Shaolin Lohan Pai

Shaolin Temple

Shaolin is a composite of two chinese words, Shao - meaning young, and Lin - meaning forest. The original Shaolin Temple was built on Mount Song, the central mountain of "The Five Mountains of China" near Zengshou, Hunan Province.

According to Shaolin Historical records, the temple was built in the nineteenth year of Emperor Xiaowen, or around 495 AD, for the Indian Monk Batuo, and his two Chinese disciples.

The Martial aspects of the Shaolin Temple originated with the arrival of Bodhidharma from India. Born to a royal family in southern India, Bodhidharma studied Bhuddism under the 27th Patriarch, Prajnatara. After completing his studies and recieving transmission from his master, Bodhidharma became the 28th Patriarch and was instructed by his master to transmit the Dharma to China.

After a long and ardorous journey through the mountains, he eventually reached Guangzhou in southern china in 528 AD, and was recieved by the court of Emperor Wu Di of the Liang Dynasty. Because the Emperor did not understand his teachings, Bodhidharma then travelled north, crossed the Yangtzu River, and continued on to the Shaolin Temple. His arrival at the temple set in motion events that not only changed the history of the Chinese people, but affects the lives of countless people around the world to this day.

According to my master, Sigung (Grand Master) Vincent A. Cabais, 33rd generation, 30th degree, Shaolin Lohan Pai, the Lohan were the non-buddhist disciples of the Shaolin Temple, and were the liasons between the Buddhist monks who were forbidden to leave the temple and the outside world.

(Although not completely accurate, the story of the Lohan is told in the Shaw Brothers Classic movie: "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin", starring Gordon Liu.)

According to Sigung Cabais, who received oral and written history from his master, (a tradition now for 33 generations) The Lohan were created to transmit the Shaolin Martial Arts to the general populace. It was rightly believed that all of China would benefit from "The development of the mind, through the discipline of the body."

At the time, students who mastered the system of the Shaolin Temple were allowed to then create new elements, or add their own unique styles. The Lohan Chuan, (Fist) was created by Hong Tsi Quan, who some say also created the 3 - sectional staff.

Traditionally Pai are special organizations that sponsor certain fighting systems for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy of the form is retained. Shaolin History is filled with thousands of such organizations, divided primarily between the Northern and Southern Shaolin Systems.

One such Pai was the "White Lotus Society" authorized to teach non-Buddhist the secrets of Shaolin Kung Fu.

The following history is taken from the Official website of the Shaolin Lohan School of Kung Fu:

"Lohan" is a Chinese word derived from the Sanskrit word "Arhat" which means worthy one. There have been many controversies over what the Lohan were. In Northern China Lohan were described to be the "enlightened spirits" from the Honan Shaolin Temple. In Southern China the Lohan were considered to be renegade monks from the Fukien Siu Lum Temple.

Legend states that between 265AD and 520AD Da´ Mo (Bohidarhma) created Sho Pa Lo Han (18 Postures of Lohan). This was basically the foundation of many of the following styles that were established from that time period in Shaolin.

According to Buddhist tradition, monks were not allowed to leave the temple(s). How was it that the Buddhist Patriarch "Bohidarhma" was able to leave his temple in India? Interesting question. This was an interesting problem for the monks Shaolin also. How were they able to leave the temple(s) to conduct charitable missions, recruiting, etc.? The answer is quite simple. In very traditional Chinese fashion the monks of Shaolin created another sect to their order. This sect would be allowed to become the "Wandering Monks of China" heard of in legends and history.

These ´Lohan´ wandered all over feudal China. During those many years, the monks acquired many different styles of Martial Arts. The Shaolin monks were (and still are) considered the foremost experts of Chuan Fa in China but they were not the sole people practicing the Martial Arts.

Also, during the late Ming Dynasty the Shaolin monks became concerned about the changes in their country. They knew that the up and coming Manchurian government would be coming after them. They wanted to teach non-Buddhist the Martial Arts that they had become so famous for to assist in protecting their way of life. Unfortunately, they were left with another problem. Non-Buddhist could not be taught the Martial Arts of their temple. Not without first converting. Therefore they commissioned the Lohan Sect for this task.