The Relationship Between Shorinji Kempo and Song Shan Shaolin Temple
The name "Shōrinji" is a literal reading of the Chinese word "Shaolin Temple" from the Shaolin Monastery in Song Shan district (嵩山少林寺: Sūzan-shōrinji) in Henan Province (河南省) in China. Doshin So inherited the title of the 21st master of the Giwamon-ken (義和門拳) system, which is believed to have been used during the revolt of Giwadan-school (義和団乃乱) or the Boxer Rebellion for the defense of Buddhist priests in 1900 and 1901.
Also, Doshin So was very much impressed to see paintings on the wall of Byakue-den (白衣殿) chapel at Shaolin Temple. The style of the buddhist priests who are practicing the martial arts was very fresh and vital to him. He thought it was the origin of the existing martial arts techniques in China. (source: a book "Hiden Shorinji Kempo" 秘伝少林寺拳法「光文社」written by Doshin So, published by Kobun-sha Kappa Books)
A monument of Doshin So was erected in the 50s of Showa era (around 1975) representing the long term relationship of Shaolin Temple and Shorinji Kempo group. The Chinese film titled "少林寺 or Shaolin Temple" starring action star Jet Li (李 連杰) was shot at Shaolin Temple and supported by members of the Shorinji Kempo group.
According to Doshin So, he would like to put hō (法: dharma and truth) after ken (拳: fist) because even the power of the techniques need to follow dharma and truth. The name of Shorinji Kempo consists of Shaorin Temple, fist (means power and techniques) and dharma/truth.
It is said that the word kempō (拳法) is seldom used in China. The pronunciation of these two characters in Mandarin Chinese is "quan2 fa3" (the figures 2 and 3 indicate which of the 4 tones of pronunciation for these two characters.)
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