Shaolin Sect

The Shaolin Sect is a fictional martial arts sect mentioned in several works of ''wuxia'' fiction. It is one of the largest and best known orthodox sects in the '' wulin'' (martial artists' community). Its base is in Shaolin Monastery, Henan, China. It is also sometimes referred to as "Shaolin Monastery" or "Shaolin Temple" instead of "Shaolin Sect".

Apart from playing the role of a leading righteous sect in the ''wulin'' in ''wuxia'' novels, Shaolin is also featured in popular culture and martial arts films such as ''The 36th Chamber of Shaolin'' (1978), ''Shaolin Temple'' (1982), and '' Shaolin'' (2011). It is also synonymous with Chinese martial arts as it is mentioned in ''wuxia'' stories as the origin of all Chinese martial arts. It is best known worldwide for the Shaolin Kung Fu associated with the monastery.

The sect's members are predominantly Buddhist monks with a minority of non-monks known as "secular members" ().Cha, Louis. ''The Smiling, Proud Wanderer'' (笑傲江湖). ''Ming Pao'', 1967.Cha, Louis. ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'' (天龍八部). ''Ming Pao'', 1963. Apart from training in martial arts, the monks also follow Buddhist customs, and practices.

History

The Shaolin Sect was founded during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma,Cha, Louis. ''The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber'' (倚天屠龍記). ''Ming Pao'', 1961. who wanted his followers to practise martial arts for improving health, self-defence, as well as upholding justice and helping the weak. Shaolin members are expected to follow a Buddhist code of conduct in addition to having a good mastery of martial arts.

Organisation

The sect is led by the abbot () of the monastery. Shaolin members are ranked by generation. Each member of a certain generation has a prefix before his Buddhist name to indicate his position in the hierarchy. In ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'', the most senior generation is the ''Xuán'' () generation. The abbot is Xuanci and the senior monks such as Xuanji, Xuannan, Xuandu and Xuanku also have a ''Xuán'' prefix in their names. One of the novel's three protagonists, Xuzhu, is from the ''Xū'' () generation, which is two generations after the ''Xuán'' generation.

In ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes,'' the Xianxia Sect () is a branch of Shaolin. Its base is at Yunxi Monastery () in southern China. Its members include Reverend Jiaomu, Reverend Kumu, and Kumu's apprentice, Lu Guanying.

The following is a list of generation ranks in different eras:Cha, Louis. ''The Deer and the Cauldron'' (鹿鼎記). ''Ming Pao'', 1969.
* Song dynasty: ''Líng'' (), ''Xuán'' (), ''Huì'' (), ''Xū'' (), ''Kōng'' ()
* Yuan dynasty: ''Dù'' (), ''Kōng'' (), ''Yuán'' (), ''Huì'' (), ''Fǎ'' (), ''Xiàng'' (), ''Zhuāng'' ()
* Qing dynasty: ''Dà'' (), ''Jué'' (), ''Guān'' (), ''Huì'' (), ''Chéng'' (), ''Jìng'' (), ''Yán'' (), ''Huá'' ()

The sect is subdivided into several groups, which take charge of different parts of the monastery or different aspects of the sect's daily activities. They include:
* Abbot's Vihāra (), the abbot's quarters.
* Bodhidharma Hall (), the martial arts training grounds for only Shaolin martial arts.
* Arhat Hall (), the meeting grounds with challengers from other sects.
* Prajñā Hall (), another martial arts training grounds, where other sects' martial arts are also practised.
* Discipline Hall (), the group in charge of maintaining law and order in the sect.
* Bodhi Hall (), the place where the ''Yijin Jing'' is kept.
* Bhaishajyaraja Hall (), the hospital wing where the sick and injured are attended to.
* Śarīra Hall (), the crematorium for cremating deceased members.
* Guest Hall (), the reception grounds for guests.
* Library (), the place where Buddhist scriptures and martial arts manuals are kept.

Martial arts

The Shaolin Sect is hailed as the origin of all Chinese martial arts and as a leading orthodox sect in the ''wǔlín'' (; martial artists' community). In ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'', it is said to house 72 powerful forms of martial arts and no one has managed to master all of them since the founding of the sect. These martial arts have Buddhist names, such as "Bodhidharma's Palm" and "Arhat's Fist".

