Video Discription |
In 1928, China was undergoing many battles involving the Republican Government and warlords. At this time, The Republican (and Christian) warlord Feng Yuxiang (冯玉祥) [1882-1948] ordered his subordinate - Shi Yousan (石友三) - to attack and destroy the Shaolin Temple situated on Mount Song, Henan province. This destroyed the Devaraja Hall (天王殿 – Tian Wang Dian), the Great Hall of Heroic Strength (大雄殿 – Da Xiong Dian) i.e. the ‘Main Hall’, the Dharma Hall (法堂 – Fa Tang), the building housing the Bell Tower (钟楼 – Zhong Lou), through burning. As around 90% of the ancient Shaolin Temple library was also destroyed, a large number of precious Buddhist sutras were lost, together with texts that recorded the history of the Shaolin Temple itself. This destruction of books included very rare texts recording various martial arts styles (and related subjects) either practiced in the temple, or known as existing in other places. The consequence of this Republican attack on the Shaolin Temple was that a great Buddhist treasure was lost to humanity, forever.
Therefore, it can be truthfully stated that Feng Yuxiang – whilst making use of a Republican Chinese military force armed with modern Western weaponry - inflicted the most ruthless and efficient campaign of destruction upon the Shaolin Temple. This being the case, it is historically important to assess ‘why’ Feng Yuxiang decided to take this action. The answer is simple and straight-forward. The then Head Monk (i.e. ‘Abbot’) of the Shaolin Temple was named ‘Miao Xing’ (妙兴)[1891-1927]. At a time of highly destructive, internecine fighting between military forces of the different factions of the Republican Government, and between the Republican Government and the various warlords that still controlled parts of China, the Head Monk Miao Xing took the decision to side with the warlord Wu Peifu (吴佩孚) [1874-1939], whose forces were operating in the Henan area. He took this decision in an attempt to secure the peace and harmony of the Shaolin Temple and its inhabitants.
During March of the 17th year of the Republic (1928), with Miao Xing already dead - Fan Zhongxiu (who had been a lay-disciple of Heng Lin [恒林] the former Head Monk of Shaolin and also the teacher of Miao Xing) out manoeuvred Feng Yuxiang’s ‘National Army’ in Henan, and took control of Gong County and Yanshi County. However, these areas were soon recaptured by Shi Yuosan (石友三) [1891-1940] – a loyal subordinate of Feng Yuxiang. After this, Fan Zhongxiu turned southward and attacked Dengfeng County – establishing his command centre in the Shaolin Temple itself. Shi Yousan took his army southward in pursuit, with the intention of driving Fan Zhongxiu and his men out of the area, but when he reached the Shaolin Temple – he was met by a force of armed monks (who had decided to support Fan Zhongxiu because of his connection with the former Head Monk Heng Lin). In the ensuing battle around 200 monks were killed (nearly all those resident at the temple at the time) and the resistance of the Shaolin Temple was broken. The following morning, Feng Yuxiang’s National Army was in complete control of the Dengfeng area. Brigade Commander Su Mingqi (苏明启) ordered a sergeant to have his men soak the temple in kerosene and then set it alight. This destroyed the Devaraja Hall, the Main Hall, the Dharma Hall, the Bell Tower, the Temple of the Sixth Patriarch (六祖殿 – Liu Zu Dian), the Kinnara Temple (紧那罗殿 – Jin Na Lou Dian), the King of Hell Temple (阎王殿 – Yan Wang Dian), the Dragon King Hall (龙王殿 – Long Wang Dian), the Fragrant Store Kitchen (香积厨 – Xiang Ji Chu), the Storeroom (库房 – Ku Fang), East-West Meditation Hall (东西禅堂 – Dong Xi Ch’an Tang), the Imperial Throne Room (御座房 – Yu Zuo Tang) and many other places.
When the Head Monk joined the Northern Warlords he became directly involved in worldly matters, and this was interpreted as a violation of the Vinaya Discipline that all Chinese Buddhist monastics are sworn to uphold without exception. It is believed that because the Head Monk Miao Xing violated the Vinaya Discipline, the resultant negative karma produced cost him his life, and led directly to the destruction of the Shaolin Temple. After this, the Shaolin Temple was managed by a pure and simple monk (originally from the Hui Guo Zhen area of Gong County) named Zhen Xu (1893-1955). He (and others like him) only protected the Mountain Gate (山门 – Shan Men) and nothing more. After 1982, the Shaolin Temple was fully repaired and re-developed to serve as a centre for international cultural exchange. This has become one of its main functions that ensures that it now survives in the modern era. All the inner temples, rooms, library and other places have now been reconstructed so that the ancient Shaolin Temple shines with a renewed vigour. |