Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning! I’m a tour guide from CITS. My name is Kathy. I’m very glad to accompany you all to visit the Shaolin Temple. I’ll try my best to make your tour an enjoyable one. I expect your support and cooperation. If you have any questions or demands, please let me know and I’ll do my utmost to accommodate your needs. Thank you!//
Now I’ll talk about the Shaolin Temple briefly. Shaolin Temple, in the region of Song Mountain, Dengfeng City, Henan Province, which is only eight miles of Dengfeng and about 50 miles southwest of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province. Shaolin Temple is probably the most famous temple in China, not only because of its long history and its role in Chinese Buddhism, but also because of its martial arts or Wushu Chan. It is reputed to be 'the Number One Temple under Heaven'. The temple is the cradle of the Chinese Zen Buddhism and the Shaolin Martial Arts such as Shaolin Cudgel. //
Shaolin Temple was established in 495 during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). Batuo, an Indian monk, came to Luoyang, the ancient capital, for spreading Buddhism at that period. Emperor Xiaowen was a believer of Buddhism so he decided to build the temple in the Songshan Mountains to house Batuo, who translated many Buddhist works and had a few hundred followers there.
Shaolin Temple embraces many exciting attractions, such as the Hall of Heavenly Kings (Tianwangdian), the Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian), the Pagoda Forest, the Dharma Cave and the Shaolin Temple Martial Art Training Center. Now we arrive. Please get off and remember to take all you valuable objects.//
First we see the Shanmen Hall（山門）. Hung on its top is a tablet reading 'Shaolin Temple'. The tablet was inscribed by the Emperor Kangxi (1622 - 1723) during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). Under the stairs of the hall crouches two stone lions made in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The hall enshrines the Maitreya Buddha. Two sides of the corridor behind the hall's gate are paved with inscriptions on stone steles made during several different dynasties.
Next we arrive at the Hall of Heavenly Kings（天王殿）. The gate of the hall is guarded by two figures depicting Vajra (Buddhist warrior attendants). Inside the hall are figures of the Four Heavenly Kings who are responsible for inspecting peoples' behavior, helping the troubled, and blessing the people. //
Then we come to the Mahavira Hall（大雄寶殿）. The complex's center is right before your eyes. Both important celebrations and regular prayers are held here. 18 Buddhist Arhats stand along the eastern and the southern walls of the hall. Buddhas of the Middle, East and West are enshrined in this hall, respectively Sakyamuni Buddha, Pharmacist Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. Figures of Kingnaro (the founder of Shaolin Cudgel) and Dharma (the founder of Chinese Zen Buddhism) stand beside those three Buddhas, a placement which is very different from other Mahavira Halls. At the feet of the pillars in this Mahavira Hall are stone lions that are more than one meter (about 3.33 feet) high. On the ground there are about 50 small pits, 20 centimeters (about 7.87 inches) deep. It is said that they are the footprints left by monks when they practiced Shaolin Martial Arts.//
Now we arrive at the most sigificant construction, that is, “the Pavilion of standing in the snow”(立雪亭). It is said that Damou, the founder of Chanzong order, used the kasaya and alms bowl he brought fron India as a token of legacy to successors. At that time he had a lot of disciples, but the only one worthy of inheriting the legacy and becoming his successor was a monk named Huike. According to a popular legend, Huike devoted himself heart and soul to learning from Damo for many years, but still could not really understand the essence of buddhism. On one cold winter, he begged Damo to explain the quintessence of Chanzong to him, but Damo only sat there, keeping his mouth shut. It was snowing fast, Huike continued to stand in the deep snow for quite a while, then Damo said to him, “Get away! I’ll explain it to you when red blood falls from heaven.” Huike drew out his sword and cut off his left arm. Blood splashed on the white snow and dyed it red, then Damou knew he was really devoted. To commemotate the holy man who sacrificed his arm for the sake of religion, people built a pavilion in Shaolin Temple, and named it “the Pavilion of standing in the snow”.//
Now we come to the Pagoda Forest（塔林）. A stupa(浮屠) is a brick structure in which the cenerary urn of a deceased Buddhist monk is preserved,generally called pagoda. So the Pagoda Forest is actually a graveyard for Buddhist dignitaries through the ages. According to historical recordings, there were origionally more than 500 pagodas, but only 227 have remained. They occupy an area of about 14,000 square meters. On average, the pagodas are less than 15 meters (about 49 feet) high. The layer and the shape of a pagoda depend on many factors, such as one's Buddhist status, attainment and prestige during his lifetime. The Pagoda Forest in Shaolin Temple is the largest of China's pagoda complexes. The Pagoda Forest is not only the last resting place of the Shaolin Temple, but also a wonderful view, and a treasure house for students of architecture, painting, calligraphy and sculpture.//
Outside the temple we continue walking to the northwest, and then we will take a look at two monasteries, named the Ancestor's Monastery（初祖庵） and the Second Ancestor's Monastery（二祖庵）. The first monastery is built by a Dharma's disciple to commemorate Dharma's nine years of meditation in a cave. It has a big hall supported by 16 stone pillars on whose shafts are exquisitely carved warriors, dancing dragons and phoenixes. The second monastery is a nursing home of the second ancestor Huike who cut his left arm in order to show his sincerity to study Buddhism from Dharma. In front of the monastery are four springs created by Dharma to help Huike to fetch water easily. They are called 'Spring Zhuoxi' and each has its own distinctive flavor.//
The cave we see next is the Dharma Cave（達(dá)摩洞）. In this cave Dharma patiently faced the wall and meditated for 9 years. Finally, he reached the immortal spiritual state and created the Buddhist Zen. The cave is seven meters deep (about 23 feet) and three meters high (about 9.8 feet). Many stone inscriptions are carved on both its sides. There is a Meditating Stone in the cave. It is said Dharma's shadow was reflected upon the stone and embedded on it because of the long time of his meditation facing the wall. Unfortunately the stone was ruined during the war.
After passing the Dharma Cave, we come to the Buddhist Living Quarters（十方禪院） for transient monks. It is on the south bank of the Shaoxi River opposite the temple. First built in 1512 of the Ming Dynasty, it was repaired in the Qing Dynasty. The quarters are noted for the simple and distinctive design. It collapsed in 1958 and then repaired in 1993.//
The Shaolin Temple Wushu (Martial Arts) Training Center comes last. Its perfect scenery makes it an ideal place for practicing the Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu. Shaolin monks have been practicing Kung Fu for over 1,500 years. The system was invented by Dharma who taught the monks basic methods to improve their health and defend themselves. The Martial art performance shows the true Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu. For example, Tong Zi Gong, performed by teenagers, is a kind of martial art to train one's flexibility and strength.
In a word, Shaolin Temple is worthy of a visit. It will give you a better understanding of Chinese Buddhism and the martial arts.
I hope you’ll take back happy memories of your trip here and you are welcome to come back sometime in the future.
Thank you!//
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