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In Search of Harmony
If you're old enough, you surely remember the early 1970's
television series "Kung Fu." It depicted a Buddhist monk, Kwai
Chang Caine (or "Grasshopper," as his teacher called him), well-versed
in the art of Chinese self-defense roaming the early American West in search
of a new start. Kwai Chang Caine was a Shaolin priest, a pacifist; he believed
in Eastern concepts of live and let live, achieving harmony with one's self,
nature and the universe. In this regard, the television series was accurate.
Today's historians mostly agree that Chinese martial arts, especially unarmed defense practices, were advanced through Ch'an Buddhist religious practices during the Sixth Century. Ch'an was a reformist movement within Buddhism. The priest considered by most sources to be the father of martial arts is Bodhidharma, an Indian priest who became the 28th patriarch exalted by Ch'an tradition. As legend has it, he left his monastery in Southern India to teach the Ch'an Buddhist faith in China.
Bodhidharma roamed the regions of China teaching his religion. Ancient legend contends that he crossed the Yangtze River "Riding on the blade of a reed" (a leaf-shaped ferryboat) to Loyang, the capital of Honan Province, where he came across the Shaolin Su (Young Forest Temple). The temple, built on the northern side of Shao-Shih mountain, was known as the Shaolin Monastery, a Buddhist temple. Among other monumental tasks, it is noted for translating the immense works of Buddhist scripture (about 600 books) to Chinese.
What has this got to do with martial arts? Well, the legend (which is mostly supported by historical writings) goes like this:
When Bodhidharma arrived at the temple, the Fang Chang (head monk) feared the reformist Ch'anism. The Fang Chang, concerned that Bodhidharma's presence might corrupt the monastery's more traditional forms of Buddhism, directed him to remain outside the temple. Bodhidharma was not to be thwarted. He found refuge in a nearby cave, remaining there for nine years, in total silence, meditating and staring at the side of a mountain (hence, the Buddhist tradition of "wall gazing"). Some accounts would have us believe that he meditated relentlessly, staring at the rocks nonstop for the entire nine years. Obviously, we know that's not true.
Bodhidharma was finally let into the temple. What he saw inside dismayed him. A staunch disciplinarian, he was repulsed by the monks constant drowsiness and slumbering during meditation. He realized that their weak, flaccid bodies were not up to the tasks of mental discipline. While Buddhism is designed for salvation of the soul, he explained to the monks, the body and soul are inseparable. Hence, physical fitness became a vital part of Shaolin teachings. Exercise and Indian self-defense movements were further perfected and developed, marking the beginning of Shaolin Temple boxing, known as Kung Fu.
Essentially, temple boxing was a form of exercise and self-defense designed to rejuvenate the body after long periods of meditation. It eventually evolved into what we know today as Kung Fu. Other forms of martial arts--Judo, Jujitsu, Ninjutsu, Karate, and so on--are offshoots, or further adaptations.
The early beginnings of martial arts sought to enhance meditation and spiritual development, not to destroy or exact retribution on one's enemies.
As you can see, martial arts did not begin as a means to destroy one's enemy. It has much more benevolent roots.
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