Henan – the land of Shaolin kung fu

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First of a three-part series on a visit to China

Shaolin Kung Fu is the ‘window’ of Chinese culture to the modern world.

A fire-spitting performance at Millennium City Park in Kaifeng city.

EVERYTHING finds its roots somewhere and in something. For Chinese civilisation, it’s the shores of the Huang Ho or Yellow River.

The Chinese nation was born around 2800 BC on fertile land known as Henan (Zhongyuan or midland). From it sprung the First Dynasty in Chinese history — the Xia Dynasty, lasting 470 years from 2070 BC to 1600 BC.

A land rooted in the dichotomy of tribal peace and disputes for centuries, Henan was to become the capital city of more than 20 dynasties with over 200 emperors. Today, with nearly 100 million people occupying an area of 167,000 sq km, Henan is one of the most populous cities in China.

Over thousands of years, the Chinese developed their own culture, philosophy, religion, arts and technology — all firmly embedded in Chinese society.

Buddhism would flourish in China and many temples were built. The first officially constructed temple (after Buddhism) in China was the White Horse Temple in Luoyang City. Built in 68 AD by Emperor Mingdi, the temple houses the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Hall of the Great Buddha, the Hall of Mahavira and the Hall of Guidance.

Shaolin temple and kung fu

Henan is also home to the world renowned Shaolin Temple, built in 495 AD, in Songshan Mountain, Dengfeng, where Shaolin kung fu — the oldest, largest and most famous style of Chinese martial arts — has its roots.

The Shaolin Temple was included in the Unesco World Cultural and Natural Heritage List in 2010 as one of the Historical Monuments of Dengfeng.

Over 2,000 years old, the Shaolin Temple and Shaolin Kung Fu epitomise not only Chinese religion and characteristics but also Chinese philosophy.

The first thing visitors see on arrival at the temple is the Shanmen Hall with an overhanging tablet bearing the name Shaolin Temple.

The tablet was inscribed by the Emperor Kangxi (1622 to 1723) during the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911). Among the prominent features in the temple are the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Pagoda Forest, the Ancestral Hall of Shaolin Temple, the Dharma Cave and the Shaolin Temple Wushu.

The temple still stands today not as just a historical showpiece but also as a relevant testament to the development and prowess of Chinese martial arts.

The development and promotion of Shaolin Kung Fu dates back to the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Today, not only has the temple become the leading kung fu school in Henan, Shaolin Kung Fu has also become the ‘window’ of Chinese culture to the world.

In these modern times, with the popularity of Shaolin Kung Fu, China has many institutes, dedicated to the development of this martial art. One is the Songshan Shaolin Temple Warrior Monks’ Training Base Education Group where more than 18,000 students train in various kung fu styles and have performed around the world.

Another concrete representation of Chinese civilisation would be the carvings of Buddha statues on Dazu Rock, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site in Dazu, a district of Chongqing.

The Shaolin Temple situated at Songshan Mountain.

The Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang where one of the most important Buddhist sculptures is found.

Longmen Grottoes

Henan is also a home to one of the three most important Buddhist sculptures and carvings in China — the Longmen Grottoes. Located 5km south of Luoyang City, Longmen Grottoes is a revered treasure of China in terms of religion, fine arts, architecture and calligraphy. The craftsmanship that produced more than 100,000 Buddhist images and over 2,800 inscriptions is a manifestation of human artistic creativity.

Work on the carvings at Longmen Grottoes began in Northern Wei Dynasty when Emperor Xiaowen moved his capital to Luoyang (493 AD). The construction of caves was carried out during Western Wei and Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, Tang and the Five Dynasties.

In November 2000, the Longmen Grottoes was listed as a Unesco World Heritage site and today, thousands of tourists flock to this historical spot to see and marvel at its beauty and mystery.

Artistic excellence in China was heightened during the Song Dynasty, especially in Northern Song (960-1126), established in Kaifeng City.

Many poets, storytellers, calligraphers and painters started to emerge during this period, filling up the imperial courts of the emperor’s palace. Perhaps, the most famous Song Dynasty painter was Zhang Zeduan (1085 to 1145) who captured ‘Qingming Festival by the Riverside’ in all its glory with the adroit strokes of his brush.

The Song Dynasty was regarded as one of the most prosperous and advanced economies in the medieval world. During this period, a strong central government was set up and the exam system for the appointment of officials reintroduced.

The increase in population and expansion of commerce and trade throughout the Song Dynasty led to the economic growth of China’s cities.

The Rainbow Bridge at Millennium City Park.

Millennium City Park

Zhang Zeduan painted this symphony of life on a scroll 525 centimetres long and 25.5 centimetres wide, depicting in detail people of different social standing, busy markets, hardships of urban life, buildings and technological practices of those times. The painting and the whole period of prosperity in Northern Song

came to life with the establishment of the Millennium City Park on the west bank of Dragon Pavilion Lake in the heart of Kaifeng.

Not only has this Cultural Theme Park or Grand Cultural Garden come alive through its buildings and other structures but also through the re-enactment of scenes, peculiar to that period, by hundreds of actors.

One of the must-see places in China, the Millennium City Park excites visitors by allowing them to vicariously relive the Song Dynasty.

A well-known feature of the park is the Rainbow Bridge which lies across the Bianhe River. It is one of the Ten Chinese Ancient Bridges as well as the body image of the Millennium City Park. There performances are held at every corner for visitors to enjoy.

Whether it’s the historical stories of Chinese figures such as the renowned Song Dynasty officer, Lord Bao Zheng (Justice Bao), China’s most celebrated general, Yue Fei, or just folk amusement such as the spitting of fire, visitors would find these unique vestiges of ancient China nothing short of amazing and enlightening.

Apart from that, visitors can relive the past in an exciting way by participating in ceremonial activities such as a traditional Chinese wedding.

Henan has never failed to enlighten visitors with the rich history of China and some of its historical figures and their works which include the Memorial Temple of Lord Bao where visitors can learn about the incorruptible government officer and his deeds, the Grand Xiangguo Temple, historically one of the most famous of its kind situated in Central Kiafeng, the White Horse Temple as well as the International Temple Zone.

A visit to Henan will not be complete without trying out the local cuisine. Some of the famous dishes include Kaifeng Steamed Stuffed Buns, Chinese Wild Yams and Carp on Noodles.

Indeed, if there is one must-go place in China, it is Henan Province. Often regarded as the cradle of Chinese civilisation, Henan plays an important role in the history of China, bringing forth the unique Chinese characteristics and cultures that Chinese people around the world continue to practise today.

A live performance depicts a battle scene during the time of China’s celebrated General Yue Fei.

Martial art students perform at the Songshan Shaolin Temple Warrior Monks’ Training Base.