The Romance of Shaolin (1) - Huike Seeks the Dharma

This picture-story book, "The Romance of Shaolin," is based on historical records. It chronicles the development of the Shaolin Temple and its martial arts over a period of more than 130 years, from the third year of Xiaochang in the Northern Wei Dynasty (527 AD) through the Sui Dynasty to the fourth year of Xianqing in the Tang Dynasty (659 AD). The story unfolds through seven chapters: "Huike Seeks the Dharma," "Zhineng Receives the Precepts," "Wuxing Enters the Monastery," "Righteously Accepting Tanzong," "Huiyang's Tonsure," "Tanzong Commands the Troops," and "Returning to Shaolin." Through the joys and sorrows of monks like Huida, Zhineng, Wuxing, Tanzong, and Huiyang, both before and after they entered monastic life, the book reflects the historical landscape of a time when frequent warfare plunged the common people into deep suffering.

Huike Seeks the Dharma

The Shaolin Temple, nestled at the northern foot of Mount Song, one of China's five sacred mountains, is a renowned ancient monastery. Founded in 495 AD during the Northern Wei Dynasty, a period of political division and cultural fusion in China, the temple is surrounded by majestic peaks and serene valleys. Its iconic red walls and green tiles stand out against the lush forest, creating a picturesque and tranquil scene.

1. The Shaolin Temple is situated at the northern foot of the central sacred Mount Song, characterized by its remarkable peaks and deep, winding valleys. Amidst the dense, green forest, the temple's red walls and jade-green roof tiles create a striking contrast, marking it as an ancient and famous monastery known both in China and abroad. It was founded during the 19th year of the Taihe era of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (495 AD).

2. In the third year of the Xiaochang era of Emperor Xiaoming of the Wei Dynasty (527 AD), the eminent Indian monk Bodhidharma came to China to spread the teachings of Buddhism. At the same time, he also immersed himself in Chinese culture, studying its medicine and martial arts.

3. Bodhidharma eventually made his way to the Shaolin Temple, where he was determined to transmit the teachings of "Chan" (known as Zen in Japanese). Chan is a major school of Buddhism that emphasizes seated meditation as its primary method of practice. The abbot of Shaolin Temple offered to arrange a quiet room for Bodhidharma, but Bodhidharma insisted on retreating to a stone cave among the Five Breast Peaks behind the temple to engage in solitary meditation, facing a wall.

4. Prolonged periods of sitting led to fatigue. Drawing inspiration from the movements of nature—the slithering of snakes, the gait of tigers, the leaping of apes, and the soaring of cranes—Bodhidharma developed a set of exercises to stretch his limbs and invigorate his body at dawn and dusk. Over time, he combined these movements with Chinese martial arts to create a set of techniques known as the "Eighteen Arhat Hands."

5. During Bodhidharma's wall-gazing meditation, the abbot of Shaolin Temple needed to send someone to deliver his meals. He first asked Faming, then Faben, but both of them made excuses and were unwilling to go. At that moment, a young monk named Huike came before the abbot and expressed his willingness to go up the mountain to deliver meals to Bodhidharma.

6. Seeing this, the abbot put his palms together and said, "Excellent, excellent. All things in this world are bound by destiny. I had intended to promote Faben and Faming, but alas, they are not fated to receive the robe and bowl of the Chan Master Bodhidharma. Huike, you are the one with the affinity. I will send you up the mountain. You may go."

7. Huike was naturally frail, and the mountain path was steep. Each time he delivered the meal to the mountain, he was utterly exhausted.

8. Observing his condition, Bodhidharma had Huike sit in meditation and rest while he ate.

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