Where did the legend of Shaolin martial mastery come from?

Post date: 2020-10-21 16:07:59

I'm curious about the origin of the legendary martial arts skills and training at the Shaolin temple. I know there's some basis in reality (the monks fought in a couple wars, etc) and I know that there was a resurgence in interest after the wuxia cinema craze of the '70s. But there has to be more than that!

I'm also aware in a general way of the Legend of Condor Heroes books (I haven't read them because I hear the translations are weak) but I get the feeling that there is more to it than that - that these books were a modernization and revival of something older (Three Kingdoms and Journey to the West for sure, but more specific than that). Where did the legend of Shaolin's technique and power emerge from, and are there other legends like it?

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