[Buddha-l] Chinese Zen connections with the martial arts

[Bob Zeuschner]

The connection between Chinese Zen or Ch'an and the empty-hand martial 
arts seems to be mostly myth (i.e., the 6th century Bodhidharma connection).

I had a graduate student many years ago who wanted to work on the 
connection with Chinese Ch'an and the martial arts for his project.
He was certain that Bodhidharma had brought Indian fighting skills to 
China.
I don't recall the specific details, but if my memory is not failing me, 
after several years of research his conclusion was that the empty handed 
fighting style of the Shaolin monks begins somewhere in the 14th or 15th 
centuries, and at that time, the Shaolin monastery was Taoist.
The conclusion: Taoist longevity exercises were the origins of these, 
and the connection with Ch'an wasn't until a whole lot later. There was 
zero evidence to support the popular Bodhidharma-Shaolin myth.
I'm sure other members of this group have more accurate research which 
they can share with us.
Bob Zeuschner
Dept. of Philosophy


d f tweney wrote:
> At the risk of veering off-topic, I am wondering whether anyone has 
> considered older, Chinese connections between Buddhism and military / 
> state power. It seems clear that the kinds of militarization of Zen that 
> happened in Japan also happened in China, perhaps at a very early stage. 
> For instance, even a passing acquaintance with Chinese martial arts 
> reveals abundant connections between Buddhism and the martial arts (cf. 
> Shaolin temple), many of which were employed in decidedly non-peaceful 
> ways.