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{{Short description|Chinese martial art discipline}}
{{about||a general overview of Shaolin martial arts, both Northern and Southern|Shaolin Kung Fu|the temple|Shaolin Monastery}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2007}}
{{Chinese martial arts}}

In its broadest sense, '''Northern Shaolin''' ({{zh|c=北少林|p=Běishàolín|cy=Bak-siu-làhm}}) is the external (as opposed to [[Neijia|internal]]) [[martial art]]s of [[North China|Northern China]], referring to those styles from the Northern [[Shaolin Monastery]] in [[Henan]] and specifically to the style practice by ''Gù Rǔzhāng'' (顧汝章 1894–1952; also known as Ku Yu-cheung), the ''Sōngshān Shí Lù Shàolínquán'' (嵩山十路少林拳) / Song Mountain Ten Road Shaolin Boxing.

In the 20th century, the style became known simply as '''Northern Shaolin''' or ''Northern Shaolin Boxing School'' ({{zh|c=北少林拳門|cy=Bak-siu-làhm Kyun-mun}} <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sinobrasileira.org/index.php?id=4&subid=12&ln=pt|title= Academia Sino-Brasileira de Kung Fu|accessdate=2010-04-15}}</ref>).

==Northern styles==

[[File:Manchuguard.jpg|thumb|[[Manchu]] [[Eight Banners|banner]] soldier, a caste of professional martial artists active in Chinese society as recently as a hundred years ago]]
Northern styles/Běi pài (北派) feature deeply extended postures—such as the horse, bow, drop, and dragon stances—connected by quick fluid transitions, able to quickly change the direction in which force is issued.<ref>Jwing-ming Yang and Jeffery A. Bolt (1981), Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu, Unique Publications, {{ISBN|0-86568-020-5}}</ref><ref>Brian Klingborg (1999), The Secrets of Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu, Tuttle Pub, {{ISBN|0-8048-3164-5}}</ref><ref>Jeffery A. Bolt and Jwing-ming Yang (2000), Northern Shaolin Sword: Form, Techniques & Applications, YMAA Publication Center, {{ISBN|1-886969-85-X}}</ref>

The group of Northern martial arts includes many illustrious styles such as [[Baguazhang]], [[Bajiquan]], [[Chāquán]], [[Chuojiao]], [[Eagle Claw]], [[Mizongyi]], [[Northern Praying Mantis]] and [[Taijiquan]]. [[Chángquán]] is often identified as the representative Northern style and forms a separate division in modern [[Wushu (sport)|Wushu]] curriculum.

Northern styles exhibit a distinctively different flavor from the martial arts practiced in the South. In general, the training characteristics of northern styles put more focus on legwork, [[kick]]ing and acrobatics. The influence of Northern styles can be found in traditional [[Korean martial arts]] and their emphasis on high-level kicks.<ref>Stanly E. Henning (2000), "Chinese Influences on Korean Martial Arts" in Martial arts of the world: an encyclopedia, edited by Thomas A. Green, Published by ABC-CLIO, 2001, page 299, {{ISBN|1-886969-85-X}}</ref>

It has been suggested that the presence of high kicks and [[flying kick]]s found in Southern styles, in [[Okinawan martial arts]], and hence in modern non-Chinese styles such as [[karate]] and [[taekwondo]] (and by extension modern [[kickboxing]]) are due to influence from northern styles during the first half of the 20th century.<ref>William Durbin ''Mastering Kempo'', 2001 {{ISBN|978-0-7360-0350-6}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=XeEwlCtZbzwC&q=%22northern+Shaolin+Chuanfa%22&pg=PA11 p. 11].</ref>

== Characteristics ==
The Northern Shaolin style of kung fu is one of the most prominent traditional [[Styles of Chinese martial arts#Northern styles|northern styles of Chinese martial arts]]. The northern styles of kung-fu generally emphasize long range techniques, quick advances and retreats, wide stances, kicking and leaping techniques, whirling circular blocks, quickness, agility, and aggressive attacks.

The system teaches empty-hand techniques and weaponry through predetermined combinations, known as forms, routines, or movement of sets. The students learn the basics by practicing the routines until the movements in the routines can be executed naturally based on instinct. Then, two or multiple main sets are practiced to train responses and applications of techniques learned from the sets. The practice sets/routines are not only practical in applications but are also graceful and artistic in nature. The fluidness of the movements combined with acrobatic techniques are trademarks of the Northern Shaolin sets.

