Shaolin Kung Fu

Shaolin Kung Fu, also known as Shaolin Boxing, is the oldest martial art among all the major schools in China. It boasts the most diverse and comprehensive range of styles and the most profound cultural significance within the Chi- nese martial arts community. Its origins can be traced back to the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, Henan Province. According to legend, during the Southern and Northern dynasties (420-589) period, an Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma (?- 536) came to the Temple to teach Zen Buddhism and practice meditation. Bodhidharma, along with others, observed various movements performed by ancient Chinese individuals during physical exercise and adapted these movements to create a fitness routine called "body-relaxing techniques" and Luohan's 18 hands, with the latter combining dynamic and static elements. These forms of physical exercise were used to train monks and are considered the embryonic form of Shaolin Boxing. For over 1,500 years, Shaolin Kung Fu has been passed down consistently without interruption. From its origins as a means of protecting the temple and strengthening the body, it has gradually developed into a manifestation of culture with rich connotations and a complete set of wellness techniques. Throughout the ages, hundreds of Shaolin Kung Fu forms have been passed down, including popular training routines such as fighting or sparring with fists, with a stick, with a sword, or with other similar weapons. It has evolved into a unique sports activity with distinct features.

The practice of Shaolin Kung Fu is based on a complete set of theories which infuse Buddhist beliefs, particularly Zen Buddhism, into martial arts techniques. The cultural concept of the "unity of heaven and man" is reflected in the emphasis on the "unity of Zen and martial arts". For Shaolin Kung Fu practitioners, the pursuit of wisdom and strength is insepara- ble from the integration of Zen meditation into the process of martial arts training. This is where Shaolin Kung Fu stands out from other martial arts. Shaolin Kung Fu was included on China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006.

Shaolin Kung Fu focuses on promoting harmony, health, compassion, equality, unity, and a positive lifestyle. These ideas have been embraced by people all over the world. More than 60 million people worldwide have benefited from prac- ticing Shaolin Kung Fu. The Shaolin Temple has established more than 200 overseas cultural centers around the world, using traditional Chinese martial arts as a means to promote cross-cultural exchanges and mutual learning.

少林功夫

少林功夫，亦即少林拳，是中國(guó)武術(shù)界各大流派中歷史最悠久、種類最繁多、體系最龐大、最具文化內(nèi)涵的門派。少林功夫發(fā)源于河南嵩山的少林寺。相傳南北朝時(shí)期，印度高僧達(dá)摩（？—536）曾來(lái)此傳授禪宗、靜坐修心。達(dá)摩等人仿效中國(guó)古代勞動(dòng)人民鍛煉身體的各種動(dòng)作，編成健身活動(dòng)的“活身法”以及動(dòng)靜結(jié)合的“十八羅漢手”以傳授僧人， 形成“少林拳”的雛形。1500多年來(lái)，少林功夫有序傳承、從未間斷，由最初保護(hù)寺院、強(qiáng)身健體的手段，逐漸發(fā)展成為技術(shù)完備、內(nèi)涵豐富的文化表現(xiàn)形式。歷代傳習(xí)的少林功夫套路有數(shù)百種，其中較為流傳的有拳術(shù)、棍術(shù)、刀術(shù)、劍術(shù)、器械和對(duì)練等。隨著社會(huì)發(fā)展，少林功夫已經(jīng)演變?yōu)橐环N具有獨(dú)特功能的體育運(yùn)動(dòng)項(xiàng)目。

少林功夫具有完整的技術(shù)和理論體系，它以武術(shù)技藝和套路為表現(xiàn)形式，以佛教信仰和禪宗智慧為文化內(nèi)涵，講求“禪武合一”的精神境界，反映了“天人合一”的文化理念。對(duì)于智慧與力量的渴望，將禪修融入練武的過(guò)程，一直是少林功夫習(xí)練者的追求目標(biāo)。這是少林功夫的特色所在，也是少林功夫與其他武術(shù)的主要區(qū)別。2006年，少林功夫入選中國(guó)國(guó)家級(jí)非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)保護(hù)名錄。

少林功夫有著增進(jìn)和諧、健康向上的內(nèi)容，其蘊(yùn)含的慈悲、平等、圓融、和合理念，受到世界各國(guó)民眾的關(guān)注與喜愛(ài)，吸引全球6000余萬(wàn)人習(xí)練功夫，從中獲得身心裨益。少林寺在全球各地建立了200多個(gè)海外少林文化中心，以中華傳統(tǒng)武術(shù)文化為媒介，促進(jìn)中外文明交流互鑒。