Shaolin School, The

A pugilistic school that had long been acknowledged as the leading institution of the martial arts world; headquartered at the Shaolin Temple (Shao4 Lin2 Si4 少林寺) on Mount Song (Song4 Shan1 嵩山).

Known for the following martial arts (in order of appearance):

• The Great Veda Baton (Chapter 9).
• The 72 Consummate Techniques of Shaolin, including the Finger of Flower Offerings, the Finger of the Formless Raid and the Finger of the Pattra Leaf (Chapter 10).

Members included:

(1) Monks from the 'Xuan' (Xuan2 玄, meaning 'profound') generation

• Xuanbei 玄悲 - described in a letter from Abbot Xuanci to the Emperor Baoding as 'on the way to Dali with four disciples'. Known to be well-versed in Buddhism and highly-skilled in martial arts. Younger brother-at-arms of Xuanci. Sent by Xuanci to notify Baoding about the 'Four Great Evils' and assist in handling them. Killed at the Temple of Bodily Discipline in Luliang Province. Considered by Baoding, the Yellow-Browed Monk, Duan Zhengchun and Gao Shengtai to be too highly-skilled in martial arts to be killed with such ease, except by a hidden weapon (projectile) that was coated with Antiaris Toxicaria sap. Thought by Abbot Wuye of the Temple of Bodily Discipline to have been murdered by the Murong Family of Suzhou (Chapter 9). Wang Yuyan was very sure that Xuanbei was not murdered by Murong Fu because Murong did not know the Great Veda Baton that killed the monk (Chapter 12).
• Xuanci 玄慈 - the abbot of Shaolin; see People.
• Xuandu 玄渡 - described by Jiumozhi as being 'far better' in the practice of the Finger of Flower Offerings (Chapter 10).

(2) Monks from the 'Hui' (Hui4 慧, meaning 'wise') generation (one generation after 'Xuan')

• Huizhen 慧真 - middle-aged monk with a wizened (literally 'dried-up') appearance; sent by the abbot of Shaolin to deliver a letter to the Emperor Baoding. Disciple of Xuanbei; unhappy about the Yellow-Browed Monk's criticisms about his teacher (Chapter 9).
• Huiguan 慧观 - middle-aged monk; accompanied Huizhen on his task. Disciple of Xuanbei; younger brother-at-arms of Huizhen. Unhappy about the Yellow-Browed Monk's criticisms about his teacher (Chapter 9).