Master Wu Gulun (The 1st generation master)
Wu Gulun was one of the great masters of Shaolin Kung Fu in recent times. Born in 1831, he entered the Shaolin Temple when he was five years old and was given the Buddhist name of Ji Qing. His master was Zhan Mo. At the beginning of the Qing dynasty the practice of Kung Fu was outlawed, but the monks in Shaolin Temple continued to practice in secret. In the final years of the dynasty, a general named Ling Qing, who admired the Shaolin form of Kung Fu, ordered the monks to demonstrate their skills - a dangerous situation which resulted in a government enquiry. Many monks fled the temple, some returning to secular life. Wu Gulun and Zhan Mo fought their way out of Shaolin Temple, past the 18 temple guards, and retreated to a smaller temple t emple called Shi Guo Si where Zhan Mo taught Wu Gulun the art of Xing Yi Ba. Wu Gulun trained in many other Shaolin Kung Fu skills including Qing Gong (the ability to make your body feel weightless) and Chi Gong (breath control). He developed Xing Yi Ba to the highest level and is re garded as the First Generation Master of this form of Kung Fu.
Master Wu Shanlin (The 2nd generation master)
Wu Shanlin was the second son of Wu Gulun and began his training under his father at a young age. He devoted his time and efforts t o Chan Buddhism, Kung Fu, Fu, and medicine. He mastered many high level skills of Shaolin Kung Fu and reached the peak of Shaolin training. Much of the knowledge of the original Shaolin Kung Fu was lost in the fire of 1928 when many precious documents were destroyed. Wu Shanlin was invited to return to the temple in an effort to restore its original culture and heritage. Over the course of three years, he taught the basics of Shaolin Kung Fu to monks in the Temple. Most people who claim to be the successors of Shaolin Kung Kung Fu received some of their knowledge from Wu Shanlin. He became the Second Generation Master in the lineage. After three years, Wu Shanlin retired from the Temple. However, he returned on one occasion in the 1960s when the general secretary of China’s martial arts association, Li Tian Ji, came to Shaolin Temple to do research on top traditi onal Shaolin skills. Li Tian Ji invited Wu Shalin back to demonstrate Xing Yi Ba. Despite being i n his late eighties, he amazed everybody with his skill. Before he died, Wu Shalin entrusted his closest disciple, Zhang Qinghe (Buddhist name Xing Xin) with the task of carrying on the teaching of Shaolin Kung Fu.
Master Zhang Qinghe (The 3rd generation master)
Zhang Qinghe, a disciple of Wu Shanlin, was nine years old when his parents died. He was very poor and forced to beg on the streets. However, he was fortunate as a young man to meet a famous monk from Shaolin Temple by the name of Chun Qian. Chun Qian, a disciple of Ji Huan, was accomplished in Kung Fu and medicine, and was also the Buddhist doctor at the Temple. Because of the bad behaviour of one of the monks, Chun Qian left Shaolin Temple and moved to a branch temple called Jing Gang Si. Master Chun Qian took Zhang Qinghe as his son and taught him all his knowledge about Shaolin Kung Fu and medicine. He recommended that Zhang Qinghe study with Wu Shanlin. On meeting Wu Shanlin, Zhang Qinghe knew he had found the right master and continued to train very hard under his guidance. He was thus trained by two great masters and became the Third Generation Master of Xin Yi Ba. In obedience to his master’s commands, he kept a low profile, li ving like a hermit and devoting his whole life to preserving the real teachings about Kung Fu and medicine. He was well known in his hometown for his good character and work in helping others. He developed his own system of medicine, often able to cure illnesses that conventional medicine could not. In 1992, Zhang Qinghe returned to Shaolin Temple to work with the famous Master Shi Dechan as a doctor in the Temple. He also t ried to reintroduce traditional Kung Fu to the Temple. However, he failed in this task, and because he couldn’t agree with the behaviour of the monks, he again left the temple in 1995. Before he died in 2004, Master Zhang Qinghe taught the secrets of real Shaolin Kung Fu and medicine to Shi Dejian. He instructed Shi Dejian to become a monk at the Shaolin Temple. In this way, the wishes of Master Wu Gulun to return traditional Shaolin culture to Shaolin Temple were fulfilled.
