Shaolin - monks and warrior monks (Part 2)
The fighting monks of Shaolin Temple (武僧 wuseng)
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| "The gang" * (1) |
The Shaolin monastery has a special group of members of the order, the so-called "warrior monks". They originated in the Shaolin monk soldiers (少林 僧 兵 shaolin sengbing) of the Tang Dynasty. After the fall of the Shaolin culture in the late 20s to late 70s of the last century and the tireless struggle of the old monks of that time to preserve the old skills and knowledge, in 1986 the "Shaolin Wushu Team" (少林 武术队 shaolin wushu dui based) (*). In 1989, officially renamed "Shaolin Warrior Monk-force" (少林 武僧 团 shaolin wusengtuan) . The current force, which includes 19 fully ordained monks, about 150 men. The duties of warrior monks have changed over time: today they are mainly in the representation and dissemination of authentic Shaolin Kungfu and Shaolin Chan-culture.
The martial monks within the monastery should at least follow the five commitments for amateurs, but usually the 10 Commandments for novices. have outside the temple, and particularly abroad, in the past, many of them are not adhered to these commandments. The Shaolin fighting monks
are the monks of other Buddhist monasteries, and are not treated accordingly outside the Shaolin Temple monks not be treated. Since they have not passed monastic vows, their designation as "fighting monks ", "Shaolin Temple monks " etc. inaccurate and misleading. She has performed both in China and abroad to excessive expectations in relation to this religious group and, subsequently, of disappointments and false accusations. You can still - Take especially in the Shaolin Temple located somewhat distant regions (eg Shanghai, Ningbo, Kunming) to thoroughly educated Chinese who do not know or do not believe that the Shaolin Temple is a monastery where Buddhism is practiced seriously and in which there are "real" monks (sic). 
One reason for this is my opinion that the temple at a time when he still had no adequate means to define its own interests clearly and to effectively represent, promote and heard only one side in the episode at home and abroad for a long time primarily of (real and fake) Shaolin martial monk show troops were represented. seems, after years of efforts, that the temple was able to free themselves to some extent by the dictates of certain interested groups, and now has slightly more freedom to realize their own interests, and damage work up internally and externally to better - though still only in the context the currently existing possibilities. 
correspond in many ways, the battle monks (in its early days yet religiously bound) knights in our culture, in which up to now for gallantry, valor and bravery (Although these terms are also threatened with extinction). They also depend on the "Wu De" (武德), which are the moral rules of the ancient Chinese martial art that is followed in many martial arts schools in China. This moral code is also maintained in the Shaolin Temple, is in no way (substitute for a fully ordained monk of the Buddhist precepts any other rules, including the "Wu De") specific to the Shaolin culture. 
Many martial monks have a high level of Western standards of virtuous behavior (cleanliness, punctuality, discretion, honesty, confidentiality, etc.). Some of them are deeply devout Buddhist, even if they later decide not to live as a monk, but left his life in the laity. is the group of warrior monks of mainly young adults and some children and young people. A significant proportion of them are recruited from one to the Shaolin Temple in family related martial arts school in Anhui, but also gifted martial arts students from schools in Henan, Hebei and other provinces are taken from the Shaolin Temple.
Their main task is to learn, Perfecting and practicing the Shaolin Kungfu and Browsing (ideally as part of their Buddhist practice). Since they must meet exceptionally high physical demands, for most of them their role as active representatives of the martial arts of the temple temporary. The labor of these young men is often used to defray the living expenses of her family (parents, siblings), used especially as this does not enjoy the usual social security in the West. want for their future, many "wuseng" a career in film, respectively. Stunt business and in show business or his own martial arts school. Furthermore, there are job opportunities in public service (police, military) and the private sector of the personal and property protection, including only a few are at the age of 40 years in the temple, either as teachers and experts in Shaolin Kungfu, or as a fully ordained monks. 
