing, Drunken Fist, Monkey Fist, ten routines of Tan Tui, and numerous weapons skills including Spring and Autumn Broadsword, Five Tigers Spear, Crescent Moon Spade, Flying Fork, and various cudgel and spear techniques. Under the monk’s strict guidance, Yang mastered the three great skills of Iron Sand Palm, Diamond Leg, and Iron Shirt.
Throughout his life, Yang Xiushan became a legendary martial artist known for both his skill and integrity. In 1920, he exchanged techniques with the renowned Bajiquan M. Han Huachen (courtesy name Huiqing), learning Baji Quan Xiao Jia, single and double dismantling techniques, and Iron Mountain Lean in exchange for his second and third routines of Shaolin boxing. This exchange elevated his combat skills to new heights. He earned the title “Double Palms Shock the East Sea” in 1922 after defeating a challenger with a single powerful strike in Donghai County, and was celebrated for using his “Iron Leg” to kill two local bullies harassing a young girl in 1924. In his later years, he served as a martial arts instructor and taught extensively in the Yizhou region from 1933 onward, spreading the comprehensive arts he received. Among his disciples who received true transmissions were Yang Peiwu , Meng Zhaoming , Li Xiezi, Feng Shidao, Zhang Rusong, He Xiukui, Song Deju, Cao Jizhi , Li Chunting, Song Tongqian, Guo Qingfang, and Lü Xiangding.
Songshan Shaolin
Shi Degen (释德根 1914-1970)
In 1914, Shi Degen was born in Guandimiao Village, Luzhuang, Gongxian County, Henan Province, with the common surname Han. His family was poor, his father died when he was 3 years old, and his mother took their three brothers to survive. When Shi Degen was 6 years old, there was a severe drought in Henan. In desperation, his mother had to send him, who was only 6 years old, to Chami Temple (now Zangmi Temple), the lower courtyard of Shaolin Temple, to worship and practice under the guidance of Zen Master Suguang. Zen Master Suguang saw that Shi Degen was talented and intelligent, so he first sent him to the school run by the temple to study martial arts for 3 years, and then sent him to the county normal primary school to study for 6 years.
At the age of 15, Shi Degen came to Songshan Shaolin Temple alone. He was ordained to become a monk under Master Zhenxu, and practiced martial arts with him. Later, he practiced martial arts for many years with Master Wu Shanlin (吴山林, 1875-1970) , a monk who returned to the secular world. Although Shaolin Kungfu is extensive and profound, and there are many routines, Shi Degen, with his diligent study and hard training and his understanding of a little bit, has not only mastered both internal and external Kungfu after practicing martial arts for more than ten years, but also other skills such as boxing, sticks, guns and knives are unparalleled. and. Since then, he has become one of the most famous monks in modern Shaolin Temple.
In 1962, with the help of the local cultural bureau, Shi Degen wrote a “Shaolin Martial Arts Outline” based on his own personal experience, which is the culmination of Shaolin Martial Arts. This book is also the first detailed book after the founding of New China. Introducing the works of Shaolin martial arts has very important historical and cultural significance. There are many monks and lay disciples, and the famous ones include Yang Guiwu, the eldest disciple of his head, and the righteous daughters Chen Qiuju, Li Yinzhang, Liu Zhenhai, Liu Cunliang, Han Shubin, Zhu Tianxi , Shi Xiwen, Wang Xigan, etc. In 1970, Shi Degen passed away.
Liang Yiquan (素一 1931- , Shi Suyi )
Born into a martial arts family in Luotuoya Village, Dengfeng City, Henan Province, Liang Yiquan began training under his father Liang Xingshao, a former martial arts instructor in Feng Yuxiang’s army, at the age of seven. He later became a formal disciple of Shaolin Temple’s Shi Zhenxu. Working as a primary school principal in the 1950s, Liang’s dedication to Shaolin Kung Fu never waned. In 1977, he founded the Shaolin Epo Martial Arts Academy and by 1979 was representing Henan Province at the first National Martial Arts Observation and Exchange Conference in Nanning. That same year, he became the key figure in hosting the Japan Shaolin Boxing Federation’s historic pilgrimage to Shaolin Temple, beginning his role as a cultural ambassador. In 1980, he made history as the first Shaolin Boxing representative to travel abroad since the founding of New China, visiting Japan with a Chinese sports delegation.
In 1981, with approval from the Henan Provincial Sports Commission, Liang established China’s first professional martial arts school, the Dengfeng County Sports Commission Shaolin Martial Arts School, serving as its principal and chief coach. His pioneering work attracted significant media attention, including documentary features by the Central Documentary Film Studio and CCTV. Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Liang held numerous prestigious positions, including vice chairman of the Dengfeng County Wushu Association, deputy director of the Henan Provincial Martial Arts Hall, and deputy to the Henan Provincial People’s Congress. In 2007, he was promoted to the ninth Duan level of Chinese martial arts, and in 2009 was appointed as one of the first experts on the Wushu Research Institute’s Expert Committee at the State Sports General Administration. In 2017, at age 86, he invested nearly 20 million yuan to build Liang’s Boxing Studio in his hometown, ensuring the continuation of his family’s six-generation martial arts legacy.
