Bian Deng Learns Wushu to Fight Pirates

Bian Deng was a peasant. He wanted to fight the Japanese pirates who were plundering and killing the Chinese. But he has no fighting skills. He had heard that Shaolin monks were excellent Wushu masters and 13 monks from there once saved the life of Emperor Tan Zong of the Tang dynasty. He went to Shaolin Monastery and became a monk. However , he was not taught of Wushu but sent to the kitchen. He felt greatly disappointed.

Then he heard of a story about monk by the name of Jinna Luosan, who had defeated an imperial army single-handedly with a cudgel. Monk Jinna Luosan was a cook too. Putting his mind at ease, monk Bian Deng spent his mind at watching other monks practice and he practiced by himself, using a coal shovel, a poker and a spade as weapons. In three years, he became good at cooking and all the weapons and boxing as well.

He joined his fellow monks to go to front. The abbot felt a tinge of guilt since he did not teach Bian Deng any Wushu skills despite his diligence. He persuaded Bian Deng to stay on and promised to teach his. Bian Deng said, “ I have learned a bit of Wushu." The abbot asked, "You have been busy with cooking all these years. When did you learn Wushu?"

Bian Deng told him he practiced during his sparetime. Still skeptical, the abbot asked Bian Deng to demonstrate and ordered the most skilled Wushu monk to be his contestant. Bian Deng fought with flexibility and confidence. His opponent was defeated.

In the battles against the Japanese pirates, Bian Deng fought heroically. His name was known far and wide. Once a Japanese envoy came to the Chinese garrison pretending to pay tribute but actually to challenge Bian Deng to a Wushu contest. Bian Deng agreed. He fought a dozen pirates. With no fear at all Monk Bian Deng jumped into the thick of the pirates and grapped two of them , holding them immobile. The other pirates dared not to fight.