Beginning in 1901, the most senior priests of the Shaolin Order fled a war-ravaged China. Over a period of several years, they gathered in New York City's Chinatown. For the last 100 years, the Order of Shaolin Ch'an has worked quietly to preserve the traditions, philosophy, and arts of the Order in the United States. Since the 70's, when Shaolin and its martial arts increasingly became a focal point of popular culture, misinformation and disinformation have anchored it in a growing notoriety. In contrast, this volume strives to accurately share what is spiritually meaningful and martially significant about Shaolin.