495 AD - Northern Wei

Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty built the Shaolin temple for the prominent monk, Batuo, and his two Chinese disciples in 495 AD. Batuo came to teach Buddhism in China, but not the elements of martial arts.




"Bodhidharma." Wikipedia. 27 Jul 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhidharma#Contemporary_accounts>.

Erling Hoh Zen and the art of combat: Shaolin temple, the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and kung fu, mixes meditating monks and bustling tourists :[National Edition]. National Post [serial online]. August 10, 2002:B4. Available from: ProQuest Information and Learning, Ann Arbor, Mi. Accessed July 27, 2007, Document ID: 244905411