Monastery Of The Woods is the fulfilment of Li Tuo’s last wish; his heart to be taken to the Shaolin Monastery that he loved. Now, the word Shaolin is very over-used by people running Kung Fu classes all over the Western World. But Shaolin is a very specific place. It is the original monastery, founded by Emperor Hsiao-Wen in 496 CE on the mountain of Song Shan in the Henan province. The word Shaolin literally means Monastery of the Woods, hence the title. Song Shan is a wooded mountain.

Now, I am no expert on any of these things, especially not the fine details of Gung Fu. But I read up about the philosophy of Shaolin and it seems like it was a fine, good principle of life. So I was quite annoyed when I read about what the Chinese Communists DID to the place. And Chrístõ and Li Tuo both reflect that opinion. The basic idea of Communism - equality for all - is no bad thing in itself, and in many ways China in the 1940s and 50s needed to cast off some superstitions and outmoded traditions and catch up with the 20^th century. The Shaolins represented a throwback to the past. So they had to go. But to then install a pale imitation of them in order to attract tourism from the west they despise is not on.

And that’s my PERSONAL rant about Chinese Communists.

Returning Li Tuo’s remains to Shaolin, to lie in the Forest of Stupas, was the purpose of the journey for Chrístõ and Bo. There needed a story, too, and I dug into Google for traditional Chinese demons and devils again, and happened upon Geong Si – one of several spellings of the ‘hopping ghosts’. I got as far as learning that they find their victims by their breathing and knew they were just what I wanted, since I have a hero who can hold his breath for a very long time.

The fight scene between Chrístõ and Martial Abbot and Guo Mao Kai has an obvious source to anyone who knows their science fiction films of recent years. I am NOT a Star Wars fan as such, but Phantom Menace was on in the background while I was writing this story and I started to pay attention to the battle between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as the forces of good and Darth Maul as the force of darkness. The two heroes had ordinary light sabres and the baddie had a long, double ended one and kept them both at bay for a while. I watched Qui-Gon Jinn die and Obi-Wan defeat Darth Maul on his own and knew I had the climax of my battle!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Song

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaolin_Monastery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_mo

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/g/geong_si.html

http://www.ghostvillage.com/resources/2005/resources_03042005.shtml

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120915/