SHAOLIN MONASTERY, THE - HISTORY, RELIGION AND THE CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS

A real gift to martial arts enthusiasts and historians alike. Combining scholarly caution and respectful appreciation, Shahar shows how much and how little can be learned about the origins of the monastery in the fifth century, its close relationship with the Tang emperors (618-907), its flowering as a religious and military institution in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), and the suspicion with which it was regarded by the Qing state (1644-1911). This refreshingly original study is indispensable for understanding both the history and the hype.