Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Shaolin, Sorim, Shorin...

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Shaolin, Sorim, Shorin...

    Hey guys, maybe you can help with something I've been pondering. I know that Shaolin is called Sorim in Korea and Shorin in Japan and Okinawa. What I wanted to know is, if the Shaolin temples all communicate and have cooperative relationships today and/or in the past. Also, if they traditionally had similar experiences interacting with secular individuals and governments,i.e. supporting individuals who might have been instrumental in championing their interests.

    Finally, I'd like to know if they all or for the most part had/have a martial tradition. I know that even in the Shaolin temples of China that martial arts played a miniscule role compared to most of the spheres of monk life. Thanks for any contributions to this discussion; now I'll get out of the way and wait for your pearls of wisdom.
    Peace, favor your sword. "In these modern times many men are wounded for not having weapons or knowledge of their use." Achille Marozzo, 1536 Donald Corey Pillow

    Familiarity breeds Contempt

    Citizens should not fear their governments; governments should fear their citizens.

    There ain't a wrong way to do right or a right way to do wrong! Joe Frazier

    Ignorance is Bliss

  • #2
    Here is something to get you started

    An often overlooked facet of Shaolin history consists in the Shaolin Temple falling to Manchurian forces in 1647. After the fall of the Temple to Manchurian forces in 1647, the Shaolin monks went into hiding throughout China. This created the foundations of the many different family forms of Gong Fu, which in turn, led to most of the martial arts currently in existence throughout the world today. One such monk, Kai Chao, founded a sect in Szechuan province in which he focused on several basic tenents, including "The study of the soul is as important as the study of form", "No one form is true, the only true form is one which comprises the best of all forms", and "The Temple must protect the world from the greater evils of the Spirit world which are not evident to the common man" This temple was the Temple of the Falling Star. Temple members prayed, meditated, and trained extensively, and masters of other forms were welcomed to offer instruction. Even under the watchful eye of the government, the Temple (which operated in secret, though members homes) gained strength. In 1718, several high ranking members of Szechuan government and military, proceeded to exploit and terrorize the populace. The Temple took it upon themselves to battle this evil. Zhou Chao, grandson of Kai Chao, led their forces in several battles against forces. The war grew to close at the castle of the Szechuan governor, secret leader of the bandits. Chao defeated the governor in personal combat, knocking him from the roof of the castle.

    Imperial authorities however, knew only that a group of rebels had killed a governor. They proceeded to hunt down all members of the Temple. Few escaped this manhunt, and most were executed, including Zhou Chao. Several members of the Temple, including Kim Jilin, who was personally instructed by Chao, escaped to Japan.

    Once in Japan, the monks were ambushed by a band of Ronin (renegade samurai) led by the infamous Futatsutora (Twin Tigers) brothers and were forced to use their skills to defend themselves, soundly defeating their attackers. Upon hearing of this, the Japaneese Emporer sent for them, and upon demonstration of their skills, invited them to set up residence in the ancient capital city of Nara. While the Emporer's samurai felt that the temple's fighting was "peasant fighting", the Emporer did make use of the monks in order to train his ninja operatives.

    Translating the name of the temple into Japaneese, Moroboshi Otera (Temple of the Falling Star) began to rebuild itself. As it grew, the many Japaneese family Katate and Jiu-Jitsu disciplines were welcomed into the temple for instruction. It was during this period that the Tournament of the Dragon was first formed., with outsiders and temple members battling one another for the title of Master, every new member and technique adding to the temple's philosophy of study of all forms. Also during this period, the Futatsutora resurfaced as part of the organized Japaneese criminal element, the Yakuza. Having learned from their previous mistakes, the Tigers had mastered various martial arts and began both winning the tournament, and working behind the scenes to destroy the Temple. On many occasions, they nearly achieved both. With the opening of Japan's borders to trade in 1853, more and more foreign fighting styles made their way into the tournament, increasing both knowledge and popularity. Gambling on fights became commonplace, and the Temple had to work very hard to keep Futatsutora influence from corrupting the purity of their sport. However, in the 1930's as the Japaneese military assumed more control over the government than the Emporer himself, and a young Kenichi Futatsutora bought his way into the army's officer ranks, the Temple came under severe scrutiny and was ordered to cancel the tournament and submit it's members to the draft. The older members of the Temple remained as caretakers for the premises and the artifacts, but a great many brave fighters were lost or permanently maimed in the long years of the war. Furthermore, those that did return, did so under US military rule, and the tournament was forbidden and viewed as a "death sport". Though limited illegal competitions were held, and training continued, the presence of Kenichi Futatsutara's influence (he moved into control of the old family crime business immediately after the war ended) over politicians still barred the legalization of the Tournament until his death in 1980. After some mismanagement of the Yakuza organization by Kenichi's son Toshiro, several lost elections, and an aggressive campaign by the Elder Master of the Moroboshi Temple, Yama Takahashi, the right to hold the tournament was restored in 1983. With it's diverse forms, ancient traditions, strict regulation, and intense competition the Tournament of the Dragon was an instant success with fight fans both in Japan, and around the world. Though the temple was reluctant, television coverage was provided of the event with the idea that it would draw more talented fighters to learn from. However, four seasons into the new tournament, a gang of unknown thugs broke into the temple compound at night, attacked the monks with weapons and various fighting styles, stole over half of the Temple's artifacts handed down from Zhou Chao himself, and set fire to most of the compound's buildings. While police felt the attack was Yakuza related, they could not prove it, plus, The loss of members, treasures, and the cost of restoring the premises left the Temple with little revenue with which to put on the tournament and it was called off indefinitely. For years, the temple has done it's best to rebuild itself. But with limited finances this has proved a difficulty. It was then that Aleria Mooring, a former Master of the Tournament and now a representative of a major sports corporation called Athena, approached him with an offer. Athena would foot the bill not only for final restoration of the Temple, plus a brand new arena in which to hold the competition, in exchange for the rights to broadcast the tournament worldwide, and to enter fighters of their own in it. Considering the threat he felt facing the world, and influx of new fighters to the temple, Takahashi felt he had no choice but to accept. Takahashi insisted that Athena build guest cottages and training rooms for the fighters while they participate, but had them built on the Temple grounds. Any attempt by outside forces to attack the temple again will be met by the finest fighters in the world. So now the Tournament of the Dragon has returned. Perhaps a little more public, perhaps a little more commercial, but still run exclusively by the temple and the finest mixed fighting form competition in the world.

    Comment


    • #3
      Uwe,

      "An often overlooked facet of Shaolin history consists in the Shaolin Temple falling to Manchurian forces in 1647."

      I had actually read 1674 (can't remember where at the moment) and that it was the Southern temple the Manchus destroyed, this would have been during the Three Feudatories War (1673-1681). The 2nd Qing emperor Kangxi (1661-1722) was a great supporter of Shaolin Temple. He wrote the characters for Shaolins' famous placard over the entrance in Henan, so it is unlikely he would have burned the place he venerated.

      Yet 1647 works better as in 1646, the 1st Qing emperor Shunzhi subjugated Fujian, Zhejiang and Sichuan & a year later Guangzhou. While conquering the south, he was more likely to have destroyed the temple than his successor. But as I said this was legend for the Southern temple. Present day Shaolin does not substantiate the Qing/Manchus ever overran/destroyed the Henan temple until the Warlords burned it in 1928. Did you find records of this actually occurring!? Is there reason as to why the Qing gov't would want to destroy the temple? Or when it was reestablished?

      Most interested,
      RJ

      Comment

      Working...
      X