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My master: Shi Xinghong, 32nd generation Shaolin
monk
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The Shaolin
Temple
A small Buddhist temple in the Henan
Province of China (an eight-hour train ride south from Beijing), this historical location is home
to the Shaolin monks. A famous quote from the Temple
roughly translated says, All kung fu was created under the sun of the Shaolin
Temple.
Back in the Tang Dynasty, the Shaolin
monks had defeated so many enemies for the Emperor that he granted them
special permission to eat meat, for strength, and drink alcohol, for
courage. To this day, even without the
duty to protect the Empire, the monks retain these special privileges.
The City of Shaolin
The monks were basically
completely disbanded with the Chinese cultural revolution, and scattered all
over the country to blend in with the rest of society. Thanks to the movie Shaolin Temple, starring a 16-year-old Jet
Li, released in 1980, interest in legendary Shaolin
Kung Fu was rekindled.
The impact of the movie really
took effect in 1988 when a town was formed around the Shaolin Temple, mostly composed of kung fu
schools and thousands of kids sent by their parents to learn the ancient
martial art. The town expanded to
about 50 schools and tens of thousands of kids by the late 1990s.
In the summer of 2000, a
decision was made by the government to tear out the town to bring in a more
traditional look and feel to the Temple. The result: a more
touristy Shaolin. While daily tour buses, carrying visitors
from all over the world, may water down the Shaolin
experience for a few people, it does spread awareness of a very interesting
part of Chinese history.
My Cocoon
I began studying kung fu at the Shaolin Temple in the summer of 1994 at age
17, realized by a high school graduation gift from my father. Utilizing many connections and making many
phone calls to China,
my dad was able to secure a stay in Shaolin for
me. Once I arrived, I realized that a
black belt in Tang Soo Do and eight years of martial
arts training were just the first step in my journey. After ten days of training with my master,
Wang Deqing (Shaolin name
of Shi Xinghong, 32nd generation Shaolin monk), I knew I had a special connection with
this place, and vowed to return as often as possible.
Now I have been to the Temple four times (1994, 1998, 2000, and
2002). I consider this place my haven
of mental peace, rejuvenation, and growth.
Sort of like a cocoon.
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