The Complete Book of Shaolin: Comprehensive Programme for Physical, Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Development

by Wong Kiew Kit

Shaolin Kungfu has been considered by many as the best martial art in the world. But kungfu is just one of the three treasures of Shaolin, the other two being chi kung and Zen. For the first time ever, this inspiring book, written by an internationally acclaimed Shaolin Grandmaster, brings to you the crystallization of Shaolin wisdom and practice spanning many centuries. Its scope and depth is amazing, touching on, among many other things, poetry and enlightenment. Yet it is written in a language easy to understand. Profound concepts and difficult techniques are explained systematically with many illustrations. The book
- The background and scope of kungfu.
- Form and combat applications.
- Principles and methods of force training.
- Energy training and mind training.
- Secrets of the masters.
- Traditional Chinese weapons.
- Maintaining one's health and vitality and the healing of so-called incurable diseases.
- Interesting stories and legends of Shaolin.
- Zen and spiritual development.

Genres: Fitness, Spirituality, Buddhism

366 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

About the author

Wong Kiew Kit is a fourth generation successor from the Southern Shaolin Monastery in China (not to be confused with the more commonly known Shaolin Monastery in Henan Province) and is a grandmaster of Shaolin Kung Fu and Qigong. He is also the head of the Shaolin Wahnam Institute.

Reviews

[Luca Andreol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The complete book of Shaolin
🚀 Il #libro in 3 Frasi

1. Shaolin Chi Kung provides some excellent ways to achieve health and longevity. It may surprise some readers to find out that many of the Shaolin methods to achieve excellent health are performed in elegant, gentle manners, quite unlike the vigorous, demanding activities of typical physical exercises like gymnastics, body building, and aerobics.

2. "Directly pointing at the mind", shows that Zen is practical and direct.

3. These three Shaolin arts - chi kung, kungfu, and meditation

🎨 Impressioni
Libro interessante, ma generalista.
👤 Chi dovrebbe leggerlo?
Chiunque interessato alla cultura asiatica e nello specifico, ad apprendere i rudimenti della dottrina Shaolin.
☘️ Come il libro mi ha cambiato?
Mi ha trasmesso l’importanza di praticare il Qi Gong.
✍🏻 Le mie tre frasi preferite

1. We cannot call a person healthy if, even when he is not clinically ill, he is easily prone to anger or nervousness, has poor memory or dullness of thought, and is beset with vice and wickedness.

2. After attaining good health, the next logical stage is increasing vitality.

1. "Use the orthodox in combat; use the unorthodox to secure victory".
📒 Sommario + Note

1: A HEAVENLY VISION
(How Shaolin Monastery Got Its Name)
The Legend of Shaolin
The Sacred Summit of Song Shan
Earthly Reflection of leavenly Monastery
2: THE FABULOUS SIIAOLIN MONASTERY
(Legends and Significance of the Monastery Halls)
Foremost Monastery Beneath Heaven
Hui Ke Seeking Enlightenment
The Hall of Lohans
Pagodas, Temples, and the Shadow-Rock The Defender of Righteousness
3: FIT FOR EMPERORS AND GENERALS
(Precious Arts of Shaolin)
The Three Living Treasures
Beauty in Poetic Motion
A Way w Enlightenment
The Practical and the Spiritual
Inter-Rclationship of Kungfu, Chi Kung, and Meditation Qualities of a Good Teacher
Breaking the Patient's Arm to Cure It Poetry and Other Arts
1. MOVEMENTS OF HEALTH, VITALITY, AND LONGEVITY (The Shaolin Way to Physical and Spiritual Health)
Various Concepts of Health
Physical as well as Spiritual Health
Various Arts of Encry
Lifting Sky and Levelling Earth
Chi Kung for Health, Vitality, and Longevity
2. POETRY OF STRENGTII AND COURAGE
(The Philosophy and Dimension of Shaolin Kungfu)
The Fascination of Kungfu Ilistorical Development
The Four Dimensions of Kungfu
General Aims of Kungfu

