Shaolin Temple of Today

The current government allocated large sums fo funds to restore the Monastery. Now the halls, pavilions and corridors have regained their former grandure. Above the front gate hangs a sign in Emperor Kang Xi's handwriting: "Shaolin Monastery" In front of the entrance gate is a pair of stone lions. Entering the gate, one sees two rows of stone tablets including one presented by Japanese monk Shao Yuan, one by Zong Daochen, founder of the Shaolin Boxing Association , and one by Chen Pei from Wahlum Society of the United States. In the second, third and fourth courtyards are the heavenly King Hall, the Daxiong Hall the scripture depository. The abbot's room is in the fifth courtyard. Emperor Qian Long stayed a night there when he came to visit Mt. Song, thus the room is also called "Dragon Hall." There is a pavilion that has a story: Monk Hui Ke stood deep in the snow outside the cave in which Monk Bodhidharma sat in deep meditation. The young monk pleaded to be taken as the sage's disciple. The old monk said , "Not until the heaven makes the snow red." Monk Hui Ke cut off one of his arms and the blood dyed the snow red. Later he succeeded Monk Bodhidharma as the abbot. This pavilion was built to commemorate his devotion.