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.
Wuxing Enters the Monastery#
The year is 604 AD. The ambitious and ruthless Prince Yang Guang has murdered his father, the Emperor Wen of Sui, and usurped the throne. Known to history as Emperor Yang of Sui (Sui Yangdi), he would become one of China's most infamous tyrants. His reign was marked by grandiose construction projects, such as the Grand Canal and the rebuilding of the Great Wall, and costly military campaigns. These endeavors were funded by crushing taxes and fueled by the forced labor of millions, leading to widespread suffering and resentment across the empire and inevitably sparking massive rebellions.
- In the fourth year of the Hongshou era (604 AD), Yang Guang assassinated Emperor Wen and established himself as Emperor, known as Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. He was a man of shameless debauchery and boundless extravagance. He launched massive construction projects that exhausted the people and drained the treasury, making him one of the most notorious tyrants in history.
2. The imperial court imposed exorbitant taxes, and the burden of forced labor on the people grew heavier by the day. Coupled with layers of exploitation by local officials, the common folk were plunged into misery. Unable to endure any longer, they gathered in the mountains and forests to raise the banner of rebellion.
3. On Jigong Mountain, a rebel force of about seven or eight hundred people had gathered. There were three leaders: the chief, Bai Yunshan, a descendant of Bai Guangping, a general from the Gai Wu Uprising of the Northern Wei period, was an upright and honest man. The second-in-command, Jiang Biao, and the third-in-command, Su Kui, both came from humble, grassroots origins.
4. One day, Bai Yunshan led some of his men down the mountain to "take from the rich and give to the poor" by raiding a wealthy household. As he watched the impoverished villagers carry away life-saving grain with expressions of excitement, he felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
5. By this time, the other rebels had already started heading back up the mountain. He and a few of his personal bodyguards, however, waited until the very last person had received their share of grain before slowly beginning their return journey.
6. Suddenly, the sound of crying carried on the wind. The sound was sorrowful and intermittent, and though it was not loud, it was heart-wrenching to hear. He followed the sound, searching slowly, and soon spotted an old woman in a mountain hollow. She had already fashioned a noose on a tree branch and was about to hang herself.
7. Yunshan was greatly alarmed and was about to rush forward to save her, but the old woman had already placed her neck in the noose and kicked her feet off the ground. There was no time to lose. Yunshan quickly took a bow and arrow from one of his bodyguards, drew the string, and with a "swoosh," let the arrow fly.
8. The hemp rope snapped under the force of the arrow, and the old woman fell to the ground. Yunshan rushed forward, gathered her in his arms, and began calling out to her.
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