{ "item_title" : "Shaolin Temple", "item_author" : [" Half Hour History "], "item_description" : "Discover the true story behind the most famous martial arts temple in the world.For more than 1,500 years, the Shaolin Temple has survived emperors, invasions, rebellion, fire, revolution and persecution. What began in AD 495 as a Buddhist monastery beneath China's sacred Mount Song would eventually become legendary as the home of warrior monks and the birthplace of Shaolin kung fu.But how much of the story is actually true?Did Bodhidharma really invent kung fu after meditating in a cave for nine years? Did thirteen Shaolin monks save a future emperor? Were warrior monks really sent into battle against pirates? Was the temple burned by the Qing dynasty, sending survivors across China to create new martial arts? And was there really a mysterious Southern Shaolin Temple?Shaolin Temple: Monks, Warriors and the Legendary Birthplace of Kung Fu separates the extraordinary history from the even more extraordinary mythology.Journey from the temple's foundation during the Northern Wei dynasty through the rise of Chan Buddhism, the fighting monks of the Tang and Ming dynasties, secret societies and martial arts legends, the devastating fire of 1928, Mao's China and the Cultural Revolution.Then discover Shaolin's remarkable modern resurrection, when Jet Li's 1982 film Shaolin Temple helped transform a struggling monastery into a global phenomenon visited by martial artists and tourists from around the world.Written as an accessible introduction rather than a dense academic history, this book gives you the complete story in a quick, engaging read.Perfect for readers interested in Shaolin kung fu, Chinese martial arts, Buddhism, Chinese history and the remarkable stories behind one of the world's most legendary monasteries.The legends made Shaolin famous.The real history is even more remarkable.", "item_img_path" : "https://covers1.booksamillion.com/covers/bam/9/79/819/344/9798193445432_b.jpg", "price_data" : { "retail_price" : "6.99", "online_price" : "6.99", "our_price" : "6.99", "club_price" : "6.99", "savings_pct" : "0", "savings_amt" : "0.00", "club_savings_pct" : "0", "club_savings_amt" : "0.00", "discount_pct" : "10", "store_price" : "" } }

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