Movies - The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

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	Movies - The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin or Shao Lin san shi liu fang is a martial arts film from Hong Kong, directed by Lau Kar-leung, and first screened in 1978. It is considered to be a classic in the genre. The main character San Te is played by the director's adopted brother Gordon Liu. It is completely unrelated to the 1985 film Enter the 36th Chamber of Shaolin, although both films star Liu.

Plot

A young man from a political sect in China seeks vengeance against an official of the state for killing his relative. He flees to the Shaolin temple and seeks training in martial arts. Initially the monks reject him, until he proves worthy to learn. However, as he nears the end of his education, the temple rejects him and he is forced into the outside world. He returns to the city of his birth, and assists the people by teaching them martial arts. Before the political revolution he is inspiring is complete, he is forced into conflict with his rival the official. Finally, he triumphs and pursues a life teaching others martial arts.

The 36th Chamber and Buddhist educational theory

The film demonstrates a solid insight into methods of Buddhist education. When he arrives at the temple, the student is assumed to have an interest in living there indefinitely, and is set to sweeping. Only after an extended period does the student ask for knowledge, and seeks the "best, or highest" knowledge. This "best" knowledge is an internal Buddhist one, not the expected martial arts success! He seeks the next greatest learning, but is defeated. In humility the student begins training with the most elemental skills: strength, endurance, agility. Each test requires more and more of the student, challenging him not only to learn humility, but his own mind. As the student develops he is faced with deeper challenges: contests from fellow monks that require advanced skills and research into the very nature of martial arts. As each stage of education is completed, he is forcefully ejected from the chamber of teaching and told not to return. Finally, after besting another monk in combat, the student asks to be able to take his teachings to the outside world. For this "crime" he is ejected from the temple: he has learnt that Buddhist knowledge is only complete in action in the world. The process of learning through experience and moving on is central to Buddhist ideas of education, as is the process of becoming ready to learn through humility.

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