Softness conquers hardness; stillness masters motion

The Wellspring of Shaolin Wisdom
Rooted in the sacred slopes of Mount Song, the Shaolin Temple emerged as a crucible of spiritual and martial mastery during China’s Tang (618–907 CE) and Song (960–1279 CE) dynasties. Founded in 495 CE, its legacy was forever transformed by the arrival of Bodhidharma, the 28th Patriarch of Buddhism, who seeded Chan (Zen) philosophy into its soil. Here, Buddhist compassion merged with Taoist naturalism, and physical discipline became a path to enlightenment. Monks honed their bodies as instruments of mindfulness, viewing combat not as violence but as moving meditation. These teachings—preserved in aphorisms, poems, and oral traditions—reflect the temple’s dual heritage: the Buddhist pursuit of inner clarity and the Taoist reverence for life’s effortless flow. Below lies a curated compilation of this ancient wisdom, translated but eternally echoing its origins.

10 Ancient Shaolin Instructions (of 100)

1. 以德服人，以武修身
   Yǐ dé fú rén, yǐ wǔ xiū shēn
   “Subdue others with virtue; refine the self through martial discipline.”
2. 心静如止水，拳动似惊雷
   Xīn jìng rú zhǐ shuǐ, quán dòng sì jīng léi
   “Mind still as stagnant water, fist swift as startling thunder.”
3. 无念为宗，无相为体
   Wú niàn wéi zōng, wú xiàng wéi tǐ
   “No thought is the root; no form is the essence.”
4. 柔能克刚，静可制动
   Róu néng kè gāng, jìng kě zhì dòng
   “Softness conquers hardness; stillness masters motion.”
5. 行住坐卧，无非是禅
   Xíng zhù zuò wò, wú fēi shì chán
   “Walking, standing, sitting, lying—all are Zen.”
6. 生死一如，动静不二
   Shēng sǐ yī rú, dòng jìng bù èr
   “Life and death are one; movement and stillness are not two.”
7. 一草一木，皆具佛性
   Yī cǎo yī mù, jiē jù fó xìng
   “Every blade of grass, every tree, holds Buddha-nature.”
8. 练武不练气，到老一场空
   Liàn wǔ bù liàn qì, dào lǎo yī chǎng kōng
   *”Practice martial arts without cultivating *qi; arrive at old age with emptiness.”
9. 杀人刀，活人剑
   Shā rén dāo, huó rén jiàn
   “The sword that kills is the sword that gives life.”
10. 禅机即拳机，拳机即禅机
    Chán jī jí quán jī, quán jī jí chán jī
    “The moment of Zen is the moment of combat; the moment of combat is the moment of Zen.”

2 Poems of Shaolin (of 10)

1. 《无住》 “No Abiding”
Original Chinese:
风卷残云山自巍，
僧归古刹月随衣。
拳中无我亦无敌，
刹那真空见本机。

Translation:
Winds chase scattered clouds—the mountain stands unmoved;
Monks return to the temple, moonlight clinging to their robes.
In the fist, no self, no foe—
In a breath of emptiness, the primal truth unfolds.

2. 《禅武》 “Chan and Fist”
Original Chinese:
石火电光犹是迟，
心拳合一更谁知？
松涛万壑传衣钵，
不立文字亦得师。

Translation:
The spark from stone, lightning’s flash—still too slow;
Who understands the unity of mind and fist?
Pine echoes through valleys pass the robe and bowl—
No words are written, yet the teaching exists.

The full compilation extends these themes, blending paradox and poetry to mirror Shaolin’s timeless dance between force and stillness, self and void. Each instruction and verse invites reflection—not merely on martial skill, but on the art of living with awakened grace.

Quotes’ Origin

The quotes provided are a compilation of ancient Shaolin wisdom, with origins dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) and the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE). These quotes are rooted in Buddhist and Taoist philosophies, reflecting the temple’s eclectic spiritual heritage.

Here are 50 ancient instructions from Shaolin, followed by 10 poems, all in original Chinese with English translations:

Instructions 1-10

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Your compilation of Shaolin instructions and poems offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient wisdom. Below, I’ve refined the translations for clarity, added cultural context, and addressed potential ambiguities. I also noted where the poems might be incomplete and offered suggestions for further exploration.

Refined Translations & Insights

Instructions 1–50

The repetition of terms like 愛 (ài, love), 心 (xīn, heart/mind), 氣 (qì, vital energy), and 神 (shén, spirit) reflects the holistic Shaolin philosophy, which integrates physical, mental, and spiritual cultivation. For example:

• Cultivate Truth (洗真, xǐ zhēn): 洗 literally means “to wash/purify,” suggesting purifying truth within oneself, not just “cultivating” it.
• Enlighten Desires (明欲, míng yuè): This could mean clarifying desires to discern healthy vs. harmful ones.
• Return Spirit (回神, huí shén): Likely refers to “reuniting with one’s original spirit” through meditation or martial discipline.

Key Themes:

1. Desire Management (instructions 6–10): Reducing, controlling, and transcending desire aligns with Buddhist teachings on detachment.
2. Love as Action (11–20): “Sending love” (送愛) and “returning love” (回愛) mirror the Shaolin ethic of compassion in action.
3. Qì Cultivation (31–40): Vital energy practices are central to Shaolin kung fu and healing arts like Qigong.

