What is Shaolin

The movement of the spear is like a floating dragon; the sword is as graceful as the phoenix in flight; and the broadsword is like the fierce tiger.

~Shaolin classics

 What is Shaolin

Shaolin is the name of a legendary buddhist monastery in China where much of Chinese Martial Arts developed and fluorished. Shaolin, in popular culture, has taken on a second life. Since the 1970's it has been featured in many films, TV shows, video games, cartoons and other media. This is widely credited as keeping the 1500 year old temple in the consciousness of the world. The Abbot of Shaolin, Shi Yong Xin, has decided to embrace modern day pop culture and has used it to the advantage of the temple in keeping it prominent on the world stage.

In the 1970's the television series, "Kung Fu" appeared starring David Carradine as a Shaolin monk on the run in the Wild West whose Shaolin training is tested along his journey. This began the west's hysteria regarding the Chinese Martial Arts, soon to be followed by the films of Bruce Lee.

In 1982, the film, "Shaolin Temple" starring Jet Li and our own Master Hu is credited as a major reason for the revival of the Shaolin Temple in China. The film's story tells the legend of the Shaolin Temple. This film is followed by countless other films, including many others starring Master Hu.