The monastery in short
The Shaolin Monastery, Shaolin Si in Chinese, lies in Dengfeng in Henan, in the area of Mount Shaoshi. Its founding is dated to 495 under Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei dynasty, who had it built for the Indian monk Batuo, also known as Buddhabhadra. The monastery is linked with the Chan tradition, better known in the West as Zen.
Much of what is told about Shaolin is legend, and the legends are often mixed into the facts. This page keeps them apart. It is an independent guide with no link to the monastery, the scenic area or any school. For tickets and hours see the tickets page.
Timeline
Dates as given in the sources, with the open points marked.
| Date | Event | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 495 | Founding under Emperor Xiaowen for the monk Batuo | One regional page gives 496 in its opening line and 495 for the foundation story |
| Early Tang | The story of 13 monks and Li Shimin | A tourism retelling, see below |
| 1928 | Fire in the warlord conflicts destroys important halls | Not every current building dates from the founding |
| 2010 | World Heritage inscription, criteria (iii) and (vi) | Serial site with eight component groups |
| 2025 | Investigation and change of abbot | See the last section |
| 2026 | First-instance verdict against the former abbot | 29 May 2026 |
Our picks: a guided visit to the monastery
A day tour with admission and an English-speaking guide to the monastery this page is about.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Shaolin Temple tours and day trips
Guided day trips from Zhengzhou and Luoyang to the monastery and the area around it, with live prices and availability.
Chan Buddhism and Bodhidharma
The monastery is tied to the legend of Bodhidharma, an Indian monk who is said to have meditated for nine years in a cave on the Wuru peak and to have crossed the Yangtze on a reed. Even the official tourism text uses the language of tradition for the second story. The Damo Cave at the Wuru peak is on the city's list of stations, and the Pagoda Forest page says more about it.
Bodhidharma did not found the monastery. The founding in 495 came first. It is also a mistake to read the legend as proof that he invented kung fu techniques. Treat the cave meditation as a religious tradition, not as a documented biography.
Monks and legends
The city tells of 13 monks who helped Li Shimin in the early Tang period. That is a tourism retelling of history. Details such as the rescue scene, the dialogues and the fighting are retelling, not proven fact, and the same goes for stories about what monks were allowed to eat or drink. When a guide gives you exact words and scenes from this episode, take them as a story.
Kung fu is closely tied to the name of the monastery today, but the shows and schools around Dengfeng are a separate matter from monastic life. The performers of the daytime show are mostly students of martial arts schools, as the kung fu show page explains. For the schools see the martial arts schools page.
Fire, rebuilding and World Heritage
A regional cultural page describes the destruction of important halls in the warlord fire of 1928. Do not assume that the buildings you see today are unchanged since the founding.
In 2010 the monuments of Dengfeng were inscribed on the World Heritage List as a serial site. The Shaolin group is made up of the core temple complex, the Pagoda Forest and Chuzu Temple. The inscription covers eight component groups and does not cover the whole town or the mountain landscape. See the Dengfeng page for the other groups.
The abbot, 2025 and 2026
On 27 July 2025 the temple administration announced a joint investigation into the then abbot, Shi Yongxin, on suspicion of crimes including the misappropriation of project funds and temple assets, and of breaches of monastic rules. On 28 July his ordination certificate was withdrawn, and on 29 July Shi Yinle was appointed the new abbot. A report of 30 July said he had previously been abbot of the Baima Temple.
On 29 May 2026 a court in Xinxiang sentenced Liu Yingcheng, the former religious name of Shi Yongxin, at first instance to 24 years in prison and a fine of CNY 3.5 million for offenses including misappropriation of unit property, embezzlement and bribery. According to the court, he accepted the verdict and did not appeal.
This section records dated announcements only. The scenic area and its operator are a separate matter from the temple itself.
Keep exploring
Pages that go with the history.
Shaolin history: frequently asked questions
When was the Shaolin Monastery founded?
In 495 under Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei, according to the Henan tourism text. One regional cultural page opens with 496 and then gives 495 for the foundation story.
Did Bodhidharma found Shaolin?
No. The monastery was founded for the monk Batuo in 495. Bodhidharma belongs to the later Chan tradition and to legend.
Did Bodhidharma invent kung fu?
That cannot be shown. The link between Bodhidharma and martial arts is part of the legend, not a documented fact.
Are the buildings original?
Not all of them. Important halls were destroyed in a fire in 1928, so do not assume that every building dates from the founding period.
Who is the abbot now?
Shi Yinle was appointed on 29 July 2025, according to a report of 30 July 2025. Check the temple's own announcements for any later change.