This video tells the story of how an ancient Buddhist Temple on Panshan, Jixian County, 105 km. north of Tianjin was appointed a sub-temple of Songshan Shaolin (the headquarter temple) during the Yuan Dynasty some 800 years ago by Shaolin Abbot Fuyu.
The growth, development, and role in history played by North Shaolin is also illustrated, as is its final destruction in May 1942 during WWII.
Surprisingly even most Chinese don't know the history or location of the real North Shaolin, mainly because of its obliteration during the war, and also an error in the screenplay of a 2011 movie made in Hong Kong titled "North and South Shaolin Temple," that misidentified South Shaolin as being in Fujian, and North Shaolin being located on Song Mountain (Songshan).
True, Fujian is in the South of China, and true, there are three magnificent Shaolin Temples in Fujian that played dramatic heroic roles in Chinese history defending China from foreign invaders. However according to surviving Chinese historical documents, they were not called "South Shaolin" but rather by their individual names. If anything, Songshan Shaolin (the headquarter) was called "South Shaolin."
Shaolin Kung Fu spread all over China in the Yuan Dynasty. There is no doubt whatsoever the Shaolin Temples in Fujian were very special because of their close proximity to the South China Sea and really were and remain spectacular repositories of history and Shaolin Kung Fu training.
North Shaolin Temple however was named in official Chinese histories, as "North Shaolin Temple," located on Panshan, Jixian, Tianjin. Thus, in English, one can legitimately call the Fujian Shaolin temples "Southern Shaolin," with "Southern" used as a adjective. The term: "South Shaolin" (with "South" used as part of a proper name, a noun) in Chinese historical documents referred to Songshan Shaolin.
This short video (nine minutes, 21 seconds) tries to explain all that and about how the North Shaolin Temple has been rebuilt bigger and better than ever before - or at least 85% or so rebuilt.
Since COVID-19, reconstruction has stopped due to funds having dried up during the pandemic.
This spring of 2024 they had hoped to do the interior work on the very large monk's dormitory (寮房 liáofáng) however due to a lack of funds, that hasn't begun (as of May 27 and this posting).
Shaolin Monks can earn money for the Shaolin Temple teaching in public and private schools, and completing the monks' dormitory will allow the North Shaolin to be financially self-sustaining. The Shaolin Temple is a legally registered NON-PROFIT organization in China - not a commercial enterprise.
I put the name of Songshan Abbot Shi Yongxin's administrative assistant (Shi Yan Pei) at the end of this video so anyone who would like to contribute to completing the rebuilding of the North Shaolin can contact him, via the headquarter Songshan Shaolin. The best way to contact him is through the one and only official Songshan Shaolin website at: www.shaolin.org.cn. On the Contact page of that website one will find: Shaolin Temple Foreign Affairs: shaolinsi495@126.com
Shi Yan Pei's direct email is: shaolinyanpei@163.com
The North Shaolin Temple was destroyed 82 years ago. It would be wonderful to complete its reconstruction in the near future. This video was written to 1) inform people regarding the history of the one and only real North Shaolin Temple, and 2) help get funding to finish its reconstruction.
Peace, good will, harmony and prosperity to all.
Негізгі бет Reincarnation of the Lost North Shaolin Temple Part 1
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