This is the abbot of Qingliang Temple from Wutai Mountain.
Master Shen Shan.
This is a master from Tianzhu.
Given dharma name, Zhe Luo Xing.
And a master from the Daxiangguo Temple in Kaifeng, Henan.
Master Guan Xin.
Master Dao Qing, from Pudu Temple, Jiangnan.
Master Rong Zhi of Jingying Temple, Changan.
Let's greet each other.
You have all graced our temple with your presence today.
It is indeed an honor for our temple.
We are looking forward to the speeches at the altar that promote Buddhism,
unite all monks, and for us to benefit from each others' wisdom.
I am humbled.
Shaolin Temple is an esteemed place.
I've long wanted to be here.
Decades ago, I came here to pray for precepts,
but I was turned away.
Back then, I had come to pray for precepts
because I admired Shaolin Temple,
the place that had dominated the martial arts world for hundreds of years
and the origin of martial arts.
More importantly,
Shaolin Temple was said
to emphasize strict discipline and uphold righteousness and fairness.
However, it turned out that there had been lies in those rumors.
If I had known it,
I would not have visited Shaolin Temple back then.
Martial Brother, why do you utter such things?
Shaolin is neither an official government not a private clan.
So how could you detain outsiders as you wish?
Let me ask you this, Abbot,
Shaolin Temple has committed such brutal and unjust acts.
Can it still be called a place of benevolence and kindness?
You accused our temple of being aggressive and unjust.
Those are some serious accusations.
This is Master Zhe Luo Xing. His younger martial brother, Bo Luo Xing,
is being detained in this temple.
Seven years ago,
a senior monk from Tianzhu, Martial Brother Bo Luo Xing, came to our temple.
Every monk in the temple was delighted, and we greeted him respectfully.
Martial Brother Bo Luo Xing said that heretics prevailed in Tianzhu,
and most of the Buddhist scriptures were lost.
Abbot immediately accompanied him to Tripitaka Library.
Younger Martial Brother Xuan Can was ordered by the abbot
to assist and supervise the monks to copy the texts.
But unexpectedly, we discovered that Master Bo Luo Xing
had snuck into the Tripitaka Library every night to peek at the secret martial arts scriptures of our temple.
These secret scriptures have nothing to do with the Buddhist texts.
Shaolin Temple has had a rule for hundreds of years.
Our secret martial arts scriptures are not to be revealed to outsiders.
Martial Brother Xuan Can fought against him
and realized that he had not only read the secret martial arts scriptures
but had also mastered three of the 72 Secret Arts of Shaolin.
Shaolin Sect's martial arts may unremarkable compared to others,
but our rules dictate that they may no be passed on to non-disciples.
Therefore, I could only ask him to stay in this monastery
and meditate and cultivate the practices of Buddhism.
In doing so, I hope he that can be enlightened
and that further troubles may be avoided.
For the past few years,
our temple has treated Martial Brother Bo Luo Xing very well.
We have never disrespected him in any way
apart from asking him to stay within the temple grounds.
One's mastery of martial arts depends on one's own cultivation.
Scriptures and manuals are secondary.
If any of the heroes can enter my Qingliang Temple
and steal the scriptures of our temple,
I will have nothing to say except for admitting that I am incompetent.
Now, he just took a look at your scriptures,
and you decided to lock him up for life?
That's ridiculous!
If these were ordinary scriptures,
there would be no problem making them public.
However, the content of our scriptures is highly sophisticated.
It is admired and sought after by many in the martial arts world.
If... The scriptures were stolen
and into the hands of the selfish and wicked-minded,
it would be infinitely harmful.
That's definitely not a blessing for the martial arts world.
Zhe Luo Xing traveled a long journey from the east to get here.
Are you going to forbid him from seeing his martial brother as well?
Both of you are pressing hard on this matter.
If I refuse to let him out,
it will make it appear as if Shaolin Temple had lost ground.
Send Martial Brother Bo Luo Xing in.
Welcome, Martial Brother Bo Luo Xing.
Younger Martial Brother.
The abbot lied.
Bo Luo Xing didn't steal the martial arts scriptures at all.
He only read Buddhist texts.
Martial Brother Bo Luo Xing,
if you tell any lies,
won't you be afraid of falling into the Avici?
I never lie.
Have you ever taken stolen a peek
of the Shaolin Sect's Jingang Fist Technique?
No.
I only read the Vajra Verse.
Have you ever read the Shaolin Sect's Prajna Palm Technique?
No.
I only borrowed the Astasaha.
Then, have you never read the Mo He Finger Technique of the Shaolin Sect, either?
That day, when my younger martial brother, Xuan Can ran into you,
you had just stolen the scripture and tried to sneak out of the Tripitaka Library, is that not true?
I had only borrowed one of the Mahasangha-vinaya.
It looks like...
Those are martial arts techniques of the Shaolin Sect.
- Yes, they are. - How did he know those moves?
I wonder why.
I might be rude, but please forgive me for this.
I would like to ask for justice.
Just now, Bo Luo Xing performed three techniques.
The first appeared to be the "Flawless" in the Prajna Palm Technique.
The second one seems to be the "Waiting Leisurely" in the Mo He Finger Technique.
While the third one seems to be the "Seven Stars Gathering"
in the Jingang Fist Technique.
Exactly.
The Buddhism of the Central Plains has really benefited from the Buddhist Kingdom, Tianzhu.
Back then, Master Bodhidharma brought the martial arts of Tianzhu to the east
and introduced them to the Shaolin Sect.
The east and the west were combined. And all share the same origins.
This can be considered as the realm of indiscriminate in the martial arts world.
The Buddhist teachings and martial arts of our temple
are indeed passed down from Bodhidharma.
But the Prajna Palm Technique
was created by Reverent Yuan Yuan, the eighth generation abbot of the temple.
Mo He Finger Technique
was created by a seven-finger dhuta who stayed here for more than 40 years.
While the Jingang Fist Technique
was the result of 36 years of joint studies
of six monks of the eleventh generation of this monastery.
You claim that Prajna Palm Technique, Mo He Finger Technique, and Jingang Fist Technique
had all come from Tianzhu.
Then you must be very familiar with the techniques.
It's easy to find out the truth.
I wish to use these three techniques and ask for your guidance.
I will not use any other technique apart from these three.
Please do only use these three techniques as well
when you give me your guidance.
I may know some Tianzhu martial arts,
but I can't be proficient in everything.
It is said that the Shaolin Temple has 72 secret arts.
In that case, are you proficient in every art?
If I ask you to perform three of the 72 secret arts,
can you do it, Martial Brother?
You...
It is a big event and a rare opportunity
for esteemed monks from both Tianzhu and Central Plains to gather in Shaolin Temple to discuss martial arts.
Can I be an uninvited guest
- and listen to the opinions of both parties? - Who is it?
Since you are a Buddhist monk as well,
please come in.