6: FORM AND FUNCTION IN MOTION
(The Fundamentals of Shaolin Kungfu)
Gateway to Shaolin Force Training
Black Tiger and Drunken Man
Combative Functions of Flowery Patterns
Formation and Structure of Kungfu Sets
Don't he Deccived by Slow, Graccful Motion Cross-Roads at Four Gates
7: FIGITING IN BEAUTIFUL MOVEMENTS
(Kungfu Application for Combat)
The Combative Function of Kungfu Patterns, Variations, and Sequences
Some Amazing Applications
Catching Tigers in Mountains Don't Destroy His Manhood!
Flowery Movements and Kungfu Tradition
8: FROM KUNGFU FORM TO COMBAT APPLICATION
(Specific Techniques to Handle Various Situations)
Getting Ready for Combat Shaolin Specific Techniques
Counterine Various Kicks
Gripping and Felling Attacks
Methodology of Practice
9: FROM ARRANGED TO FREE SPARRING
(Practising Variation in Combat Sequences)
Various Factors of Combat
Shaolin Principles of Attack and Defence
Some Marvellous Advice for Combat
Combat Sequences
Developmental Stages in Combat Application
10: FURTHER TRAINING FOR EFFECTIVE FIGHTING
(Developing Fundamental Sparring Skills)
Variation in Combat Sequence Training
Four Gates Sparring Set
Fundamental Skills in Combat
Examples of Crucial Points in sparring