The Northern Shaolin style was made famous by the late Gu Yu-jeung. Many legends tell of Gu's feats; according to tales related by his close students, Gu's father was an accomplished exponent of the [[Tan Tui]] ("springing leg") [[Chinese martial arts#Forms (taolu)|form]]. When he was young, Gu traveled throughout Northern China to learn all the [[Styles of Chinese martial arts#Northern styles|northern kung fu systems]]. He was renowned for his [[Iron Palm]] techniques and the application of the long [[spear]]. He organized all his learnings into what is today's Northern Shaolin style.<ref>Content provided by Sifu Kenneth Hui of the Northern Shaolim Kung Fu Association</ref>

== History ==
The monastery in [[Henan]] is the original [[Shaolin Monastery]]. The monks began to practice military weapons sometime around the [[Tang dynasty]] and became famous for aiding the future Emperor [[Li Shimin]] in struggles against rebellious forces. The monks were primarily known for their [[Qiang (spear)|spear]] and [[Gun (staff)|staff]] techniques until the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]]–[[Qing dynasty|Qing]] transition when they began to specialize in unarmed combat. As the reputation of the [[Shaolin martial arts]] grew during the following centuries, its name became synonymous with martial arts, regardless of whether an individual art traced its origins to the Shaolin Monastery in Henan or not.<ref>Shahar, Meir. ''The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion, and the Chinese Martial Arts''. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2008 ({{ISBN|0824831101}})</ref> As a result, the "Shaolin" moniker was applied to other [[List of Buddhist temples#People's Republic of China|Buddhist temples]] with strong reputations for martial arts. The characteristics of the martial arts taught at each temple were so different from each other that they became identified with their place of origin.

=== The Northern Shaolin Lineage – Unbroken Tradition ===

The Northern Shaolin (北少林 denotes the famous 河南崇山少林寺 Song Mountain Shaolin Temple, in Henan province) style associated with [[Gu Ruzhang]] was first taught to a lay disciple, the celebrated 18th century master Gan Fengchi of [[Jiangsu Province]], by a Shaolin monk named Zhao Yuan, born Zhu Fu, a member of the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] royal family who joined the [[Sangha (Buddhism)|sangha]] after the Ming was overthrown by the [[Qing]] in 1644. (Gan is also remembered for founding the martial art [[Huaquan|Huāquán]] 花拳, literally "flower fist", about which he wrote the book ''Introduction to Huāquán''.) Gan in turn taught Wan Bangcai, who taught Yan Degong, who taught Yan Sansen, who taught Yan Jiwen, who taught his nephew Gu Ruzhang.

'''Generation 1–9'''
# 朝元 和尚 (Monk Zhāo Yuán)
# 甘鳳池 (Gān Fèngchí)
# 萬邦才 (Wàn Bāngcái)
# 嚴徳功 (Yán Dégōng)
# 嚴三省 (Yán Sānxǐng)
# 嚴機(繼)溫 (Yán Jīwēn)
# 顧汝章 (Gù Rǔzhāng), 白志祥 (Bái Zhìxiáng)
# 馬劍風 (Ma Jianfeng), 嚴尚武 (Yan Shangwu), 龍子祥 (Long Zixiang)
# 黃澤民 ([[Wong Jack-man]] / Huáng Zémín), [[Chan Kowk Wai|陳國偉]] (Chan Kwok-wai), 黎雄 (Lai Hung), 鄺榮林 (Kwong Wing-lam) and 蘇炳源 (Jonny So) – Among others

Yán Jīwēn also taught Gu the skills of [[Iron Body]] and [[Iron Palm]]. On a famous occasion in 1931, Gu is said to have demonstrated the latter on a horse.

