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Considering that the old shaolin temple was burned down(including their library with their martial and religious knowledge) in the chinese communist revolution and reconstructed in the 80's (i think),where the shaolin quan forms practiced nowdays in the temple came from?
Minjian (民間) means 'folk' - common people if you will. It's a major factor for Chinese martial arts.
Here, read this old cover story on Chen Tongshan from our NOV+DEC 2008 issue: Shaolin Masters Keeping the Faith.
Hey Drunken Fist;
Shaolin temple is in the centre of the most populace part of China is surrounded by literally hundreds of mountain villages, and around 100 other temples. Many of which train kung fu (both villages and temples) and had a historic relationship with Shaolin temple. A lot of the monks in the temple were of course from the local area and when the Shaolin temple burned they literally just walked home.... in some cases about 200 yards.
The temple burned for 40 days, it wasn't to kill monks but to destroy it as a tactical location. The library and relics were a serious loss, but the Kung fu wasn't damaged by this action. What damaged kung fu most was the following political upheaval.
The Temple has always existed in a symbiotic relationship with neighbouring villages and temples, so the answer to your question is that modern Shaolin Kung fu is the same as it always was. In terms of forms the modern are the same as they always have been, with the difference being in emphasis rather than the form (emphasizing stances and rhythm rather than the movements in-between stances and techniques).
As Gene has mentioned above, the Minjian wushu is very strong around Shaolin temple. If any form has been lost in the temple, just go to a nearby village and see how they do it.
We know this because there are and have been many old teachers who were teaching throughout that transition. For example my ShiYe (CuiXiQi) was born in 1923 and trained from a young age in the time just after the temple was burned. His master (LiGenSheng) died in 1960. I learned from him (master CuiXiQi and his son) and so there is not so large a gap between the way it was and the way it is now. The same is true for every clan existing now, they all have a connection with an old Master. For example DeYangs (famous master) master SuXi was present at Shaolin temple throughout this whole time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NrLSCa16no&t=2s Master CuiXiQi performing Shaolin DaTongBei Quan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHY2QCH76Qk&t=1229s Myself explaining the applications of said form
Master CuiXiQi did frequently tell me ' Gong Fu tuo jie le' (脱节) Gong fu has 'come apart'. But his meaning was not that the content was lost, but something deeper, the soul of Kung fu has been damaged. But since the content still exists this 'soul' of kung fu can still be recovered.
The 'ideas' of traditional Shaolin kung fu still exist, but in the minds of a few people they are weak. If many people know them and practice them and put them to work they will evolve and recover their former glory. But this is not the work of an individual but the collective effort of thousands. What is important now with Shaolin kung fu is the sharing of ideas and the destruction of the wall of secrecy that evolved to safeguard the tradition during times of political struggle.
If you read the article Gene posted above there is mention of several famous masters.
Master ZhenXu and LiGenSheng are arguably the two most famous Shaolin masters of the 20th century. Famous that is amongst the Wulin (martial fraternity) here in the Song mountains. Unfortunately no videos exist of them performing. Does anyone have photos?
In the next generation from them there are Shi SuXi, Hao ShiZhai, Cui XiQi, Yang GuiWu and many others.
Master Hao ShiZhai and Master CuiXiQi were close in age and both passed away recently. And also relatively recently Master Yang GuiWu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a8JdMrpesI Master HaoShiZhai performing Shaolin DaHong Quan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NrLSCa16no&t=2s Master CuiXiQi performing Shaolin Tongbei quan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJZIZ3VLPQU Master Yang Guiwu performing XinYiBa
Videos exist of Master SuXi practising forms but I do not have one.
HaoShiZhai, CuiXiQi, Shi SuXi and Master Yang GuiWu are all good examples of masters who have carried Shaolin Gong fu through perhaps its darkest hours during the cultural revolution.
Shaolin Kung Fu (Chinese: 少林功夫 ), also called Shaolin Wushu (少林武術 ), is among the oldest institutionalized styles of Chinese martial arts. Known in Chinese as Shaolinquan , it originated and was developed in the Buddhist Shaolin temple in Henan province, China. , also known as Shaolin martial arts, is one of the famous martial arts . It has a long history and profound influence, is an important part of the traditional martial arts China. Began about Northern Wei. Chronicles continue some development, spur widespread throughout the country, modern and gradually spread overseas .The most prominent feature of Shaolin Kungfu is "chan wu he yi", namely the chan wu he yi, practicing meditation, so there are "Zen martial arts".
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