From the group of fighting monks as needed to show team composed of the Shaolin Temple, primarily for performances in the temple on the occasion of special visitors and festivities, for representative domestic and foreign travel and for special projects in the cultural field. In recent years, here was a group out in particular: the show team for the dance project "Sutra" (Chinese name: "空间"). The dance project was launched by the world renowned dancer and choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui from Belgium into being. Together with about 18 monks of the Shaolin Temple martial, he created a unique dance-theater piece. It shows with minimal, yet highly effective full facilities in a ring of history (n) of the Shaolin temple and its monks, in the can, the craftsmanship of its protagonists develop fully. The expressive images correspond in their aesthetics, poetry, free interpretability and sometimes enigmatic, both general ideas of Chan-Buddhism and the self-image of the Shaolin Temple. The temple offers in its homepage a three-part video of the performance of "Sutra" to: http://www.shaolin.org.cn/templates/EN_T_video_list/index.aspx?nodeid=433 (under "Sutra 2 3 and 4 ";" Sutra 1 "a four-minute promotional video). The piece celebrates outstanding worldwide success, the Force is frequently invited to festivals and is now in its third year on a world tour. Those involved in the project by the fighting monks have numerous trips, the artistic work in sophisticated evening and contacts with the international theater and dance their experience and intellectual horizon expand materially. How far can they reconcile this non-interesting work and freedoms and amenities bidder artist's life with the monastic life is dependent on their individual preferences and abilities. combine the two successfully, for example, the head of the "Sutra" show team Yanhao (延 豪), done with remarkable stringency, he combines the worldly life -. alongside the work in the sutra project and private educational activities in various martial arts schools, etc. - with dedicated activities within the monastery to which participation in the winter Chan-weeks, the completion of internal audits Temple Others include top marks. Given his impeccable performance of duty with regard to the monastic duties and outstanding worldly successes while modest, pragmatic appearance it is no surprise that he recently on the occasion of support for a who traveled from the UK group of students in the English part of the homepage of the temple as the "favorite fighter monk" ("most favorite warrior monk") of the abbot was praised. A good career.
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| Sutra * (2) |
In the decades since the re-opening of the Shaolin Temple martial monks were many members of the troupe for the demonstration of Shaolin martial arts on foreign tours. Some of them have decided the way to remain abroad and to build their own Shaolin kung fu schools, some of which are of very good quality / format. Even in this period, the abbot of the Shaolin monastery, Shi Yongxin (永 信 大和尚), various martial monks officially charged with the foundation of Shaolin centers abroad. The construction of new Shaolin centers abroad to the global spread of Shaolin culture is a stated goal of the Shaolin Temple. In view of the right to distribute, not just martial arts but also as part of Shaolin culture important Chan Buddhism, it would be desirable for this task in future also fully ordained monks often is transmitted.
To conclude briefly to the following 2 Definitions:
The term "grandmaster" (大师 dashi) , Buddhism as a general term for an important monk used. In concrete terms, the term refers to the master even the next generations, and means such masters to teach their students already own students. They are also "shiye (师爷) called. There is an additional generation of students, they called their "Urgroßmeister" "zhushiye" (祖师爷).
The tag "sigong (师 公) and " sitaigong (师太 公) are the name of "Grand Master" and "Urgroßmeister" in Cantonese language. As the above concepts in Standard Chinese (Mandarin) also refer to either an office or merits, qualities, knowledge, enlightenment, or even a master degree, but only a proportion relationship.
With "Sujia Dizi (俗家 弟子) in connection with the Shaolin Temple, often referred to those kung fu masters who belonged at an earlier stage of life even to the Shaolin monastery, but later left (usually to start a family and / or your own martial arts school) or those who never lived even in the Shaolin Temple, Post a monk living in the temple or monk to fight masters had. A "Sujia Dizi" practiced Shaolin Kungfu and defend the glory and the honor of the temple. Naturally, there are quite a few in the circle Dengfeng "Sujia Dizi, there are often whole families who for generations have learned Shaolin martial arts" at source "and the temple are connected. Outstanding among them are size Shizai Hao, Liang Yiquan, Liu Baoshan.
The tag "sigong (师 公) and " sitaigong (师太 公) are the name of "Grand Master" and "Urgroßmeister" in Cantonese language. As the above concepts in Standard Chinese (Mandarin) also refer to either an office or merits, qualities, knowledge, enlightenment, or even a master degree, but only a proportion relationship.
With "Sujia Dizi (俗家 弟子) in connection with the Shaolin Temple, often referred to those kung fu masters who belonged at an earlier stage of life even to the Shaolin monastery, but later left (usually to start a family and / or your own martial arts school) or those who never lived even in the Shaolin Temple, Post a monk living in the temple or monk to fight masters had. A "Sujia Dizi" practiced Shaolin Kungfu and defend the glory and the honor of the temple. Naturally, there are quite a few in the circle Dengfeng "Sujia Dizi, there are often whole families who for generations have learned Shaolin martial arts" at source "and the temple are connected. Outstanding among them are size Shizai Hao, Liang Yiquan, Liu Baoshan.
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photo * (1) "The gang": copyright Chris Bastian, published courtesy of Chris Bastian
photo * (2) copyright Songshan Shaolinsi, published with permission from Master Yan Kai
All other photos (by 10/03/2008; Songshan Shaolin Temple): copyright yss
The contents of this article has examined the best of my knowledge and belief in their truth content and created. Ultimately, they reflect my reflection of things. References are available upon request.
29.7.2010 - yss protected by copyright
Last Update: 20/01/2011 - yss
