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Fu>the Monk Soldiers |
| the Monk Soldiers |
The
original purpose of the monk soldiers was to protect the
temple against banditry. During the late Sui and early
Tang dynasties General Wang Shichong gathered a large
army in an attempt to oust the Tang emperor from the
imperial throne, establishing his own kingdom, which he
named Zheng. He titled his nephew "general" and sent his
men to Baigu Village to battle Li Shimin, the emperor's
son. In 620, the third year of Emperor Wudi's region, Li
Shimin, now in great danger, called upon 13 monks to
come to his aid, after hearing of their prowess. The
monks, including Zhi Cao, Hui Yang, and Tan Zong,
responded, and they captured General Wang Renze, thus
making a remarkable contribution to the unification of
the Tang regime. Prince Li was enthroned as the Tang
emperor, and he awarded the Shaolin monks handsomely,
conferring the title of Great General on monk Tan Zong
and granting the Shaolin Temple 40 hectares of land.
Shaolin kung fu became considerably more mature and
refined after the wars.
During the mid-Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the government
was antagonized by foreign invaders and several dozen
times the monk soldiers were dispatched on expeditions
to border areas. During Emperor Jiajing's reign, Bian
Cheng became widely known for his power - once
succeeding in escaping with his light skills and
capturing two enemies barehanded.
During Emperor Jiajing's reign of the Ming Dynasty, Yue
Kong led 30 monk soldiers in a victorious battle against
the government's enemies in Songjiang. Later, Yue Kong
and his men were set up by foreign invaders when they
attempted to save civilians and none of his men returned
alive. It is said that Xiao Shan, the abbot of Shaolin
Temple, on behalf of the government, also led his monks
to fight against foreign invaders on three occasions.
And San Qi, a head monk soldier of the Shaolin Temple,
was sent to the border area to safeguard the country. |
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