The Shaolin Temple is popularly considered the birthplace of Asian martial arts. This Buddhist monastery was originally located in the Sung-Shan mountains in Honan province of China. It was built in the fifth century in honor of the Indian monk Bodhiruchi. When Bodhidharma traveled from India to the temple in 520 A.D., he brought with him Zen Buddhism and the martial arts, or at least some principles of self-defense or physical fitness.
Many martial arts claim to trace their origins to the temple.
In the year 525 A.D., China was split into many kingdoms and bandit baronies, and the Canton War Lords had disarmed the civilian population. Bandits were raiding the villages for food, molesting people, burning houses, and robbing the Buddhist temples. The Canton War Lords failed to protect the people and they turned to the priest Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma fasted, prayed, and meditated to God for many days. Then, he conveyed the message that war and killing is wrong, but is also wrong not to be prepared to defend oneself against evil Tyrants.