Presented December 14, 2003 at the Chinese Martial Arts Conference
by Dennis Rovere (See Curriculum Vitae below)

Shaolin as the name of a place.
According to the publication series of by the China Architecture and Building Press translated by Pan Jingyi (ISBN 3-211-83009) the Shaolin monastery (or Shaolin as it is commonly referred to) was: "Built in the 19th year of the reign of Taishi (495), Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty."

This fact is supported historically by literally thousands of documents including the seminal work entitled Chinese Buddhist Monasteries (Hong Kong University Press, 1937, 1967). The work
Buddhism in Chinese Society (Columbia University Press, 1195. ISBN 0-231-0738-1) quotes Chin-shih ts'ui pien 74.1a-2b "The Shaolin monastery was situated on the northern slope of the Sung-shan (Song mountains) in Teng-feng county, Honan.

The site of the monastery still exists and is now undergoing restoration/rebuilding.

While the word 'Shaolin' literally means young forest, (just as the word San Francisco means
Saint Francis) the term in the Chinese language is commonly understood to mean either the place (Shaolin monastery) or a family/group of martial arts - either practiced at the monastery or derived
from the martial arts that were taught there. (More about this below.)

Because it is an integral part of the Chinese cultural heritage, the average Chinese person will
immediately think of the monastery (and fighting monks) when you say Shaolin - just as an American will immediately think of the city in California when you say San Francisco (and not Saint Francis).

Shaolin as a family of martial arts.
According to the research done by Professor Meir Shahar of Tel Aviv University (and published as
Ming-Period Evidence of Shaolin Martial Practice in the Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol.
LXI, No. 2 2, December 2001), the earliest evidence of Shaolin participating in military affairs was
during the Sui dynasty. By the mid-sixteenth century military experts from all over the Empire were traveling to Shaolin to study its fighting techniques.

These various military experts did not remain at the monastery. As a result, there was an expansion throughout Chinas of a family of martial arts styles that derived from the Shaolin system of martial arts. Some of these systems have evolved or changed of the years, but are still referred to by the common term "Shaolin wushu (martial arts)".

In China there exists two general categories for these Shaolin arts - Northern (Bei) Shaolin and
Southern (Nan) Shaolin. For example, if we look in the publication Chinese English Wushu Terms (ISBN7-5023-0220) - the standard text for wushu (martial arts) terminology, we find the term 'shaolin nan quan' (literally "Shaolin southern style boxing").

Perhaps an example of the general use of the term Shaolin in the martial arts community will further my point:

e.g., A conversation between two Northern martial arts styles would begin with identifying themselves as Bei (Northern) Shaolin practitioners. They would then ask one another which particular style they practice in the family of (northern) Shaolin. (e.g., Shaolin Eagle Claw and Lohan Shaolin.) They would then progress to compare lineages - to determine teachers; who is junior/senior; and if they have specific common links or overlaps in their styles. If I do not practice a martial art system that falls within the family of Shaolin styles, when asked what I practice, I would simply respond with the name of the style. (e.g., Xingyi Quan - a northern Chinese style but not of the Shaolin family.)

Without going into further detail, I think you will agree there are several points that disqualifies the term 'Shaolin Wushu" from being registered as a trademark.

1. Shaolin is a commonly recognized term with Chinese culture that refers to either/both the monastery and the fighting monks and martial arts that were historically practiced there.

2. Shaolin is a place name - the location of which exists both in Chinese history and modern times.

3. The term 'Shaolin' has cultural significance common to the Chinese people. This is both in relation to Shaolin being a historical center of Buddhism (prior to the 20th century) and especially with the practice of both traditional and modern Chinese martial arts.

4. There exists a commonly held (historical) tradition in the Chinese culture that Shaolin does not refer to a single style but rather to specific families of martial arts- including many practiced outside of the Shaolin monastery.

I think you will agree that it is impossible to grant exclusivity (through trademark) to a term that has such broad cultural significance to such a large and diverse group of people.

Partial Curriculum Vitae of Mr. Dennis Rovere.

Martial Arts.
Only non-oriental to receive instructor's certification from Col. Chang
Hsiang-Wu (Chinese army, retired). Col. Chang is the former chief instructor
of close combat (hsing-i) and military strategy (Bing Fa)at the Whampoa,
Central Military Academy of China at Nanjing. Mr. Rovere is Col. Chang's last
senior student.

Mr. Rovere's martial arts instructor's certification from Col. Chang
includes: Tai Chi Ch'uan (Old Yang Style c.1915), Hsing-I Ch'uan (Xingyi), Pa-
Kua Ch'uan (baqua quan). (Unarmed and armed techniques.)

Instructor's training with Major Chang Yen Ying (Chinese army, retired).
Major Chang, is a senior student of Du Shen Wu. She served at Changsha,
China as close combat instructor for the Chinese women's militia and the "yu
ge dwei" (mobile strike teams or commandos) during the Japanese War.

First non-oriental to receive special recognition as a martial arts
instructor from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

A recipient of the Chiang Ching Guo (Presidential award) for Culture from the
Government of the Republic of China.

A recipient of an honorary award from the Chinese Army/Special Forces (ROC).

First and currently only civilian to train in the People's Republic of China
with the bodyguard instructors of the Wu Jing (Special Military Police
Training Unit). Beijing, PRC.

First and currently only civilian to train with instructors of the Gung An
(Public Security). Number One Gung An Training Academy, Putong/Shanghai, PRC.

Mr. Rovere is the author of two books and numerous published articles on both
traditional and modern military martial arts. In 1976, he was the subject of
a documentary film produced by Health and Welfare Canada on Mr. Rovere's work
teaching t'ai Chi to senior Citizen's.

Educational.

B.A. (Chinese Archaeology)
B. Sc. Arch. (cum laude) and B.Arch. (cum laude) professional degree
Associate, American Institute of Architects
Former Representative to FICESAR (a US/Taiwan cultural and educational
foundation)
Mr. Rovere has lectured on traditional Chinese Garden design and Art theory
at the University level. Additionally, he has authored several published
articles on modern architectural issues including architectural protective
design.
Mr. Rovere is a practicing architect based in Calgary Canada. His
international work experience includes projects in the United States,China
(PRC and Taiwan) and Italy.