Bodhidharma and the Beginnings of Kung Fu

While China has a long tradition of developing fighting styles, some believe that most modern systems stem from the teachings of Bodhidharma. 

History is sketchy on precise details but he probably went to the Shaolin Temple in the 6th century and taught various exercises to the monks there that would develop into modern day kung fu.

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The Original Chinese Martial Arts 

From what evidence has survived, we know that Emperor Huang Ti used a basic fighting system called Chiou Ti (or Go-Ti) which dates back to around 2,674 BCE. This evolved into Shuai Chiao, which is similar to Judo and utilizes fast throws and joint locks along with elbow and knee strikes.

These early systems were used to improve the fighting skills of soldiers who tended to be in the army for life. Those that lived long enough however could eventually retire to a monastery where they continued to use their training techniques to stay fit and healthy. 

Around 600 BCE, Confucius stated that the martial arts should be encouraged in everyday life and his contemporary Lao Tzu, devised a philosophical system called Taoism. The teachings of these two were handed down through the ages and became entwined with the martial arts of China and later neighbouring countries. While this can be seen as the forerunner to Chinese martial arts, for many, modern day kung fu began when an Indian monk known as Bodhidharma (or Ta Mo in Chinese) arrived at the Shaolin Temple around 527 CE.
 

Bodhidharma – History and Legend

Ta Mo originally travelled to China in order to meet the Emperor, a pious man who believed enlightenment could be obtained through good works being performed by others in his name. To this end, he had set about translating Buddhist scriptures from the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit, into Chinese in order to allow the common people to practice the religion. 

The Indian monk disagreed with this interpretation of the religion and parted ways with the Emperor, heading for the nearby Shaolin Temple where the Sanskrit was being translated. Probably as a result of his disagreement with their ruler, the monk was refused entrance so he sat in front of a wall in a nearby cave and meditated for nine years to prove his worthiness. 

How much of the story of Bodhidharma’s history is based on fact can never really be known but we can say that a number of legends have arisen about him and that they themselves have become a part of the development of kung fu culture. Some tales say that he literally burned holes in the walls of the cave with his piercing eyes and others suggest that while meditating, the sun burned his silhouette directly onto the rock. 

Either of these would have proven his dedication and may have eventually got him admitted to the temple, however it is more likely that over time he conversed with monks who brought him food and water and won them over with his great wisdom. The type of Buddhism taught by the Indian monk became known as Ch'an and would have a great influence of the philosophy of the martial arts not only in China, but also in Japan where it was known as Zen.
 

Exercise and the Shaolin Monks

Translating text was painstaking work as it all had to be done by hand. As a result, what Bodhidharma would have saw on his arrival was the Shaolin monks spending long hours hunched over desks, which would have had negatively affected their physical and mental wellbeing. 

To combat this, he taught them exercises that were designed to improve internal and external strength that he derived from the hatha and raja yoga practices from his native India. His teachings were based on the movement of eighteen animals including the tiger, deer, snake and leopard. 

While they were not strictly speaking martial arts techniques at this time, many monks would have probably known how to fight due to the dangers of wild animals in the remote areas that temples tended to be built in. The roads for travelling monks like Ta Mo and his contemporaries would also be hazards and protection from bandits would have been a must, either from trained bodyguards or from being able to fight themselves. 

As a result, over time Shaolin monks blended fighting techniques with the movements taught by Bodhidharma which evolved into the martial arts of modern China. While these fighting styles vary widely, most have at least some connection in their lineage to the Shaolin Temple and have come to be known collectively as kung fu. 

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