Shaolin Monks

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In game[edit | edit source]

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Shaolin Monks — Vital statistics
Shaolin Monks

Unique Chinese unit raised from Buddha Grotto Complex wonder.

Prereq: Build time HP LOS Attack Attack speed Movement
speed


Imperial Mandate

11.6s
(175t)
110 8 19 1.6s
(25t)
40


Cost Created from Armour Weapon range Specialty
Base Ramp Pop
Food.jpg: 80;
Timber: 60
Food.jpg: 20;
Timber: 20
1

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4 Melee
  • Can see hidden units.
  • Deals splash damage.
China.jpg

A unique unit for the Chinese faction, Shaolin Monks are very similar to Armoured Militia by means of class, but distinguish themselves in several areas: firstly, they have more hitpoints, making them akin to the Japanese Sohei unit. Secondly, they can deal splash damage with their weapons at a slightly faster speed. In addition, they run faster, and can spot hidden units with their LOS which increases with each Science level. Shaolin Monks are thus a very powerful addition, but for one problem — they train more slowly than most other units, and can be recruited only from a Buddha Grotto Complex. In addition, their attacks are virtually useless against armoured units, so the Chinese player should be wary as their small numbers and inability to "hold a line", especially against the more heavily armoured units of Catholic Christendom may pose problems. Far better it may be to keep these units on the lookout for spies

History[edit | edit source]

Throughout the 1550s the coast of China was constantly raided by Wokou (Japanese pirates). The imperial Chinese army was humiliated by a string of constant failure to push the Wokou back due to certain corrupted court officials who were allied to the Wokou for personal gains.

Thus, when ordinary Chinese imperial army and navy troops proved unable to stamp out the pirate menace, Nanjing's Vice-Commissioner-in-Chief, Wan Biao, decided to deploy the monastic fighters. He called upon the warrior-monks of three temples: Wutaishan in Shanxi Province, Funiu in Henan Province, and Shaolin. Tianyuan, the leader of the joint monastic force was known for his prowess in martial combat. The records states that other monks challenged him for the position of leader. The eighteen challengers chose eight from among themselves to attack Tianyuan.

First, the eight men came at the Shaolin monk with bare hands, but he fended them all off. They then grabbed swords; Tianyuan responded by seizing the long iron bar that was used to lock the gate. Wielding the bar as a staff, he defeated all eight of the other monks simultaneously. They were forced to bow to Tianyuan, and acknowledge him as the proper leader of the monastic forces. With the question of leadership settled, the monks could now turn their attention to their real adversary: the Japanese pirates.

The monks then fought the pirates in at least four battles. The first took place in the spring of 1553 on Mount Zhe, which overlooks the entrance to Hangzhou City via the Qiantang River. Although details are scarce, Zheng Ruoceng notes that this was a victory for the monastic forces. The second battle was the monks' greatest victory: the Battle of Wengjiagang, which was fought in the Huangpu River Delta in July of 1553. On July 21, 120 monks met an approximately equal number of pirates in battle. The monks were victorious, and chased the remnants of the pirate band south for ten days, killing every last pirate. Monastic forces suffered only four casualties in the fighting.

During the battle and mop-up operation, the Shaolin were noted for their ruthlessness. One monk used an iron staff to kill the wife of one of the pirates as she tried to escape the slaughter. Several dozen monks took part in two more battles in the Huangpu delta that year. The fourth battle was a grievous defeat, due to incompetent strategic planning by the army general in charge. Nevertheless, the victories of the Shaolin warrior monks would then restore morale for the imperial Ming army. In 1563, general Qi Jiguang would lead the imperial Chinese army to defeat the remnants of the combined Japanese and Chinese pirate force on the island of Nan'ao, finally getting rid of the pirate menace once and for all.