Among the martial artists who gathered at the [[Central Guoshu Institute|Central National Martial Arts Institute]] in [[Nanjing]] in 1928, Gu placed in the top fifteen and was included— alongside Fu Zhen-song, Li Xian-wu, [[Wan Lai-sheng]], and Wong Shao-chou in the Five Southbound Tigers aka The Five Tigers From The North (五虎下江南, [[Pinyin]] Wǔhǔ Xià Jiāngnán; literally, "five tigers heading [[Jiangnan|south of the great river]]"), five masters of the Northern Chinese martial arts sent to [[Guangzhou]] (Canton) to organize another National Martial Arts Institute. In Guangzhou, the name "Shaolin" 南少林寺福建省(refer to [[Southern Shaolin Monastery|South Shaolin temple]] in [[Fujian|Fukian]] province—being sub-temple from the Northern one) was already associated with [[Hung Gar]] and other styles, so the style (嵩山十路少林拳 Sōngshān Shí Lù Shàolínquán / Song Mountain Ten Road Shaolin Boxing) practiced by Gu Ruzhang came to be known in those days in southern China by the nickname ''Northern'' Shaolin.

== The Northern Shaolin curriculum of Gu Ruzhang (Ku Yu-cheung)==

{| align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3"
!style="background-color:#CCCCCC; width:175px;" | Translated Name !!style="background-color:#CCCCCC; width:65px;"  | [[Chinese language|Chinese]] !!style="background-color:#CCCCCC; width:119px;" | [[Pinyin|Mandarin Pinyin]] !!style="background-color:#CCCCCC; width:119px;" | [[Jyutping|Cantonese Jyutping]] !!style="background-color:#CCCCCC; " | Comments
|-
!Open the Gate
|align=center| 開門 ||align=center| Kāimén ||align=center| Hoimun ||align=center| Essential entry/basic skills.
|-
!Lead the Way
|align=center| 領路 ||align=center| Lǐnglù ||align=center| Linglou ||align=center| Lead the opponent around to his defeat.
|-
!Mount the Horse
|align=center| 坐馬 ||align=center| Zuòmǎ ||align=center| Jomaa ||align=center| Counter-attacks.
|-
!Pierce the Heart
|align=center| 穿心 ||align=center| Chuānxīn ||align=center| Cyunsam ||align=center| Attacks up the solar plexus.
|-
!Martial Skills
|align=center| 武藝 ||align=center| Wǔyì ||align=center| Moungai ||align=center| Combat techniques.
|-
!Short Strikes
|align=center| 短打 ||align=center| Duǎndǎ ||align=center| Dyundaa ||align=center| Close-encounter combinations.
|-
!Plum Blossom
|align=center| 梅花 ||align=center| Méihuā ||align=center| Muifaa ||align=center| Breaking an ambush.
|-
!Pull the Step
|align=center| 拔歩 ||align=center| Bábù ||align=center| Batbou ||align=center| Open-space fighting combinations.
|-
!Linked Chain
|align=center| 連環 ||align=center| Liánhuán ||align=center| Linwaan||align=center| Chained multiple strikes.
|-
!Stance Techniques
|align=center| 式法 ||align=center| Shìfǎ ||align=center| Sikfaat ||align=center| The essence of the style.
|}

Note that some heirs to [[Gu Ruzhang]]'s tradition teach these routines in a different order, particularly those under the lineage of Chan Kowk Wai([[Chan Kowk Wai|陳國偉]]).

These are the 10 [[Chinese martial arts#Forms (taolu)|forms]] as standardized by Gu, comprising the ''core'' of the system, sometimes known as the Ten Classical Forms. They are standard in all of Gu's Northern Shaolin Kung Fu lineages. However, as mentioned above, they are sometimes taught or learned in differing orders. As with many different martial arts, from lineage to lineage, one may find slight differences in the way the movements are expressed.

Students learning this style usually do not only learn the 10 core forms however. There are often additional teachings such as introductory material (Lianbuquan, Gongliquan, Tan Tui), several traditional weapons forms, two-man forms [[qigong]] [including the famous Shaolin Golden Bell Qigong System], etc.<ref name="Northern Shaolin curriculum">{{cite web|url=https://www.pathsatlanta.org/about/curriculum/|title=Northern Shaolin curriculum|website=Pathsatlanta.org}}</ref>

==References==
<ref>{{cite web |title=Northern Shaolin Kung Fu |url=http://northernshaolinkungfu.com/ |website=Northern Shaolin Kung Fu}}</ref>

{{reflist}}

{{Kung fu schools}}

[[Category:Chinese martial arts]]
[[Category:Chinese swordsmanship]]
[[Category:Buddhist martial arts]]