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"Ming-Period Evidence of Shaolin Martial Practice"
Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies
Volume 61, Issue 2, pp. 359-413 (2001)
Highly Recommended
Meir Shahar, a researcher at Tel Aviv University, compiles data from over 600 years of evidence to explore the role of Shaolin monastic martial practice in the history of China’s Ming period. The article examines Shaolin martial practice in a historical context and the influences of Shaolin monastic practices and martial traditions on Ming period military and political culture. Shahar details evidence for Shaolin martial practice’s presence in several military conflicts to explore whether or not the Shaolin monastery’s fame is truly justified. This exploration clarifies many common misconceptions and corrects several contradictions inherent in popular representations of both the Shaolin monastery itself and the martial practice. The problem of Buddhist practitioners engaging in violent acts is explained; as well is the question if there is any historical evidence to support the assumption that Shaolin monks actually participated in military conflicts. Shahar also comments upon the colorful history of the martial practices of the Shaolin. A system primarily based around the use of a staff, the Shaolin temple staff style is proven by Shahar to have been extremely influential on Ming period military practices and other martial systems. Much of Shahar’s research is devoted to the origin of modern Shaolin staff styles. The influences of other staff systems on the Shaolin temple style throughout modern history are related through personal accounts of many famous Shaolin monks and other notable martial arts masters throughout Chinese history. While the title begs the interpretation that the article concerns only the Ming period of Chinese history, Shahar connects many pieces of evidence to modern day applications of Shaolin martial style. In doing so, Shahar creates a detailed report on Shaolin martial practice’s importance in both Ming period and modern history while explaining both the origins of the martial style and the nature of the monks who practiced it.
Annotated by: Corey Walker (April 2008)
Martial Arts: Bagua | Kung Fu/Wushu |