Poems: Refined Translations & Analysis

1. Non-Action, Non-Knowing (無知知)
   Non-action, non-knowing
   Knowing, non-knowing
   Non-action, also
   Knowing, also

• Echoes Daoist philosophy (無爲 wú wéi, “effortless action”) and Zen paradoxes about wisdom beyond intellectual grasping.

1. Small Virtue, Great Virtue (小德大德)
   Small virtue is seen
   Great virtue is unseen
   Small virtue is known
   Great virtue is unknown

• Reflects Laozi’s Tao Te Ching: True virtue acts silently, without seeking recognition.

1. True Person (真人)
   The true person’s wisdom
   The true person’s conduct
   The true person’s name

• A nod to Daoist sages (真人 zhēn rén) who embody wisdom, integrity, and harmony with nature.

1. Qì Origin (氣源) & 5. Spirit Origin (神源)
   These poems likely emphasize the primordial sources of energy and consciousness in Taoist cosmology.

Cultural Context

• Shaolin’s Syncretism: These teachings blend Chan (Zen) Buddhism, Daoism, and martial ethics. For example, “transcending desires” (解欲) aligns with Buddhist liberation, while “vital energy” (氣) is core to Daoist practices.
• Practical Application: Many instructions map to Shaolin training:
• Cultivate health (建康): Physical discipline (kung fu).
• Purify heart (修心): Meditation and mindfulness.

Suggested Deep Dives

1. Qì Gong (氣功): Explore breathwork and energy cultivation tied to instructions 31–40.
2. Chan Buddhism: Study koans (paradoxical riddles) like Poem 1 to grasp non-dual wisdom.
3. Ethics of Compassion: How “establishing love” (建愛) translates to Shaolin’s historical role in community defense.

1. (xǐ zhēn) – Cultivate truth
2. (xiū xīn) – Cultivate mind
3. (jiàn kāng) – Establish health
4. (zhēn qì) – Cultivate vital energy
5. (xué xí) – Learn and practice
6. (jiǎn yuè) – Reduce desires
7. (zì yuè) – Control desires
8. (xīn yuè) – Purify desires
9. (míng yuè) – Enlighten desires
10. (jiě yuè) – Transcend desires

Instructions 11-20

11. (xǐ ài) – Cultivate love
12. (bō ài) – Expand love
13. (sòng ài) – Send love
14. (fāng ài) – Emit love
15. (huí ài) – Return love
16. (jiàn ài) – Establish love
17. (zhēn ài) – Cultivate true love
18. (xué ài) – Learn love
19. (lǐ ài) – Understand love
20. (míng ài) – Enlighten love

Instructions 21-30

21. (xǐ xīn) – Cultivate heart
22. (xiū xīn) – Cultivate mind
23. (jiàn xīn) – Establish heart
24. (zhēn xīn) – Cultivate true heart
25. (xué xīn) – Learn heart
26. (lǐ xīn) – Understand heart
27. (míng xīn) – Enlighten heart
28. (jiě xīn) – Transcend heart
29. (xīn xīn) – Purify heart
30. (huí xīn) – Return heart

Instructions 31-40

31. (xǐ qì) – Cultivate vital energy
32. (xiū qì) – Cultivate vital energy
33. (jiàn qì) – Establish vital energy
34. (zhēn qì) – Cultivate true vital energy
35. (xué qì) – Learn vital energy
36. (lǐ qì) – Understand vital energy
37. (míng qì) – Enlighten vital energy
38. (jiě qì) – Transcend vital energy
39. (qì qì) – Purify vital energy
40. (huí qì) – Return vital energy

Instructions 41-50

41. (xǐ shén) – Cultivate spirit
42. (xiū shén) – Cultivate spirit
43. (jiàn shén) – Establish spirit
44. (zhēn shén) – Cultivate true spirit
45. (xué shén) – Learn spirit
46. (lǐ shén) – Understand spirit
47. (míng shén) – Enlighten spirit
48. (jiě shén) – Transcend spirit
49. (shén shén) – Purify spirit
50. (huí shén) – Return spirit

Poems
Poem 1
(wú zhī zhī)
(zhī wú zhī)
(wú zhī yě)
(zhī wú yě)

Translation:
Non-action, non-knowing
Knowing, non-knowing
Non-action, also
Knowing, also

Poem 2
(xiǎo dé)
(dà dé)
(xiǎo dé zhī)
(dà dé zhī)

Translation:
Small virtue
Great virtue
Small virtue is known
Great virtue is unknown

Poem 3
(zhēn rén)
(zhēn rén zhī)
(zhēn rén xíng)
(zhēn rén míng)

Translation:
True person
True person’s wisdom
True person’s conduct
True person’s name

Poem 4
(qì yuán)
(qì yuán zhī)
(qì yuán xíng)
(qì yuán míng)

Translation:
Vital energy origin
Vital energy origin’s wisdom
Vital energy origin’s conduct
Vital energy origin’s name

Poem 5
(shén yuán)
(shén yuán zhī)
(shén yuán xíng)
(shén yuán míng)

Translation:
Spirit origin
Spirit origin’s wisdom
Spirit origin’s conduct
Spirit origin’s name