Shaolin Temple



The Shaolin Temple is a Chan Buddhist temple at Song Shan Mountain in Henan Province. In 496 A.D. the
Shaolin Temple was built not far from Luoyang, the new capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). It
gets its name from its location in the forest (lin) at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain. Many Westerners know of
the Shaolin Temple primarily as the home of a martial arts form called Kung Fu. But Bodhidharma also
made it the birthplace of a school of Buddhism known as Zen (Chan in Chinese).

Shaolin Temple embraces many exciting attractions, such as the Hall of Heavenly Kings (Tian Wang Dian),
the Mahavira Hall (Da Xiong Bao Dian), the Pagoda Forest, the Dharma Cave and the Shaolin Temple
Martial Art Training Center.

The first entrance of Shaolin Temple is the Shanmen Hall, hanging on its top is a tablet reading "Shaolin Temple". The tablet was inscribed by the
Emperor Kangxi during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). Under the stairs of the hall crouches two stone lions made in the Ming Dynasty (1368-
1644).

Next is the Hall of Heavenly Kings. The gate of the hall is guarded by two figures depicting Vajra (Buddhist warrior attendants). Inside the hall are
figures of the Four Heavenly Kings who are responsible for inspecting peoples' behavior, helping the troubled, and blessing the people.

Then, arrive at the Mahavira Hall. The complex's center is right before your eyes. Both important celebrations and regular prayers are held here.
18 Buddhist Arhats stand along the eastern and the southern walls of the hall. Buddhas of the Middle, East and West are enshrined in this hall,
respectively Sakyamuni Buddha, Pharmacist Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. Figures of Kingnaro (the founder of Shaolin Cudgel) and Dharma
(the founder of Chinese Zen Buddhism) stand beside those three Buddhas, a placement which is very different from other Mahavira Halls.

Proceeding on, arrive at the Pagoda Forest, a graveyard for Buddhist dignitaries through the ages. On average, the pagodas are less than 15
meters (about 49 feet) high. The Pagoda Forest in Shaolin Temple is the largest of China's pagoda complexes.

Outside the temple we continue walking to the northwest, there are two monasteries, named the Ancestor's
Monastery and the Second Ancestor's Monastery.