Modern histories of Kung Fu combine oral tradition, legend, and some mythology with established historical fact. The evolution of Kung Fu parallels the development of Buddhism as practiced by monks studying in various temples in China. Buddhism originated in India and traveled to China sometime during the Eastern Han Ming emperor period (58-76 A.D.). Over the next few centuries, several Chinese emperors embraced Buddhism and it became a dominant religion. It is estimated that by 500 A.D. there were more than 10,000 Buddhist temples in China.

Sometime in 5th Century, an Indian Buddhist monk by name of Ba Tuo was traveling through China. The Emperor summoned Ba Tuo, and offered him a place in the palace and riches in return for his continued teachings. Ba Tao kindly declined this offer but asked for a piece of land far away from any “civilized” place. He was given land in Henan province near the Song Sang Mountain. There he built a monastery in an area called “Wooded Hill” or “Small Forest” (Shaolin in Mandarin or Sil-Lum in Cantonese).

About 40 years later (near 539 A.D.), an Indian Buddhist priest named Bodhidharma Sardili (Ta Mo or Tamo in Chinese), also traveled to China to spread what would later be called Ch'an or Zen Buddhism.  After crossing the Himalayas and the Yangtze River he eventually reached Loyang, the capital of Henan Province. He found the Shaolin Temple, then famous for its scholarly translations of Buddhist writings into Chinese. Ta Mo sought entrance to Shaolin but the abbot of the day, Fang Chang, refused to let the foreigner in. Rejected by the monks, Ta Mo went to a nearby cave and meditated until he gained the respect of the monks and was admitted. Nobody knows how he did it, but there are many different legends, including the following:

Once accepted to the Shaolin Temple, Ta Mo observed that the Monks were not in good physical condition, since they spent most of their time transcribing handwritten texts. Ta Mo introduced exercises, designed to enhance the flow of “ch'i” and to build strength. The monks later described these exercises as;

1. "The Muscle Change" or "The Change of the Sinews"
2. "The Marrow Washing"
3. "The Eighteen Hand Movements” later named The Eighteen “Lohan Shou” (enlightened hands). These were possibly derived from Indian yoga (hatha and raja) and based on the movements of real or mythical Asian animals, birds, and insects; including the tiger, deer, leopard, cobra, snake, panther, monkey, bear, eagle, crane, chicken, praying mantis, and dragon.

It is not certain when the exercises of Ta Mo became "martial arts". Ta Mo’s exercises became known as Yi Jin Jing. The priests found that practicing the Yi Jin exercises increased their strength and endurance. When this training was integrated into the martial arts forms, it increased the effectiveness of their martial techniques (Martial Arts Qigong).

The Shaolin certainly did not “invent” martial arts. Fighting styles existed in China for many centuries. The Shaolin temple was located in a remote area frequented by bandits and home to wild animals. Some of the Shaolin monks may have been retired soldiers, but not all Shaolin Monks were warrior monks. Monks did choose to develop special areas of expertise, much like university professors. While all practiced some form of exercise, not all were totally focused on the martial arts.

Over time Ta  Mo's exercises evolved into Shaolin Temple boxing (also called Shaolin Ch'uan [Shaolin Fist] or Shaolin Ch'uan Fa [Way of the Shaolin Fist]). The monks may have imitated animals based on the belief that in order to survive in wild, animals evolved natural fighting skills. They certainly studied animal behavior as they refined their fighting techniques. 

As time went on the Shaolin sect began to diverge from other Buddhist sects, in part because of the emphasis on the martial arts. On the face of it the study of martial arts appears a contradiction of Buddhist principles of non-violence.  However, in Shaolin tradition, the practitioner of martial arts is never an attacker. Rather, understanding violence makes a person better equipped to avoid conflict. Failing that, a Buddhist who refuses to accept an offering of violence (i.e., an attack) merely returns it to the sender. The martial artist does not respond with the most devastating defense in all situations. The kung fu expert may choose to parry an attack, or even to run away. However, if an assailant is persistent, skilled, and determined to cause harm, a more definitive response may be required. The more violent the assault, the more devastating the defense in return. Buddhists are not, in this philosophy, seeking to hurt anyone; they “merely refuse delivery of intended harm.”

