The Shao Lin Chronicles

The Shao Lin Chronicles: Book 3 - The Birth of Kung Fu and the Five Shaolin MastersThe Shao Lin Chronicles: Book 3 - The Birth of Kung Fu and the Five Shaolin Masters resumes a couple of years after Book 2 - A Noble Quest leaves off. In this third and concluding book, Jen Li, who has proven to be extremely proficient at the five animal styles and equally insightful regarding the Dharma, serves as the first person present narrator. Jen Li, Lu, Pei Mei, Fung Dou, and Miu Hin, who will become the 'Five Shaolin Masters', have been training the monks at Shao Lin in the five animal styles. What of Jen Li's and Lu's relationship?At the onset of Book 3, the "Five" are invited to meet with Master Bodhidharma and Master Silananda where they learn about the history of the Shao Lin Monastery and the various emperors who have supported their mission to spread the teachings of the Buddha throughout the land. However, to their horror, they also learn that the Fukien Monastery has been destroyed by anti-Buddhist persecutors. Was it the Wu Tang? The White Lotus Society? The Red Turbans? Or a state-sponsored group? And what of the monks at Fukien? The masters? And Pei Mei's brother Bohai? Did anyone survive, other than the two monks from Fukien who managed to make it to Shao Lin to share the desolating news?Master Bodhidharma charges the "Five" with the responsibility of halting the progress of these anti-Buddhist factions. The "Five" realize that this will entail fighting, and even killing members of these groups. How is a Buddhist to engage in such a mission? Is this self-defense? What values and virtues might be compromised in their efforts? They are also made aware that the current "puppet" emperor was put into that position by an evil general who is intent on eradicating Buddhism and all who practice it from the land. The "Five" devise a plan to go to the capital city and deal with the young emperor and the general. On their journey, the "Five" must deal with the deaths of fellow monks as well as taking the lives of others with their own hands. In a moment of serious irony, Jen Li discovers that she is pregnant with Lu's child, while they are being forced to endure horrendous torture after having been kidnapped.Is one of their fellow monks, Qifu, who grew up in the capital city, actually the only living legitimate heir to the throne. Is "Old" Lao Tzu, a long-time counselor of previous emperors, the actual writer of The Tao Te Ching? Is Jen Li beginning to master "mystical" techniques? And will the "Five" be successful at overcoming greater and greater challenges until it culminates at the Shao Lin Monastery itself, where over two thousand men have marched, bringing with them 3 massive cannons? Te arrives with two of his personal students, but did he do so in time to lend assistance again? What of the local peasants, farmers, and village people of the Hunan Province - will they be able to live in peace, or will they continue to be persecuted by various anti-Buddhist rebels and armies? In the end, who survives and what of their futures? Does Shaolin manage to emerge from the forest as a beacon of hope for the future of Buddhism and those who follow the teachings in this land?Similar to Books 1 and 2, Book 3 is a fiction, but written pseudo-historically as it borrows from Buddhist legend and lore, serving as a marvelous conclusion to a series that has fleshed out a blend of history, action, and the difficulties involved with following a Buddhist "path with heart", while engaging in personal relationships, external crises, internal dilemmas and even warfare. In addition, Book 3 includes an addendum that lists all of the characters with brief descriptions mentioned in Books 1, 2 and 3