It is also home to the ''Yijin Jing'' (), a manual instructing the user how to master a certain technique that improves the user's prowess in all types of martial arts. It has also powerful healing properties if the user manages to master the skill. In ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'', You Tanzhi acquires the manual by chance and uses its skills to purge poison in his body after he is bitten by venomous creatures. The sutra also increases his inner energy and stamina, allowing him to deliver an ordinary palm stroke with a force several times the original impact. In ''The Smiling, Proud Wanderer'', Linghu Chong uses the skills in the manual to heal his internal wounds.

: ''Note: Although the skills listed here are entirely fictional, some are based on or named after actual martial arts.''

* Foundation skills:
** Shaolin Long Fist ()
** Arhat's Fist ()
** Tiger Subduing Palm ()
** Skanda's Palm ()
** Merciful Thousand Leaves Hand ()
* Fist styles:
** Dashing Shaolin ()
** Drunken Fist ()
** Five Elements Linked Fist ()
** Lu Zhishen Pounds the Door Drunken Fist ()
** Heaven and Earth in the Sleeve ()
** Great Vajra Fist ()

* Palm styles:
** Great Skanda's Palm ()
** Evil Subduing Palm ()
** Divine Vajra Palm ()
** Vajra Prajñā Palm ()
** Prajñā Palm ()
** Eight Styles of Divine Palm ()
** Thousand Hands Buddha's Palm ()
** Mount Meru Palm ()
** Flower Scattering Palm ()
** Snowy Mountain Palm ()
** Bodhidharma's Palm ()
** Swift Palm ()
** Rock Wielding Palm ()
** One Clap Two Scatters ()

* Finger styles:
** Indian Buddha's Finger ()
** Maha Finger ()
** Pattra Finger ()
** Animitta Kalpa Finger ()
** Flower Pinching Finger ()
** Great Strength Vajra Finger ()
** Great Wisdom Samadhi Finger ()
** One Finger Zen ()
* Battle formations:
** Great Arhat Formation ()
** Vajra Evil Subduing Ring ()
** Arhat's Sword Formation ()

* Sword styles:
** Arhat's Swordplay ()
** Skanda's Evil Subduing Swordplay ()
** Bodhidharma Swordplay ()
* Saber styles:
** Evil Subduing Saber Style ()
** Burning Wood Saber Style ()
* Staff styles:
** Evil Subduing Staff Style ()
** Evil Suppressing Staff Style ()
** Wild Demon's Staff Style ()
** Small Yaksha's Staff Style ()
** Big Yaksha's Staff Style ()
** Obtaining the Scriptures Staff Style ()

* Inner energy skills:
** Vajra Evil Subduing Divine Skill ()
** Vajra Body Defending Divine Skill ()
** ''Yijin Jing'' ()
** Nine Yang Divine Skill ()
** Arhat Evil Subduing Divine Skill ()
** Plain Clothing Skill ()
** Kasaya Evil Subduing Skill ()
* Others:
** Dragon Capturing Hand ()
** Golden Bell Shield ()
** Iron Shirt ()
** Pārami Hand ()
** Vajra Zen Lion's Roar ()
** Shadowless Formless Legs ()
** Great Skanda's Mace ()

* Grappling styles:
** Great Strength Vajra Grab ()
** Eagle's Claw ()
** Nirvana Grab ()
** Indra's Grab ()
** Tiger Claw ()
** Dragon Claw ()
** Grabbing Hand ()
** Big Grabbing Hand ()
** Small Grabbing Hand ()
** Flower Pinching Grabbing Hand ()
** Shaolin Eighteen Styles Grabbing Hand ()

Discontinued use of the name "Shaolin" in television series

The term "Shaolin Sect" was not used in two television series adapted from Louis Cha's ''wuxia'' novels. In ''The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber'' (2009), an adaptation of the novel of the same title, the Shaolin Sect is referred to as the "Monks' Sect" (). In ''Swordsman'' (2013), an adaptation of ''The Smiling, Proud Wanderer'', Shaolin Monastery is referred to as "Lingjiu Monastery" ().

Although some viewers have expressed dissatisfaction over the changes, the reasons behind the renaming are not made clear to the public. Some people believe that the producers wanted to avoid trademark infringement, since Shaolin Monastery has officially registered "Shaolin" as a trademark and has been involved in lawsuits with commercial companies over the use of "Shaolin" as a brand name or trademark.

In the 2019 television series ''Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre'', the Shaolin Sect is referred to by its proper name again.

See also

* Shaolin Kung Fu
* Shaolin Monastery
* Southern Shaolin Monastery

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shaolin Sect
Organizations in Wuxia fiction
Shaolin Temple