Shaolin Temple's "no female visitors" policy

[Ken Cheng]

During the time of DEMIGODS & SEMIDEVILS, the Shaolin Temple had very strict rules regarding the presence of female visitors on its grounds. Hence, Wong Yu Yin, Ah Chu, and Ah Bik were denied admittance to the temple when they went there with Deun Yu to search for Mo Yung F'uk (and Ah Chu had to subsequently disguise herself as a monk to the enter the temple).

This rule was seemingly waived later on in DGSD, however, because during the Heroes Conference, Wong Yu Yin, Ah Chi, and Yip 2 Leung were all present and the Shaolin authorities did not object.

Several generations later, the 19-year old Gwok Seung visited the Shaolin Temple. She too was initially unwelcome there, but that seemed to be because she was an armed stranger and she had interfered with Gok Yeun the monk's punishment, not because she was female.

By the time of HEAVEN SWORD & DRAGON SABRE, this rule seemed to have been thrown out completely by Shaolin. At the Heroes Conference that ended HSDS, many Ngor Mei Sect members (most of them female), as well as female members of the Kunlun Sect and independent female martial artists, were invited to Shaolin and even rested at the temple's dormitory facilities at night.

It seemed that Shaolin relaxed its policy on female visitors as time went on.

[PJ]

This rule was seemingly waived later on in DGSD, however, because during the Heroes Conference, Wong Yu Yin, Ah Chi, and Yip 2 Leung were all present and the Shaolin authorities did not object.

There were 2 reasons for this:

1) Abbot Xuanci was the lover of Ye Erniang, so he wasn't going to throw her out.

2) Everyone thought: The enemy is approaching and we are in danger. Let's put aside the rules and focus on the enemy.

Several generations later, the 19-year old Gwok Seung visited the Shaolin Temple. She too was initially unwelcome there, but that seemed to be because she was an armed stranger and she had interfered with Gok Yeun the monk's punishment, not because she was female.

Actually, the "no female" rule was still strictly in place, and Guo Xiang was told to leave because Shaolin disallowed female guests. And later when He Zudao went to challenge Shaolin, they also didn't allow her to enter the monastery.

[Ken Cheng]

What about the HSDS proper era, then? Female wulin members openly attended the Heroes Conference at Shaolin in large numbers at the end of HSDS.

[Swordwiz]

I think the reasons may be similar to that of DGSD. It was an important event in Wulin.

[Candide]

The HSDS conference was not held INSIDE Shaolin. It was outside, in the "visitors' area". Guo Xiang and others were also permitted to stay in that area, but not go beyond the gate.

Emei and other visitors stayed in their own tents, again, outside of the Shaolin gate.

The battles against the 3 Du Elders were held on top of a small hill behind Shaolin.

The internal halls of Shaolin, AFAIK, consist of Damo Hall, Lohan Hall, <+a bunch of other halls>, Shaolin Library, the monks' rooms, meditation rooms and kungfu training grounds. I think these are the ones where the no female visitor rule applies.

[Ardor]

This has been thrown out the drain in Smiling Proud Wanderer, no?

[Swordwiz]

Well, Ren Yingying was a special case, and that other time... well, if Shaolin almost got torn down (with the plan they decided to take), this rule would be rather small in comparison.

[kyss of the sword]

in truth, shaolin does not have any such rule, it's solely an invention for the novel as a plot device. in actual history, shaolin has a hall(red flower hall) for nuns at the back of the temple but inside the temple proper. and several famous female heroines and martial artist have trained at shaolin temple in actual history, including a nun who is credited with founding e-mei school. in the novel(s) the wuxia authors instead usually create a sister nunnery at the other peak on songshan in place of this hall.

in the novel(s), the martial arts meet is held in the big piece of ground in front of the main doors, actually outside the temple. or at a ground specially set aside for this purpose.

[Suet Seung]

This has been thrown out the drain in Smiling Proud Wanderer, no?

Didn't Ren YingYing stay at small cottage a few blocks away from Shaolin but is part of Shaolin land property? Its just far away from where the monks slept, ate and etc?