72 Consummate Pugilistic Techniques of Shaolin, The

A range of techniques with a reputation that shook the world. Since the establishment of the Shaolin School of Pugilism, only one eminent monk had managed to learn 23 of these consummate techniques; took place at the beginning of the Song Dynasty. No one else had managed to learn more than 22 techniques. In the 2nd edition, the maximum number of techniques that others managed to learn was 20 (Chapter 10).

Some of the techniques mentioned and/or used in DGSD were (in alphabetical order):

Finger of Flower Offerings, The (Nian1 Hua1 Zhi3 拈花指) - one of the 9 finger techniques in the real-life Consummate Techniques of Shaolin; studied in/by the Dharma Hall (Da2 Mo2 Yuan4 达摩院). Performed by Jiumozhi, ostensibly as a means of gaining the trust of Benyin and the others. Movements included putting the thumb and the forefinger of the right hand together as if in the act of picking a flower, smiling, and flicking the fingers of the left hand towards the right. The energy stream that went forth was so gentle yet damaging that Benyin, the Emperor Baoding and the other 'Ben' monks considered the act to be beneath their abilities. Benyin et al felt that the Finger of Flower Offerings was totally different from the Single Finger of Positivity. Jiumozhi described his own abilities in this technique to be beneath that of the monk Xuandu of Shaolin (Chapter 10).

Finger of the Formless Raid, The (Wu2 Xiang4 Jie2 Zhi3 无相劫指) - one of the 9 finger techniques in the real-life Consummate Techniques of Shaolin, in which the zenith of formlessness in Buddhist martial arts is achieved; studied in/by the Dharma Hall. Performed by Jiumozhi, ostensibly as a means of gaining the trust of Benyin and the others. Entailed the use of a silent and invisible burst of finger-based energy to scatter the smithereens that had been created earlier by the Finger of the Pattra Leaf, without any visible gestures or changes in facial expression (Chapter 10).

Finger of the Pattra Leaf, The (Duo1 Luo2 Ye4 Zhi3 多罗叶指) - one of the 9 finger techniques in the real-life Consummate Techniques of Shaolin, entailing the flicking on the practitioner's fingers one after the other like the blossoming petals of the flowers from the Incarvillea species (found mostly in Sichuan and Tibet); studied in/by the Dharma Hall. Performed by Jiumozhi, ostensibly as a means of gaining the trust of Benyin and the others. Entailed the use of finger-based energy to shatter a wooden box and all its metal fittings (e.g. hinges, locks, etc) into smithereens (Chapter 10).

Note: Pattra leaves, which come from the Asian Palmyra Palm (species Borassus flabelliformis), were once used to record Buddhist sutras.

Great Veda Baton, The (Da4 Wei2 Tuo1 Chu3 大韦陀杵) - one of the 14 special skills in the real-life Consummate Techniques of Shaolin; a hammer-based technique that is studied in/by the Prana Hall (Ban1 Ruo4 Tang2 般若堂). Could apparently break every rib in its victims upon impact; deemed 'un-Buddhist' by the Yellow-Browed Monk. Xuanbei's skill at using this technique was considered unique and peerless in the martial arts circle (Chapter 9). Described by Wang Yuyan as the '29th' in the list of the 72 Consummate Techniques; comprised only of 19 moves but had a lot of power when executed. In the 2nd edition, the technique was described as the '48th'(2). Considered by Wang Yuyan as being 'very difficult to learn' (Chapter 12).

Notes: (1) 'Veda', a Sanskirt word that means 'knowledge' or 'sacred book' depending on its context, is transliterated as 'Wei2 Tuo1' 韦陀 in Chinese. (2) Unless a true listing of the 72 Consummate Techniques is available, the position of the Great Veda Baton on the list would remain difficult to confirm.

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In real-life, the 72 Consummate Pugilistic Techniques of Shaolin are categorised into 13 general types: (1) the fist, (2) the palm, (3) the finger, (4) the claw, (5) the seize, (6) swordplay, (7) sabre-play, (8) the crutch, (9) the staff/pole, (10) the body, (11) internal strength, (12) specialities, and (13) battle arrays/formations.