Shaolin Hung Mei History
Brief History of Shaolin Kung Fu
The Shaolin Temple (少林寺) is located on Sōng Shān (嵩山) Mountain, Hénán province, China. The original Temple was built in 495 AD (Year Nineteen of the Běi Wèi dynasty, 北魏十九年). Around 527 AD, Monk Dá Mó (Dharma, 達摩) came to China from India to spread the teachings of Buddhism. During his years in the Shaolin Temple, Dá Mó founded the Ch’an (Zen) branch of Buddhism, which, for thousands of years, has been the most influential sect of Buddhism in China. Dá Mó has since been referred to as the first ancestor of Zen. During the meditation service, Monk Dá Mó (Dharma) noticed that many of his disciples were lethargic and were falling asleep. In order to stimulate their interest and spirit, he introduced a routine of physical exercises. Later, it was realized that many of these movements had roots in the techniques of self-defense. As more and more Kung Fu Masters joined the Shaolin Temple seeking to develop their spirit, Shaolin Kung Fu was developed and perfected.
Since Priest Dá Mó has been the most recognized leader of the Shaolin Temple, he is considered the Great Grandmaster of Shaolin Kung Fu.
