| The term 'Kung Fu' does not relate to any specific | | | | to accorded a definite date to the definite birth of |
| form of martial art, but rather translates as 'skill' or | | | | Kung Fu. Some traditional historians date it as far |
| 'capability'. Scholars believe that the use of Kung Fu | | | | back as the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC). |
| to describe the Chinese martial form originated in | | | | Others place it in the period of the Contending |
| Hong Kong and Kwangtung province. There are | | | | States (475 - 221 BC) and the Yellow Emperor, |
| documents of the Jesuit priest, Pere Amiot, writing | | | | Huang Ti. Indeed, it would appear that modern Kung |
| of the 'remarkable exercises' practised by the Taoist | | | | Fu has adapted and evolved from the warring events |
| priests of his locality which he called 'Cong Fou'. | | | | of China's precedent days, with distinct traces of |
| Wu Shu is traditionally the term readily used to | | | | Mongolian, Tibetan, Indian and other cultural ideologies |
| describe the traditional Chinese martial arts, though | | | | exhibited in many styles. If there is one common |
| other descriptions like Kuo-shu, Kuo-chi, Chien-shu and | | | | reference point in tracing Kung Fu's history, it is the |
| Tao-fa have also been used every now and then. | | | | Shaolin Temple and the voyage of Buddhism from |
| (Wu Shu is the term these days used for Chinese | | | | India to China. |
| martial arts by the People's Republic of China). | | | | Buddhism reached China during the period of the |
| Precisely when Kung Fu first sprouted is unknown, | | | | Eastern Han Ming Emperor (58 - 76 Ad) and soon |
| with historians stating that Chinese martial sets most | | | | flourished. It is estimated that by 500 Ad there were |
| likely predate recorded history. Since the dawn of | | | | more than 10,000 Buddhist temples in China and |
| time there have been battles between man and | | | | many emperors became devout Buddhists. In 495 Ad |
| animal, warring tribes, etc. during which conflicts | | | | the Shaolin Temple was fabricated by the order of |
| combative techniques were executed and | | | | Emperor Wei Xiao Wen (471 - 500 Ad). The Temple |
| accumulated and passed down from generation to | | | | was built to have room for the teachings of a |
| generation. | | | | Buddhist monk named Batuo, who came to China for |
| What is particular about the Chinese martial types is | | | | Buddhist teaching in 464 Ad. As such Batuo might be |
| that many schools or styles were started by imitating | | | | considered the first Shaolin Temple monk, though |
| the battling techniques of animals similar to monkeys, | | | | there is no record of how or what (471 - 500 Ad). |
| lions, tigers, snakes, bears, etc. The adaptation of | | | | The Temple was built to suit the teachings of a |
| animal techniques stems from a impression that in | | | | Buddhist monk named Batuo, who came to China for |
| order to survive in their severe natural setting, all | | | | Buddhist teaching in 464 Ad. As such Batuo might be |
| animals (even birds and insects) were classically | | | | considered the first Shaolin Temple monk, though |
| endowed with skills for battling. | | | | there is no record of how or what Batuo passed |
| As a result techniques were born from the tiger's | | | | down by the use of religious Qigong practice, just as |
| pounce, the eagle's sharp talons and the elusiveness | | | | there is no record of how or when he died. |
| and unpredictability of the monkey. Still, it is existent | | | | |