This modern guest house was still under construction when I visited.  It promised reasonable daily rates, a restaurant and gift shop which is likely open by now.

The young monk stated the library there indeed had manuscripts of Som Dot.  All stated they do not exercise Mantis or any other martial art, particularly since the Cultural Revolution. 

Som Dot was said to be raised in Tibet.  Of course, Wu Tai Shan has a strong Tibetan influence.  He is said to have taught his disciples Kungfu and Spiritualism at Longhushan, Dragon Tiger Mt., in Kwongsai Province, and the Bamboo Temple of Wu Tai Shan in Shanxi Province.

Chung Yel Chong accompanied Lee Siem Si to the Wu Tai Shan Bamboo Temple in order to practice Kungfu and study medicine. Ultimately, Chung mastered these pursuits and In 1917, Master Chung and his teacher left Wu Tai Shan and travelled back to south China. Its said, the journey took them six months by horse back.

This is the oldest of the Temple Halls in existence today.  It still has the devout who come to this remote place to pray, although, there were only one or two the time I was there.

Oddly, there is no bamboo forest today.  Only rows and rows of freshly planted evergreen trees over a barren landscape.  I visited in the Spring and during the day short sleeves were needed but at night a heavy jacket.

I tried walking over as much of the grounds as were accessible.  A young apprentice monk who lived there guided me up to the very back of the Temple, before bringing me back thru some hidden passages.  Afterwards, I was introduced to a senior monk and we stood in the wind trying to discuss the history of Som Dot.

            

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SURVEY HOME
THIS VOLUME HOME

VOLUME FOUR
QUICK LINKS

CHUNG YEL CHONG'S
FAMILY INTERVIEWS
Chung Yel Chong's Clinic
Lee Siem Takes A Student Chung Go Wah
Chung's Manuscripts
Chung Ying
Chung Yel Chong, Soldier Chung Opens Schools Chung's Family Today

SIFU
LEE KOK LIANG'S INTERVIEWS
Sifu Lee's Curriculum
Lee Talks About Lam Sang Lee's Published Article

ON SOM DOT'S TRAIL
WU TAI SHAN
Panorama of Central Town
Up the Road to Jook Lum Outside the Gate
Old Jook Lum Temple
Inside the Old Temple
Monk Speaks About Som Dot

DRAGON TIGER MOUNTAIN Wonders of Longhushan Taoist Mansions and Palaces Bottom Line

HONG KONG
JOOK LUM TEMPLE
Bottom Line

MACAU
JOOK LUM TEMPLE
Bottom Line

Map of Temples

VOLUME ONE
Pingshan
Mantis Celebration

VOLUME TWO
China Mantis Reunion

VOLUME THREE
Iron Ox / Kwongsai Interviews

VOLUME FIVE
Chu Gar Praying Mantis

ADDENDUMS
Wong Yu Hua Interviews

Wong Yook Gong's
Training Creed

Kwongsai Dit Da Formula 

CONCLUSION

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No portion of this material may be reproduced in any way without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

  

WU TAI SHAN
   JOOK LUM TEMPLE