The Armchair Traveler: American Shaolin

On the cover of American Shaolin is a Buddhist monk wearing a bright yellow robe holding a Burger King bag. The juxtaposition of those divergent elements caught my eye and I picked up a book I would have normally passed by.

In 1993 author, Matthew Polly took leave from his studies at Princeton to travel to Zheng Zhou, China in order study kungfu with the monks of Shaolin. This is China after Tiananmen Square, just as the miracle of her economic revolution was starting.

Matt hopped a plane with the vague plan of finding the Shaolin Temple once he arrives. Shortly after his arrival, he realizes he is not in Kansas anymore.

The adventure of finding the Temple might have dissuaded a less tenacious or more informed man. Arriving at Shaolin, Matt faced the challenge of navigating Chinese social mores with his wallet and humor in tact. He braved earning acceptance from the monks, finding  a source for his Coke (as in soda) fix, eating bitter (suffering), dysentery, intense training sessions with unique equipment, challenge matches and working with/around Communist officials.

American Shaolin is a great read. Matt immerses his reader in the pain, pleasure and privilege of studying kungfu with some of the great masters of that time. He writes about Chinese culture with respect and affection.

Considering the nature of this blog I do have to issue a warning to readers: American Shaolin is a book about young men accomplishing great physical feats against daunting odds. Unless there is an compelling reason for them to be otherwise; young men in  those circumstances tend to be vulgar in language and crude about women. Matt’s memories concerning his search for female companionship while eventually tedious, aren't graphic. He uses vulgar language in a descriptive not a gratuitous manner. Nonetheless, if you prefer to avoid the language allowed in R rated movies regardless of how it is used, you probably will  not enjoy this book. Matt credited his mother for cleaning  up his use of vulgarity. Thanks mom! 

American Shaolin is all the more interesting reading in light of the up coming summer Olympic Games. I have just one question: Aren’t Buddhist vegetarians?