Shaolin Temple in Henan Province

21. Shaolin Temple

After buying a ticket you can enter many of the exhibits at the Shaolin Temple. One of which is the Monastery. At the Monastery the first main Hall is a library containing Zen texts. After the main hall is a Forest of Steles. Beyond this at the back is the small chapel dedicated to Boddhidharma the founder of the Monastery. At the back is the main Hall of a 1,000 Buddha Temple, used as a martial arts practice hall. Inside are ancient but lively frescos of Buddha's disciples and the stone lingam in front of which Boddhidharma is said to have sat motionless for nine years. Kung fu blows allegedly made the depressions in the stone floor. On the right of the gymnasium is a smaller temple whose wall paintings depict incidents from the history of the monastery. Kung fu battles are so realistically portrayed that experts can recognize the different holds. In the small hall opposite, a monk will bless a souvenir for 50 fen. Outside the monastery (turn right when leaving) is a forest of 200 stone cenotaphs to early abbots. Out in back is the Da Mo Cave.