MICA History Life Within the Buddhist Monastic Community Essay

The Shaolin Monastery is a Chinese Buddhist temple belonging to the Chan (Zen) school.

Established in the 5th century, Shaolin has been known throughout history for its fighting monks
and is still one of the major centers for martial arts (wushu ??, also known as kung fu) in China.
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (??????) is a 1978 film directed by Lau Kar-leung, starring
Gordon Liu. The film focuses on the young student of Liu Yide, later known as San Te (??,
literally “Three Virtues”). At the beginning of the film, San Te joins a group of Han loyalists who
still support the now defeated Ming Dynasty and seek to rebel against the newly established
Manchu Qing regime. Once the group is discovered, San Te escapes and finds refuge in the Shaolin
Monastery, where he undertakes the arduous process of learning martial arts.
For this assignment, I would like you to offer an analysis of the film based on the following
questions. Keep in mind that I do not want you to simply list your answers. Instead, use the
questions to construct an analytical review essay that analyzes the film against the backdrop of
Chapter 6 (War and Peace) in An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics (the entire book can be found in
the “Files” folder on Canvas).
What does life within the Buddhist monastic community look like in the film? How does it address
the ideological and social tensions between this religious community and the secular world around
it? What elements of Buddhist doctrine we covered throughout this semester are manifested in San
Te’s process of self-cultivation? What does this process entail? What is the relationship between
the physical and spiritual aspects of this multi-leveled regimen? Finally, what does the textbook
have to say about the Buddhist approach to war and violence? Can you apply it to offer a better
understanding of the tension we see in the film between the Buddhist ideal of non-violence and
the martial nature of life in the Shaolin community, as well as San Te’s thirst for vengeance?