Master Shi Dejian (The 4th generation master)
Shi Dejian started to learn Kung Fu when he was very young. He first studied the Taizu form of Kung Fu in his hometown with a master named Guan Yapo. Later, with Chen Jinsu, he studied the art of Longxin Bagua, which targets the vital points of the human body and has healing properties. Chen Jinsu, who had been a Buddhist nun in Yufo Si in Shanghai from an early age, was the Eleventh Generation Master of Longxin Baguazhang. In the 1930s, Chen Jinsu used to challenge people to fight so that she could test her Kung Fu skills -- but no one was able to beat her. Chen Jinsu liked Shi Dejian’s moral character and passed on all her skills to him. Before coming to Shaolin, Shi Dejian learned Tai Chi and Xinyi with Quan Guangxin, and the Chen-style Tai Chi with Chen Zhaopi. In 1989, Shi Dejian came to Shaolin to further his Kung Fu training. He first studied with Yang Guiwu and Qiao Heibao and then met Zhang Qinghe, the Third Generation Master of the traditional Shaolin Kung Fu of Wu Gulun lineage. In order to try to
restore the original Kung Fu culture to Shaolin Temple, Shi Dejian became an official Buddhist monk under Shi Suxi in 1990. He simultaneously continued to study hard with his master Zhang Qinghe and finally became the Fourth Generation Master of Shaolin Wugulun Kung Fu lineage. Master Shi Dejian is living in the stunningly beautiful San Huang Zhai Monastery on Mt. Shaoshi, one of the peaks in the Song Mountain range. It was a small temple that associated with Shaolin temple in the past, through many years of Master Dejian’s effort, San Huang Zhai Monastery is spreading out it’s Unprecedented prosperity. Copyright © 2012 Shaolin Wugulun Kung Fu Academy All Rights Reserved.
About the Academy
Founded in 2004, Shaolin Wugulun Kung Fu Academy reminds dedicated to teaching the original internal and external Shaolin cultures – a lifestyle comprised of the Chan’, meditation, combat skill practice, and a healthy diet.
In addition to the learning of the essence of tr aditional Shaolin Kung Fu – “Chan Wu”(Zen Martial arts) – we have designed several retreat programs consisting of experts to give talks on Chinese culture. These talks will cover Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism in order to provide students with a deeper understanding of the philosophical foundations of their practices and of Chinese culture. To complete this holistic approach to self development, we have included insight calligraphy and meditation courses in the retreat program.
The academy was founded by an early disciple of Master Shi Dejian, and was originally located in a village at the foot of Songshan Mountain, right behind the famous Songyang Academy in Dengfeng City, Henan Province. Now located in Huijiao Chan Temple, nestled in the green hills of southern Zhejiang Province. The Academy and its classes are personally supervised by Master Guo Junxian and professor Paul Wang.
About the Master
Master Guo Junxian, a Buddhist practitioner of Henan descent, is a fifth generation disciple of Shaolin Wugulun Kung Fu. He began practicing martial arts in Songshan in 1999 and in the fall of 2000, he became Master Shi Dejian's apprentice at Shaolin Temple. In the following years, he studied the basic techniques of Kung Fu from Wu Nanfang, his master’s Kung Fu brother. In 2006, Guo Junxian went to San Huang Zhai Temple on Songshan Mountain to pursue the study of advanced level of traditional Shaolin Kungfu with his Master Shi Dejian for three years straight. In the spring of 2009, he relocated to Zhejiang Province, where he teaches at Shaolin Wugulun Kung Fu Academy. Guo Junxian is now dedicated to maintai ning and improving his advanced skills, while at the same time working with students to carry forward the valuable training knowledge that he has inherited.
