tShaolin
少林 shào lín
The Shaolin Temple (Monastery) 少林寺
shào lín sì is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
It is a Chan 禅宗 chán zōng (Zen) Buddhist temple. It is located
in the county of Dengfeng in the province
of Henan in China.
The name 少林寺 shào lín sì translated
literally means "temple of the lesser forests". The name shaolin 少林 shào lín ("less and
forests") is derived from
the 少室 shǎo shì mountain.
The temple was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty in 495 CE. Its construction was credited to Emperor Xiaowen 孝文xiào wén. Shaolin Kungfu, a type of martial arts which incorporates Zen Buddhism 禅宗 chán zōng, was developed in this temple. It became world famous and many movies were made about it. A theatrical event which focused on the Shaolin martial arts - called Soul of Shaolin - was staged in Broadway, New York and Genting Highlands in Malaysia.
The temple was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty in 495 CE. Its construction was credited to Emperor Xiaowen 孝文xiào wén. Shaolin Kungfu, a type of martial arts which incorporates Zen Buddhism 禅宗 chán zōng, was developed in this temple. It became world famous and many movies were made about it. A theatrical event which focused on the Shaolin martial arts - called Soul of Shaolin - was staged in Broadway, New York and Genting Highlands in Malaysia.
