Wu Shanlin | Great Master of Revitalization 1875-1970        

     Wu Shanlin, the great-grandfather of Wu Nanfang, was the second son of Wu Gulun and the second-generation head of the Gu Lun Fist. From a young age, Wu Shanlin was exceptionally intelligent, humble, and modest, making him an ideal successor for the Gu Lun Fist, which integrates Chan (Zen) philosophy with martial arts.

     From a young age, Wu Shanlin followed his father, Wu Gulun, in farming, studying martial arts, practicing medicine, and meditating. Through decades of diligent practice, he deeply understood the essence of Chan and martial arts, inheriting the true lineage of the Gu Lun Fist. Wu Shanlin not only mastered many advanced techniques and brought the Gu Lun Fist to new heights, but he also practiced virtue and benevolence. Known for his remarkable medical skills, he was acclaimed as a "Master of Massage" in his community, a rare and highly regarded healer in the mountainous regions.

     Wu Shanlin was the first practitioner to spread the Gu Lun Fist outside the temple.

     His life was a reflection of reality: he sustained his family through farming while treating patients upon request. He cared for his brother Wu Shuanglin, who had a congenital condition, and took on the responsibility of raising his elder brother's children after his brother's death. Despite the pressures of life, Wu Shanlin understood the immense importance of preserving the Gu Lun Fist tradition, both for Shaolin and for the world. He never slackened in his practice, using every aspect of life to train in the Gu Lun Fist and understand the essence of life.

     As the saying goes, "When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on any man, it will first distress his mind, harden his muscles and bones, starve his body, and subject him to extreme poverty, so as to stimulate his will, toughen his nature, and enhance his abilities." The hardships and long years of practice honed Wu Shanlin's mind and spirit, allowing him to achieve a state of "moving without disturbance" and "being unmoved like a diamond." He reached the true state of a mundane body with a Buddha's heart, elevating the Gu Lun Fist, rooted in Shaolin, into a profound humanistic practice.

     Because of this, Wu Shanlin could seamlessly integrate Chan and martial arts into his daily life, truly mastering the supreme Chan Gong Xin Yi Ba. Li Tianji, then a deputy researcher at the National Sports Commission's Wushu Department and later the deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Wushu Association, once visited Wu Shanlin to learn more about traditional Chinese martial arts. At 88 years old, Wu Shanlin demonstrated the Xin Yi Ba, earning Li Tianji's immediate praise: "His skills are consummate." Li later recorded this encounter: "In 1963, the author observed the practice of 'Xin Yi Ba' by the elderly Shaolin monk Wu Shanlin" (see "Compilation of Secret Martial Arts Manuals," Chapter 3, "Xingyi Quan," page 479).

     According to Wu Shanlin's son Wu Youde and daughter Wu Lunying, who shared stories with Wu Nanfang, General Xu Shiyou, who trained at Shaolin Temple, visited Wu Shanlin for guidance. After joining the revolution, Xu Shiyou wrote several letters to Wu Shanlin and even sent him silver dollars.

     As societal turmoil grew, Shaolin Temple monks were frequently drawn into conflicts, leading to significant losses among the warrior monks. In 1928, exactly 100 years after the 1828 martial arts demonstration for Lin Qing, warlord Shi Yousan set fire to Shaolin Temple, destroying the Great Hall, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Sutra Library, and 18 other halls and important artifacts. Most of the Shaolin Chan and martial arts records were lost, and the monks scattered, plunging Shaolin into its darkest period.

     In 1931, Wu Shanlin, accompanied by his eldest son Wu Tianyou, returned to Shaolin Temple to teach Chan and martial arts, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Wu Gulun's birth. According to the "Dengfeng City Chronicles": "After the Shaolin Temple was burned, given the dire state of Shaolin martial arts, abbot monks Zhen Xu, Su Dian, and De Chan sought to revitalize Shaolin martial arts. They invited back the renowned lay monk and disciple of Ji Qin, Master Wu Shanlin, to train Shaolin monks, cultivating over forty martial monks, including De Gen and Xing Zhang. They also established a Shaolin martial arts course at the Shaolin Middle School, widely spreading martial arts... Zhen Xu, De Gen, and other martial monks' activities sustained the transmission of Shaolin martial arts during the Republic period" (see "Dengfeng City Chronicles," Volume Five, "Shaolin Martial Arts," page 317). Wu Shanlin devoted his life to protecting, transmitting, and restoring the Shaolin martial arts, making him a contemporary Shaolin Grandmaster. Many later famous masters and grandmasters who gained renown through Shaolin martial arts claimed to have learned from Wu Shanlin, a testament to his status as a true grandmaster.

     After the early death of his eldest son Wu Tianyou, the responsibility of passing on the Gu Lun Fist and restoring it to Shaolin fell on Wu Shanlin's second son, Wu Youde. Father and son waited for the right opportunity to return the teachings to Shaolin. However, the frequent wars during the Anti-Japanese War and the Liberation War scattered the Shaolin monks, delaying their plans. After the liberation, despite the growing national interest in Shaolin martial arts, those who were keen on martial arts were primarily interested in fighting techniques and not in the authentic Chan-based practices. Consequently, the true Chan and martial arts skills of the Gu Lun Fist found no successors outside the Wu family. During Abbot Zhen Jun's illness, Wu Shanlin treated him multiple times. Zhen Jun, with tears in his eyes, told Wu Shanlin: "Master, our treasure is now invaluable. Do not pass it on lightly!" Thus, Wu Shanlin's descendants remained hidden, living by farming, quietly passing down the Gu Lun Fist within the family, waiting for a time when the true culture of Chan and martial arts could be appreciated.

     Despite this, Wu Shanlin always maintained a serene heart. In 1970, he passed away peacefully at the age of 95. Wu Shanlin's life experiences taught future generations that true skill lies in everyday life and that spiritual practice encompasses all aspects of worldly affairs. Regardless of whether one is a layperson or a monk, rich or poor, anyone with the right heart can master the supreme Chan Gong Xin Yi Ba, allowing the ancient martial arts to shine once more.