Professor Paul Wang, as a chief master, is now teaching meditation, insight calligraphy and mindfulness Taichi at the Live Zen Center of the China Cult ure Center. As an invited instructor, he also teaches Traditional Chinese thought for international programs at Capital Normal University and the Institute of Education. He has taught overseas students for over 10 years. His study and practice includes the principal classics of Confucius and Laozi, and three types of Buddhism meditation systems: South-east Asia Buddhism, Chinese Zen Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. Through continuous learning and practice, he gradually worked out a set o f practical methods on mediation by combining these three systems. He gives Zen coaching and philosophical teaching tailored to personal differences and individual needs. He teaches students how to build links between Zen practice and daily life.
What is Wugulun Kung Fu?
“Wugulun” is the name of a 19th century Shaolin monk w ho is believed to have been the last monk to fight his way out of Shaolin Temple against the 18 temple guardians. He left before the Temple was burned to ruins b y a regional warlord in 1928. He taught his son, Wu Sanlin, who was then eventually invited back to the reconstructed Temple to teach the monks the lost secrets of Shaolin Kung Fu.
Wugulun’s teaching is very ancient, placing less emphasis on pure physical development and sports while emphasizing more spiritual development incorporating breathing and developing internal energy resources. Rather than force students into a certain mold or paradigm, Wugulun works with the unique characteristics of each individual and thereby allows students to experience a deep personal cultivation.
Students walk away knowing what is required to lead a Shaolin lifestyle, and understand what it takes to elevate their mind and body to a place where they will achieve mental purification and an enhanced quality of life.
Location
Shaolin Wugulun Kung Fu Academy is located within Huijiao Zen Temple on Bailu Mountain in southwestern Zhejiang Province. With a history of almost one thousand years, the temple has been known for a long time as the number one Buddhist destination in the western part of the province. The setting is ideal for the study of martial arts.
Though Songshan Shaolin Wugulun Kung Fu originates from the central plai ns of northern China where the distinguished Shaolin Temple is situated, we had the good fortune (one could even say that it was a pre-desti ned opportunity) of being able to establish our school in an outstanding location in the south of the country. The spot was carefully chosen to be in Huijiao Zen Temple on Bailu Mountain in Laxi Cit y of Zhejiang Province.
Lanxi is a reputed city with a long history and culture, known for gathering talented people. It is home to picturesque scenery, including the Underground Long River, an ideal place for what is known as “cave-cruising” – rafting along the river, in and out of various caves. There are several historical sites as well, such as Jiezi Garden, which is the former residence of the Qing Dynasty-era dramatist Liyu. Also nearby is the former residence of Miss Zhao, wife to the famous Chinese patriot Zhang Xueliang, who was an instrumental figure in forming a united front between the Kuomingtang and the Communists against the Japanese in the 1930s.
The school is located within Huijiao Zen Temple, built during the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1049-1053). With a history of almost one thousand years, the temple has been known for a long time as the number one Buddhist destination in western Zhejiang. The founder of the temple was Monk Shengxiu ( 圣修), who had the privileged opportunity to work closely with and learn from various well-known Masters, including Xuyun ( 虚云), Laiguo ( 来果) and Yuanying ( 圆瑛). Monk Shengxiu was also the disciple of the Eldership Benhuan ( 本焕), a leading authority on Zen. When Monk Shengxiu passed away, he left several important Buddhist relics behind, some of which are extremely rare. A stupa was built in his honor inside the temple, and the relics are placed inside.
Bailu Mountain is abundant with greenery, including tall bamboos, camphor trees, and cherry bays. The old temple is not frequented by tourists, making the location an ideal place for practicing Zen and martial arts. Lanxi is located just 36 miles from Jinhua, an important economic town from which there is easy access by train to cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. Lanxi is 71 miles from Yiwu Airport and 200 miles from Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, both easy reached by bus. The Academy is nestled on Bailu Mountain, 15 miles from the urban area of Lanxi. It takes about 30 minutes to drive up the winding mountain road – far enough away from the city to act as a true retreat, yet not so far as to be inconvenient.
We look forward to welcoming Kung Fu fans from home and abroad.