Shaolin System
Combat methods within Shaolin Boxing are fundamentally rooted in the integration of internal (Nei Gong) and external (Wai Gong) cultivation, where internal energy is used to power physical strikes and harden the body against impact. This methodology emphasizes a reciprocal balance between hard and soft power, ensuring that while movements are physically vigorous and dense, they remain supple and agile enough to absorb an opponent’s force. Whether performing foundational hand routines like Xiao Hong Quan or mastering specialized weapons like the staff, the techniques are strictly “simple and unadorned”, eschewing flashy performance in favour of practical combat efficiency. Training focuses on the mastery of specific mechanics, such as hitting, sweeping, chopping, and thrusting, until the practitioner achieves unity between the mind, spirit, and physical movement.
The primary strategy of Shaolin combat is the tactical logic that “attack contains defense, and defense contains attack,” meaning every movement serves a dual purpose to ensure no opening is left for the enemy. Combatants strive to be “fast as a gust of wind” and “steady as a rock,” moving with the agility of a flying swallow while maintaining a rooted, powerful base. A key strategic signature is advancing and retreating on a single line, utilizing rapid changes and unpredictable transitions to overwhelm an opponent. By adhering to the principle of “overcoming hardness with softness,” the Shaolin strategist uses minimal effort to redirect massive force, aiming to end a conflict decisively by striking vital points with precision and lethal speed.
Key curriculum
| 少林拳 Outer Gate Methods 【开门拳】 小洪拳 Small Hong Fist 大洪拳 Large Hong Fist 七星拳 Seven Star Fist 通臂拳 Through the Arm Fist 太祖长拳 Long Fist 罗汉拳 Arhat Fist 长护心意门拳 Heart & Mind Gate Fist 梅花拳 Plum Blossom Fist 炮锤 Cannon Fist 心意长拳 Heart & Mind Long Fist 六合拳对练 Six Harmonies dual set) 罗汉拉手对练 (Arhat Hand-Pulling dual set) | 行功拳 Agile Skill Methods 【*看家拳】 领路拳 Strength (十八功力) 开门拳 Covering the Gate (大迎门掌) 坐马拳 Riding a horse (趟连手法) 穿心拳 Piercing the heart (三请诸葛) 武艺拳 Five Skills (跳跃五艺) 短打拳 Short Combat (地盘短打) 梅花拳 Plum Blossom (七星架子) 八打拳 Eight Strikes (拔步三掌) 连环腿 Continuous Kicks (四门奔打) 埋伏拳 Ambusing Fists (拳中势法) 子午捶对练 (Ziwu Chui dual set) 看家拳对练 (Kanjia dual set) |
Weapons
| 烧火棍 (Fire-Stoking Staff) 阴手棍 (Yin Hand Staff) 夜叉棍 (Yaksha Staff) 齐眉棍 (Eyebrow-Height Staff) 风魔棍 (Crazy Demon Staff) 六合棍 (Six-Union Staff) 五虎群羊棍 (Five Tigers Among the Sheep Staff) 行者棍 (Practitioner Staff) 达摩杖 (Shaolin Damo Cane) 梅花刀 (Plum Blossom Broadsword) 雪片刀 (Snowflake Broadsword) 滚膛刀 (Rolling Chamber Broadsword) 梅花双刀 (Plum Blossom Double Broadswords) 六合双刀 (Six-Union Double Broadswords) 梅花枪 (Plum Blossom Spear) 杨家枪 (Yang Family Spear) 五虎断门枪 (Five-Tiger Gate-Breaking Spear) 六合枪 (Six-Union Spear) 四门枪 (Four-Gate Spear) 罗家枪 (Luo Family Spear) | 达摩剑 (Damo Sword) 龙形剑 (Dragon-Shape Sword) 火龙剑 (Fire Dragon Sword) 青龙剑 (Azure Dragon Sword) 七星剑 (Seven-Star Sword), 提袍剑 (Robe-Lifting Sword) 拦门撅 (Gate-Blocking Stake) 双匕首 (Shaolin Double Daggers) 手稍子棍 (Hand Flail) 大稍子棍 (Large Flail) 大二节棍 (Large Two-Section Staff) 三节棍 (Three-Section Staff) 四门鞭 (Four-Gate Whip) 梅花鞭 (Plum Blossom Whip) 月牙铲 (Crescent Moon Spade) 马叉 (Horse Fork) 朴刀 (long-handled Broadsword) 宣花斧 (Flowery Axe), 春秋大刀 (Spring and Autumn Great Broadsword) 方天戟 (Fangtian Halberd) |
GALLERY
