Songshan Shaolin Temple and the re-establishment of the North Shaolin North and South Shaolin said the dispute
However, not long ago, the abbot of the Songshan Shaolin Temple, Shi Yongxin finally came forward to clarify: in all the canonical books of the Shaolin Temple, has never seen the "South Shaolin Temple" words, but "North Shaolin Temple "is there. However, the "North Shaolin Temple", not referring to the Songshan Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple plans to use 8 to 10 years to complete the restoration and reconstruction of the North Shaolin Temple and build it into a world famous temple.
Shi Yongxin words, immediately aroused public opinion and strong concern in the academic community. Then, history in the end there is no "South Shaolin Temple"? "North Shaolin Temple" and where? Why Shi Yongxin to restore the "North Shaolin Temple"? What kind of idea is implied behind the reconstruction of the "North Shaolin Temple"?
Fuqing City and Putian City, the "South Shaolin" public case
These years, the news about the "South Shaolin" is full of news, just one Fujian Province, there are as many as three Shaolin temples. Today, the widely circulated claims are "Quanzhou South Shaolin", "Putian South Shaolin" and "Fuqing South Shaolin" in Fujian Province.
In order to prove that the local Shaolin Temple is the "Southern Shaolin", the government of Putian City, Fujian Province, as early as April 25, 1992, held a press conference in the Great Hall of the People, claiming that the "Southern Shaolin" is in Putian. However, only one year later, Fuqing City, also in Fujian Province, claimed that they had found the site of the Shaolin Temple. So, what exactly is their basis? Can they be justified?
Putian City, said the relevant parties, according to "Xinghua Province" records: Putian "South Shaolin Temple" formerly known as "Linquan Yuan", built in the Southern Dynasty Chen Yongding first year (557 AD), 11 years earlier than the Putian County, Songshan Shaolin Temple built 61 years later. About Quanzhou Shaolin Temple, according to "Jinjiang County Records" and "Quanzhou House Records" records: Quanzhou Shaolin Temple was built in the Tang Qianfu (AD 874 ~ 879 years) years, the original name of the "Zhenguo Dongchanshaolin Temple", now known as "East Zen Temple". As for the Fuqing South Shaolin Temple, in some historical books such as "eight Min Tongzhi", "Sanshan Zhi" and the Emperor Qianlong Qin Ding "Siku Quanshu", although there is "Fuqing Shaolin", but the time of the creation of the text is not detailed.
Hangzhou Normal College professor Zhou Weiliang is a Shaolin expert, he said, about the "South Shaolin" said, is still a public case, is still inconclusive.
"As the abbot of the Shaolin Temple, my status, it is not good to comment on the 'Southern Shaolin' thing ...... I can only say one thing - - in all of our Shaolin Temple. -In all the canonical books of our Shaolin Temple, I have never seen the words 'Southern Shaolin'. However, 'Northern Shaolin Temple' is there, but that word 'northern', does not refer to our Songshan Shaolin Temple." Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin said.
How many "Shaolin temples" were there in history?
Since there is no record of "Southern Shaolin" in the Shaolin Temple's canonical texts, where did "Northern Shaolin" come from? In Chinese history, how many "Shaolin Temple"? This also has to start from the Shaolin Temple, the founder of the Xue Ting Fuyu monk.
In the early years of the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongol army marched south, poisoning people. For this reason, Xue Ting Fu Yu, who was then the elder of Shaolin Temple, traveled day and night to persuade the Mongols to be compassionate. Later, after the Bianliang city ruled by the Jin regime was broken by the Mongol army, there was no massacre of the residents in the city, which is a true story known as "Xue Ting Fu Yu Saves the World" in history. From then on, he became the chief monk of the world, and all the monasteries were under his control, which was the most glorious period in the history of Shaolin Temple.
At that time, under his leadership, the "Five Shaolin" were established in Hualin, Jizhou (present-day Jixian County, Tianjin), Taiyuan, Chang'an, and Luoyang, with the exception of the one in Jizhou, which did not bear the name of Shaolin Temple. Today, the North Shaolin Temple in Jixian County, Tianjin, is the only Shaolin temple with the name "North Shaolin Temple".
Subsequently, Xue Ting Fu Yu's disciples to request the approval of the Shaolin Temple to protect the temple under the courtyard **** 23, all in the Central Plains, but also have their own independent temple name, never seen to "Shaolin" title. This true history, in 1336 cast on the big iron bell, there is a clear record. Why named "North Shaolin Temple"? Shi Yongxin said, "North Shaolin Temple" is a branch of the Songshan Shaolin Temple, it is in the north of the Songshan Shaolin Temple, so it is called "North Shaolin", until today, we still officially recognize it. "In addition to this, we officially recognize the 'Empty Phase Temple' located on Xiong'er Mountain in Sanmenxia, which is the 'lower courtyard' of our Songshan Shaolin Temple." Shi Yongxin said.