Over the centuries war and conflict reach the temple in Henan and sometimes caused Shaolin monks to seek refuge elsewhere. The second temple to adopt the Shaolin traditions was the Fukien Temple. Others to join include Kwangtung, Wu-Tang (the Tiger Temple), and O Mei Shan.

Sometime between 621 and 698 A.D. (between the Sui and Tang dynasties), Emperor T'ai Tsung (Qin King Li Shi-Ming) asked the Shaolin fighting monks to aid him in war. General Wang-Shih-Chung had gathered a large army and had successfully captured the Emperor’s son. A small group of monks (legend has it 13) answered the call and, together with the Emperor’s army of 10,000 men defeated the rebels and rescued the Emperor’s son. In recognition of their great bravery, T'ai Tsung awarded the monks approximately 600 acres of land, and bestowed upon the Henan Temple the title, 'Number One" temple.

In the year 900 A.D.,  young nobleman and experienced martial artist joined the Shaolin Monastery and assumed the name of Chueh Yuan. He devoted his studies to martial arts and training and revised 18 Fists of Lo Han, creating what he called the 72 styles or movements. The 72 movements were very effective for both internal and external fitness. They incorporated much of what is being taught today. Chueh Yuan was still not fully satisfied with this and he went out to teach and learn, looking for Masters of other styles. This became a common practice for Shaolin, after reaching a certain level of knowledge and skill, to seek new skills and abilities and bring them back to the Temples.

During the Yuan dynasty (around 1312 A.D.) the monk Da Zhi came to the Shaolin Temple from Japan. There he studied martial arts (barehands and staff) for nearly 13 years after which he returned to Japan and spread Shaolin “Gongfu” to Japanese martial arts society. Later, in 1335 A.D. another Buddhist monk named Shao Yuan came to Shaolin from Japan. He mastered calligraphy, painting, Chan theory (i.e., Ren), and Shaolin Gongfu during his stay. He returned to Japan in 1347 A.D..

In this period a martial art expert named Zhue Yuen joined the Shaolin. Like Chueh Yuan before him, Zhue Yuen traveled across China in search of new martial art styles. In the town of Lan Zhau he met Li Sou who introduced him to Bai Yu Feng, another famous martial artist. Zhue Yuen convinced both to return with him to Shaolin to develop kung fu. From the original 170 movements they developed the 5 animal styles of kung fu (Tiger, Snake, Dragon, Leopard and Crane). These styles were more than just fighting styles. They were also metaphors for handling confrontation and other situations. Keep in mind Shaolin is a name which encompasses all styles of martial arts practiced in the temple. It is not an individual style

Around this time the 4th temple, O Mei Shan (Great White Mountain) joined the Shaolin order. It held a library and was devoted to the practice of medicine. O Mei Shan was located in a remote area of Szechwan. Just as the other temples attracted kung fu masters, O Mei Shan attracted healers and students wishing to learn the practice of medicine. O Mei Shan also had ties to the Crane Temple in Tibet, another major medical temple. It is probably that O Mei Shan chose 2 Cranes as its symbols instead of the traditional Dragon/animal pair.

In the mid 17th century, invaders from Manchurian, led by the Ching Family, ended the Ming Dynasty. An internal rebellion contributed to this downfall. The Dutch were able to capitalize on the turmoil and were invited to help put down the rebellion by a frontier general. Thus Manchu's penetrated the great wall, and eventually conquered China. Some of those fleeing the Chings sought refuge in the Shaolin temples. Shaolin, seeking to remain above politics, initially offered only passive resistance. By offering refuge to those fleeing the Chings, the Shaolin eventually became a de facto center of resistance. At this time the Shaolin had 5 elders (Taoist and Buddhists monks):

Jee Shin – Founder of Shaolin Iron Cloth - (Iron Head Qi Gong master, Kung Fu expert, wooden dummy expert and weapons expert). Shin was the creator of Wing Chun Kung Fu and the founder of Hung Gar and Praising spring boxing,.

