History of Shaolin

Lu Zhouxiang is Lecturer in Chinese Studies within the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the National University of Ireland Maynooth, Ireland.

"...it is impossible to deny that Shaolin has indeed played an important role throughout Chinese history and has certainly contributed to the construction of a strong national identity. Moreover, the true strength of this volume lies not so much in Lu’s conclusions about the importance of Shaolin, but rather the exposition itself of the most comprehensive history of Shaolin in English to this date."- Joseph Chadwin, University of Vienna"This book provides original insights that make a robust case for understanding the Shaolin Monastery as part of the national culture through its alignment with successive Chinese rulers. Lu’s delicate brushwork paints a multi-layered and nuanced exploration of every dimension of Shaolin within a complex social context."Dr. Meishan Zhang, Trinity College Dublin"A book which, I believe, will collaborate in a special way for studies related to Chinese martial arts, the history of Asia/China and Buddhism."Prof. Rodrigo Wolff Apolloni, Centro Universitário Uniopet, Brazil"Lu’s grasp of the inscriptions in place at the temple itself offers tantalising interpretations of Shaolin’s nature."Dr. Jonathan Clements, Martial History Team

• 1. Introduction 2. The Early Days of Shaolin 3. The Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties 4. The Transformation of Shaolin in the Ming Dynasty 5. The Development of Shaolin in the Qing Dynasty 6. The Republic of China Era: Warlords, Militarism and Nationalism 7. Surviving Socialist Reforms 8. The Revival of Shaolin in the Era of Reform and Opening Up 9. Conclusion