Lu Zhouxiang is Lecturer in Chinese Studies within the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the National University of Ireland Maynooth, Ireland.

1. Introduction 2. The Early Days of Shaolin 3. The Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties 4. The Transformation of Shaolin in the Ming Dynasty 5. The Development of Shaolin in the Qing Dynasty 6. The Republic of China Era: Warlords, Militarism and Nationalism 7. Surviving Socialist Reforms 8. The Revival of Shaolin in the Era of Reform and Opening Up 9. Conclusion

This book explores the full history of Shaolin. It points out that as an important religious institution with more than 1,500 years of history, Shaolin has created a legacy of remembrance which serves the formation of the Chinese nation's soul and spiritual principles.