11: CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO SECURE VICTORY
(Applying Tactics and Strategies in Fighting)
Sun Tzu's Advice
Principles to Guide Combat
Tactical and Strategic Considerations
Defeat Due to Wrong Choice
Choosing the Right Stratcgy and Tactics
Overcoming Throws and Multiple Attacks
Frustrating Locks and Fast Punches
12: THIE FASCINATING FORCE OF SIIAOLIN MASTERS
(Various Kinds of Force in Shaolin Kungfu)
Basic Force and Specialized Force
Three Levels of Force
Power, Energy. and Lightness
An Invaluable Losson
Iron Palm and Cosmos Palm
13: PRINCIPLES AND METLIODS OF POWER TRAINING
(Shaolin Iron Palm and Iron Arm)
Important Factors for Force Training Training for Iron Palm
Preserving Sensitivity and Relieving Injury
Rolling Bamboo for Three Years
He'll Break Your Arms
14: SECRETS OF THIE. ENERGY MASTERS (Developing Cosmos Palm and Iron Shirt)
The Greatest Martial Art in the World The Palm That Can Kill or Heal
Withstanding Attacks with Iron Shirt
1. THE FAST, THE AGILE, AND THE MARVELLOUS (Marvellous Responses and the Arts of Lightness)
Techniques, Force, and Speed
2. Marvel with Awe and Admiration Some Considerations in Speed Training How to Attain Speed
Plum Flower and Throush the Woods
3. DRAGONS, PHOENTXES, TIGERS AND THE MOON (A Brief Survey of Kungfu Weapons)
4. Why Classical Weapons Are Still Practised Today
5. Classification of Weapons
6. Ferocious Tigers and Nimble Phoenixes
7. The King and the Mother
8. 17: THE SPIRIT OF SHAOLIN
9. (Teaching on Morality, Rightcousness, and Compassion)
10. The Ten Shaolin Laws Respect for the Master
11. Great Blessings to be Born Iluman
12. Calmness and Compassion
13. Righteousness and Compassion
14. 18: WONDERS OF SHAOLIN CHI KUNG
15. (The Link between Physical and Spiritual Development)
16. Kunyfu, Chi Kung, and 7en The Legacy of Bodhidharma Sinew Metamorphosis for Internal Power A Chance to Test an Incredible Art Self-Manifested Chi Movement
17. 19: CURING "INCURABLE" DISEASES
18. (Shaolin Chi Kung and Chinese Medicine)
19. Chi Kung for Curing Illness
20. Harmonizing Yin-Yany
21. Clearing Energy Blockage
22. Chi Kung for Curing Cancer
23. Thematic and Ilolistic Approaches How Does Chi Kung Cure Illness
24. 20: THE INTERNAL COSMOS
25. (A Marvellous Art called the Small Universe)
26. Man as Miniature of Cosmos
27. The Small Universe
28. Achieving the Small Universal Flow Breakthrough and Time Difference
29. Signs of Real Breakthrough
30. 21: DO NOT WORRY IF YOU HAVE BROKEN YOUR BONES
31. (An Introduction to Shaolin Traumatology) A Unique System to Treat Injury
Various Types of Injuries
Therapeutic Principles in Traumatology
Treating a Broken Bone
22: THE SONGS AND POETRY OF SHAOLIN
(Describing the Grandeur in Rhythm and Rhyme)
Emperor's Praisc and Master's Advice
Breadth of Kungfu in a Song
Songs of Energy and Compassion
Exquisite Charm of Shaolin Symbolism in Shaolin Poetry
Legends Recalled in Poetic Beauty
A Modern Poem on Shaolin
1. THE. DIVINE AND THE COSMOS (The Manificence and Universality of All Religions)
A Mecting Place of Many Religions Universality of World's Religions
Divine Manifestations of Supreme Reality
Listening to Soundlessness Wisdom and Enlightenment
Looking At the Stilled Mind
The Spiritual Aspect of Confucianism
Entering God's Kinydom
Returning to God
2. VARTOUS VEI ICLES OF ENLIGITENMENT
3. (The Beauty and Wisdom of Buddhism)
4. An Amazing and Inspiring Religion
5. The Historical Buddha
6. Main Features of Buddhism
7. Theravada - Buddhism of the Elders
8. Mahayana - Buddhism of the Great Vehicle Vairavana - Buddhism of the Mystics
9. 25: ANCIENT WISDOM ON MODERN SCIENCE (A Survey of Various Chinese Schools of Budhism)
10. Was Mahayana Buddhism taught by the Buddha?
11. Various Schools of Buddhism Heaven, Zen, and the Lotus Reality, Appearance and True Word
12. 26: THE BEAUTY AND PROFUNDITY OF ZEN
13. (Some Philosophical Considerations for Zen Training)
14. What is Zen?
15. Chinese Invention and Taoist Origin?
16. Main Doctrines of 7cn Buddhism The Fasiest or the Most Difficult
17. 27: METIODS OF ZEN CULTIVATION
18. (Sutras, Mantras, and Meditation for Spiritual Training)
19. Meditation of No Mind
20. Praises and Vows in Spiritual Cultivation
21. The Heart Sutra of Transcendental Wisdom
22. Spiritual Development through Sutra Recitation
23. Chanting Mantras as Spiritual Training
24. Meditation of One-Pointed Mind
25. 28: IN SEARCH OF SHAOLIN MASTERS
26. (From Kungfu and Chi Kung to Zen)
27. Kungfu for Demonstration and Fighting
28. The Search for Kungfu Force The Incredible Energy Flow
29. The Search for Compassion The Search for Wisdom The Search for Enlightenment

#libri

[Sergio Rosas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very complete description of Shaolin history, king fu, chi kung, zen meditation, shaolin arts, etc. Entertaining style of writing. Not really useful to learn kung fu (at least for me that I have zero background experience). Not recommended to any one that is not interested in learning about Shaolin.

[Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ancient/Fresh, Divining/Practical, Firm/Gentle, Yin/Yang, Form/Emptiness, Great/Book.

[Matias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review- Book Name: Shaolin Wong Kiew Kit

I will give this book five stars, because I do Shaolin so this book teaches me a lot about Shaolin, but the way that the book explains is really cool. The last book that I read was called The Shaolin Workout, this book explained some philosophy, and some exercises. But this book explains the history, exercises, and philosophy, but not only that, each word that you read becomes deeper and more deeper. The last book was really cool but it didn't got so deep as this book. And in a part of the book it even gives you a map of the Shaolin Temple, that was really cool.

Like I said this book teaches me a lot about Shaolin, so that's why this book relates to my hero's journey. And I think that this book changed my perspective about the Shaolin Temple, because it tells the story of the Shaolin Temple but the begining is a lot more deeper but the last part of the story is the same. But that last part changes all the perspective of the story.

