Five Elders

This article is about the folklore figures. For the martial art style, see Five Ancestors.

In Southern Chinese folklore, the Five Elders of Shaolin (Chinese: 少林五祖; pinyin: Shàolín wǔ zǔ; Jyutping: Siu3 lam4 ng5 zou2), also known as the Five Generals are the survivors of one of the destructions of the Shaolin temple by the Qing Dynasty, variously said to have taken place in 1647 or in 1732.

Five Elders
Chinese	少林五祖
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Shàolín wǔ zǔ Wade–Giles Shao⁴-lin² wu³ tzu³ Tongyong Pinyin Shào-lín wǔ zǔ IPA [ʂâʊlǐn ù tsù] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Siu làhm ngh jóu Jyutping Siu3 lam4 ng5 zou2 Canton Romanization Siu3 lem4 ng5 zou2 IPA [ɕīːu lɐ̏m ŋ̬̍ tsǒu]

The original Shaolin Monastery was built on the north side of Shaoshi Mountain, the central peak of Mount Song, one of the sacred mountains of China, located in the Henan Province, by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei^{[clarification needed]} Dynasty in 477. At various times throughout history, the monastery has been destroyed (burned down) for political reasons, and rebuilt many times.^[1]

A number of traditions also make reference to a Southern Shaolin Monastery located in Fujian province.^[2][3] Associated with stories of the supposed burning of Shaolin by the Qing government and with the tales of the Five Elders, this temple, sometimes known by the name Changlin, is often claimed to have been either the target of Qing forces or a place of refuge for monks displaced by attacks on the original Shaolin Monastery. Besides the debate over the historicity of the Qing-era destruction, it is unknown whether there was a true southern temple, with several locations in Fujian given as the site for the monastery. Fujian does have a historic monastery called Changlin, and a monastery referred to as a "Shaolin cloister" has existed in Fuqing, Fujian, since the Song Dynasty. Whether these have any actual connection to the Henan monastery or a martial tradition is still unknown.^[4]

The Five Elders of Shaolin

Within many martial arts circles, the original Five Elders of Shaolin are said to be:

• Ji Sin (Gee Sin) (simplified Chinese: 至善禅师; traditional Chinese: 至善禪師; pinyin: Zhì Shàn Chán Shī; Cantonese Yale: Ji Sin Sim Si). Speculated to be also known as Chi Thien Su.
• Ng Mui (五梅大师; 五梅大師; Wǔ Méi Dà Shī; Ng Mui Daai Si). Noted for Ng Mui Kuen, Wing Chun Kuen, Dragon style, White Crane, and Five-Pattern Hung Kuen.
• Bak Mei (Pei Mei) (白眉道人; Bái Méi Dào Rén; Bak Mei Dou Yan). Literally "Taoist with White Eyebrows". Speculated to be also known as Chu Long Tuyen.
• Fung Dou Dak (冯道德; 馮道德; Féng Dàodé; Fung Dou Dak). Taoist founder of Bak Fu Pai.
• Miu Hin (苗显; 苗顯; Miáo Xiǎn; Miu Hin). An "unshaved" (lay) Shaolin disciple.

The Five Family Elders

The founders of the five major family styles of Southern Chinese martial arts were all students of Gee Sin (see above), and are sometimes referred to as the Five Elders. This has caused some confusion.

• Hung Hei (Goon) (Chinese: 洪熙官; pinyin: Hóng Xīguān; Cantonese Yale: Hung Hei (Goon)). Founder of Hung Ga.
• Lau Saam Ngan (刘三眼; 劉三眼; Liú Sānyǎn; Lau Saam Ngan). Literally "Three-Eyes" Lau; founder of Lau Gar.
• Choi Gau Yi (蔡九仪; 蔡九儀; Cài Jiǔyí; Choi Gau Yi). Founder of Choi Gar.
• Lei Yau Saan (李友山; Lǐ Yǒushān; Lei Yau Saan). Founder of Lei Gar; teacher of Choy Li Fut founder Chan Heung.
• Mok Ching Giu (莫清矫; 莫清矯; Mò Qīngjiǎo; Mok Ching Giu). Founder of Mok Gar.

See also

• Fong Sai-Yuk
• Shaolin kung fu
• Tiandihui/Hongmen