According
to the Historical Records of Henan Prefecture, in the year 1350 during the Yuan
dynasty, the Red Turban Army made an attempt to attack the Shaolin Monastery. A
monk who worked in the kitchen came out to defend the monastery brandishing a
large chan (a wooden shovel used to mix rice in the gigantic monastery woks)
that was ablaze in flames. A manifestation of the Kinnara King appeared, and
the fierce looking deity scared away the Red Turbans. The monks later erected a
worship hall in his honor, and he was given the honorific title The Bodhisattva
King of the Kinnaras.
Image: Woodblock illustration of the Kinnara King (Jinnaluo Wang Pusa) from
Historical Records of Shaolin Monastery (少林寺志 Shaolinsi
Zhi)
The Legend of the Shaolin Monk's Fighting Staff
