An Indian connect to Shaolin

Dec 08, 2012 - Age Correspondent

For anyone who grew up on a steady diet of Chinese martial arts films, Shaolin kung fu might probably count among one of the country’s best exports. But what many may not know is that Shaolin kung fu may just have an Indian connect — albeit a contentious one.

It is said that a Buddhist monk from South India, Bodhidharma by name, sat in solitude facing a blank wall at the famous Shaolin temple (on Mount Song in China) for nine years. At the end of the ninth year, he managed to bore a hole through the wall by the power of his gaze alone. He penned two manuscripts which were left behind in an iron chest — one was taken away by his disciple and was never seen since, while the second was studied by the other monks at the monastery in great detail. By practising the martial skills they learnt about, the monks soon became adept at it, and the style was named after the monastery. Time to watch The 36th Chamber of Shaolin again?

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