Many stories are told of the exploits of the five surviving monks. Fong Sai Yuk, founder of ancient Bok Fu Do, took refuge on Wu Dang Mountain in the Hubei Province. Both Fong Sai Yuk and Bai Mae eventually settled in the Taoist Fukien Temple.  For two years Fong Sai Yuk traveled through mountains and nearby deserts gathering knowledge from the nomadic tribes. He continued to battle the invading Chings and gained renown and fame for his skill as a swordsman. With the aid of his lieutenants Bak Mei, Mew Hing, Jee Shin Shim Shee, and the nun Ng Mui, he organized a following of almost a million strong called the "Heaven And Earth Society". Fong Sai Yuk developed both a “hard" form, Bok Fu, the way of the White Tiger; and a “soft” form that became to be known over the years as White Tiger Tai Chi. Fong Sai Yuk was well liked by the villagers surrounding Fukien. His skills in both Kung Fu, and herbal medicines earned him the name Jung Shee meaning "accomplished one" or grandmaster. The fictionalized life of Fong Sai Yuk is told in a comic film about his life staring Jet Li (released in 1993).

A relative of Fong Sai Yuk (his daughter or niece), named Fong Wing Chun, was a master of the crane system. She married Hung Gee Gung (also known as Hung Hei Gwoon, Hei Kwun, Hei Guen) and together they created the Southern Hung Gar style drawing from both the Dragon and Crane styles.

Another famous martial artist and Buddhist Nun was Ng Mui. Legend has it that Ng Mui taught martial arts to her female friend Yim Wing Chun after Chun was forced to marry a local bully. After studying for a short time, she beat him in a public showdown and won her freedom.

Abbot Jee Shin relocated at Fujian Shaolin temple, which was later also destroyed. Jee Shin escaped and roamed the countryside spreading the word "kill the Ching and restore the Ming". He finally joined the Red Junk Opera troupe as a cook. While there, he developed Wing Chun Kung Fu.

With the beginning of Ching rule, the Shaolin were outlawed and practice of Shaolin Kung Fu or any martial art was punishable by death. Between 1644-1911, the rulers of China considered the Shaolin a threat. Scrolls that documented the original forms of Kung Fu were lost. In order to preserve the arts, masters began to secretly teach various Kung Fu styles to lay society. Some martial artists migrated to other countries including the US, Japan, Indonesia, Malaise, Taiwan, etc.

Near the start of the 19^th century, the Shaolin Temples were reopened for religious purposes (not martial arts training). The Ming resistance continued to oppose the ruling Chings. During the 1800’s, capitalizing on the weak central government of China, Western powers including the British, Russia, France and Holland, and later the Japanese and Americans, established footholds in large parts of China. A long period of warlordism ensued. The opium trade and drug use devastated the poor. By the late 1800s, China was effectively divided into many zones, each controlled by one of the outside powers (similar to post World War II Berlin, on a much larger scale). The long-standing animosities between China and Japan worsened, and extended to include all other "foreign devils" as well. Coupled with the now almost universal disdain by the Chinese for the Ching Empress, a nationalist movement was born. Among the front line soldiers of the new "order" were legendary and near-legendary martial artists--many Shaolin--known to the English as Boxers.

The fall of the Ching Dynasty began with the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. The rebellion itself was a total disaster for the Boxers. Some of the boxers, armed only with Kung Fu,  believed magical spells would make them impervious to gunfire. The Manchu armies equipped with modern handguns and rifles massacred the boxers. After the defeat of the boxers, the remaining resistance adopted more modern weapons and tactics.  The end of the boxer rebellion led to a new migration of surviving Ming loyalists (and many martial artists) from China to other countries including the US and Korea.