Shaolin Temple in Henan Province

17. Shaolin Temple

The fighting monks in a thousand kung fu films can trace their origin to the Shaolin Monastery in Henan Province. In fact, the Chinese martial arts and such offshoots as the gentler exercise forms known as Taiqi have their symbolic, if not literal, birthplace at this monastery. The branch of Buddhism known as Chan {"Zen" in Japan and the West) also looks to Shaolin as its source.

Photo courtesy of my friend Dot Garlow.