The military history of Kung Fu goes back over 4000 years with tactics weaponry and barehand skills already well established by the time of the Yellow Emperor (2698 BCE). The Shaolin Temple, founded 495 CE, has been a centre of martial activity ever since, but Northern Shaolin Kung Fu’s debut on the world stage goes back to the struggle to establish the Tang Dynasty of Li Shimin (599-649 CE) later, Emperor Taizhong. This saw its first public displays in support of Li Shimin, culminating with the Temple’s involvement in the Battle of Hulao, in 621 CE.

Sung ‘Longfist’

Changquan ‘Longfist’ Kung Fu is recognized as the first distinctive variant to spring from the generic ‘Shaolin’ label. Its origins spring from the appearance of another Dynasty, the Sung (960-1269 CE). General Zhao Kuang-Yin, later Emperor Taizu, who established the Dynasty, was Shaolin trained and is acknowledged as the Founder of the style.

Originally Prime Minister of Later Zhou (951-960 CE) in the 5 Dynasties and 10 Kingdoms Period and the State’s ablest General, Zhao Kuang-Yin was renowned for his battlefield heroics, once even defeating and decapitating an enemy leader, who had challenged him to a duel, in front of his own city walls. He was later proclaimed Emperor by his troops as they marched to thwart another State’s attack, supplanting a young child then occupying the throne. Zhao Kuang-Yin then used his martial skills and Military abilities to re-unify China and establish the Sung Dynasty.

Ming Kung Fu

Monk Hongwu, founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1664 CE) rose to power through his shrewd generalship of the forces of secret societies such as the Red Turbans and the White Lotus Society. During the Ming Shaolin Monks fought extensively against the Wako, Japanese pirates who constantly raided China’s coast, and were victorious in four battles against them, most notably at Wengjiagang in 1553.

Qing Oppression

Under the Mongol, Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 CE) Martial Arts practice was forbidden and had to be conducted in secret. Both the Northern Shaolin Temple in Henan and the Southern Shaolin Temple in Fujian, hotbeds of resistance to the invaders, were burnt down by their forces. The surviving monks fled to establish clandestine groups or ‘Quans’ to carry on the struggle.

In these conditions the Red Turbans, White Lotus and a range of other secret societies flourished once again. These groups aimed to oust the foreign invaders and restore Chinese rule or ‘Return the Ming’- the meaning of the Kung Fu salute with the right fist (Yin/Moon) covering the left palm (Yang/Sun). ‘Ming’ means ‘bright/brilliant/enlightened’ the symbolic message of bringing together these two brightest objects in the sky.

Post Qing

In 1911 the Qing Dynasty fell and many Shaolin Martial Arts associations were established to help China’s reunification, which eventually took place under the Kuomintang. During this process the Shaolin Temple was again burnt down, by the forces of Warlord Shi You-San, in 1928. The ongoing struggle to control China, including invasion by Japan in 1937, lasted until 1949, when Kuomintang forces were defeated by the Red Army.

Present Day

The Shaolin Temple was restored again in the 1970′s and further extensive reconstruction began in 2004. Songshan (the Northern Shaolin Temple) now has eight Sub-Temples in various parts of China (only in Ming times has this number ever been surpassed) whilst the Southern Shaolin Temple in Fujian is also firmly re-established. There are also a number of Shaolin Temples (like the Shaolin Temple U.K.) worldwide.

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