South of Luoyang and Zhengzhou, nestled in the foothills of Song Shan, lies the Shaolin Monastery. According to a 1,000-year-old tradition, it was at Shaolin that the founder of Zen Buddhism, the 6th-century monk Boddhidharma, preached and meditated until his death. The monastery grew larger and richer during the Sui, Tang and later dynasties. Its monks, threatened by bandits and other enemies, developed a system of self-defense that became known throughout the world as kung fu. The tradition of meditation and martial arts has continued; at this writing, it is being forwarded by nine aged monks and three young novices. A recent film based on the monastery inspired hundreds of young Chinese to apply there for kung fu training, but all were predictably turned away.