The last book that I read ( The Shaolin Workout), like I said it wasn't so deep as this one, and I said that this book (Shaolin Wong Kiew Kit) was really deep so someone that should read the last book that I read is someone that is a beginner. And someone that should read Shaolin Wong Kiew Kit is a person that has experience with a martial art, but better if it’s Shaolin Kung Fu. But you are talking about an individual person… that should be my Sifu’s, there isn't any specific reason but just for shere some book’s.

My favorite quote of this book is… The harmonious flow of chi restores a person's natural functions. By- Wong Kiew Kit. This quote caught my attention because I think that is not only for training, is also for life. In other words the quote says that you can cure yourself, but I think that is not only physically but also mental. My favorite chapter of the book was the one that he has some photos where he explains some movements, and I liked this because I could see other movements that are different.



Reflection-libro Nombre del libro: Kit Wong Kiew Shaolin

Voy a dar a este libro cinco estrellas, porque hago Shaolin por lo que este libro me enseña mucho acerca de Shaolin, pero la forma en que el libro explica es realmente genial. El último libro que leí fue llamado el entrenamiento de Shaolin, este libro explica alguna filosofía, y algunos ejercicios. Sin embargo, este libro explica la historia, ejercicios, y la filosofía, pero no sólo eso, cada palabra que se lee se hace cad vez más profundo. El último libro fue realmente genial, pero no se puso tan profundo como este libro. Y en una parte del libro que incluso le da un mapa del templo de Shaolin, que era realmente genial.

Como dije este libro me enseña mucho acerca de Shaolin, así que por eso este libro se involucra en mi vida. Y creo que este libro ha cambiado mi perspectiva sobre el templo de Shaolin, porque cuenta la historia del templo de Shaolin, pero el principio es mucho más profundo, pero la última parte de la historia es la misma. Pero la última parte cambia toda la perspectiva de la historia.

El último libro que leí (El entrenamiento de Shaolin), como he dicho, no era tan profundo como éste, y como dije que este libro (Shaolin Wong Kiew Kit) era muy profundo, por lo que alguien que debe leer el último libro que yo leí es alguien que es un principiante. Y alguien que debe leer Wong Kiew kit Shaolin es una persona que tiene experiencia con un arte marcial, pero mejor si es de Shaolin Kung Fu. Pero estamos hablando de una persona individual ... que debe ser mi Sifu, no hay ninguna razón específica, pero sólo para compartir algunos libros.

Mi frase favorita de este libro es ... El flujo armonioso del chi restaura las funciones naturales de una persona. By-Wong Kiew Kit. Esta frase me llamó la atención porque creo que no es sólo para la formación, es también para la vida. En otras palabras, la frase dice que puedes curar a sí mismo, pero creo que no es sólo física, sino también mental. Mi capítulo favorito del libro fue el que él tiene algunas fotos donde explica algunos movimientos, y me gusta eso porque pude ver otros movimientos que son diferentes.

[Christine Cordula Dantas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is indeed a "complete" book about Shaolin -- historical and legendary aspects; kung fu, chi kung (qi gong), meditation manual, pictures, secrets and tips, health and vitality issues, arts, weapons, etc. It is culturally interesting and well-written. I reserved some some chapters for future reference, specially the kung fu training parts, which I have no read. I do not give it 5 stars because of a "mystical" tendency of the author, which sometimes tries to give them support through a "scientific explanation". Otherwise it is indeed a fine and complete reference book.

[Jim Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very hard for me to review because I really like this book and Wong Kiew Kit is my Sigung (my Sifu's Sifu).

The book gives a very expansive overview of the Shaolin arts with a particular focus on Southern Shaolin.

The book cannot not teach you kung fu, just like a book on surgery cannot teach you to become a surgeon, but it gives a great introduction to the depth of kung fu, chi gung and zen.

[SD Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading

While far from being heavy in form instruction this book is worth reading if you a a student of the martial arts.