The reciprocal conversion involving yin and yang is the kernel thesis of traditional Chinese culture

The reciprocal conversion involving yin and yang is the kernel thesis of traditional Chinese culture. The thesis is important not only to Confucianism and Taoism but also to Chinese Buddhism. Shaolin gong-fu is regarded as one of the dharma-gates of Buddhism. Although the thesis of yin and yang is involved in the philosophy underpinning Shaolin gong-fu, yet Shaolin gong-fu has its own characteristics which are diverse manifestations of Buddhist doctrines. Apart from Shaolin gong-fu, there are numerous schools of wushu in China. However the highest goal pursued in wushu training by all the other schools of wushu in China is “tactical as well as strategic flexibility”. By the expression “tactical as well as strategic flexibility” is meant that in the course of a martial-art confrontation, every move made by a martial artist taking the offensive or being on the defensive, should be tactically or strategically so flexible as to be completely unpredictable for his opponent. But the highest goal pursued in training by Shaolin gong-fu is different. Gong-fu monks of Shaolin Monastery seek to use Shaolin gong-fu as a means to intensify their self-cultivation effort and to improve their constitution and do not regard the acquisition of tactical and strategic flexibility as the top goal of their gong-fu training. The highest goal pursued in gong-fu training by a monk of Shaolin Monastery is seeking the ultimate enlightenment, the attainment of which would enable him to possess “invulnerable equanimity”. By “invulnerable equanimity” is meant whatever transpires in his surroundings, a Shaolin martial artist remains absolutely unperturbed and unconcerned. And he has the willpower to set his every action completely at the command of his Chan faith which is in turn at the command of rationality. In that case he would be a human being who knows no obstacles, no fears, and no impetuosity even when he is humiliated. “Invulnerable equanimity” is a manifestation of the Chan-based wisdom. In the work entitled A Canon of Pugilism of the Shaolin School, there is a passage which reads: “Training in Shaolin gong-fu, if dissociated from Chan self-cultivation, would entail only a strong constitution. A Shaolin gong-fu training program conceived and devised by the Buddhist Chan Order must focus on inculcating a trainee with the tenets of Chan. Otherwise a trainee would become a soulless creature or brute. Gong-fu and the Chan tenets should never be dichotomized. It has never occurred to other schools of martial arts that wushu training should be associated with a morality. That is why they cannot ascend and have never ascended to the status of a topnotch school of martial arts.”