Shaolin Sect
By admin on 2015-01-14

The Shaolin Sect is featured in several works of Wuxia fiction. It is one of the largest, most famous and highly-recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the Wulin. Its home base is at present-day Shaolin Monastery in Henan province. It is also sometimes referred to as "Shaolin Monastery" instead of "Shaolin Sect".

Besides its role as the leading "righteous" sect in the Wulin in Wuxia novels, the Shaolin Sect is also strongly featured in popular culture as well. Several Chinese martial arts films also feature the Shaolin Sect, such as Shaolin Temple starring Jet Li. It is also synonymous with Chinese martial arts as it is mentioned to be the "origin" of all Chinese martial arts in Wuxia works. It is perhaps best known to non-Chinese for the Shaolin Kung Fu associated with the fictional sect and monastery.

The Shaolin Sect's members are predominantly Buddhist monks with a minority of non-Buddhist monks known as "secular disciples". The Buddhist monks follow Buddhist practices and their code of conduct apart from practicing martial arts.