少林武术的发源地在河南省登封市城五里外的嵩山少林寺，以武僧著称。少林派在六组慧能禅师与神秀禅师时，分为南少林与北少林。六组以后不再传授衣钵，亦无祖师之名称。少林之南北两派；慧能之南派重“拳”精于“短手”；神秀之北派则重“腿”精于“长手”，世称“南拳北腿”之分，风格迵异，特点鲜明。月悬于小桥之上，竹林间，短桥寸劲，阔幅沉马，讯疾紧凑，此乃南派武术的特点；日出于泰山之巅，空旷间，大开大合，蹿纵跳跃，舒展大方，这是北派的特点。
少林南派法门传至浙江省南海普济寺，慧精大师是六组传下第二房之四十八传门人。而四十九传则是新加坡莲山双林寺方丈高参和尚。
高参和尚，也有人尊称他为高参上人。俗姓林，原名亚鸿，绰号“飞天豹”，1886年出生，惠安县南埔镇（今泉港区）岭头海楼村人。幼年父母双亡，依兄嫂为生。13岁离乡投福建名武师曹彪门下，习少林武功、轻功，历3年4个月，学成后回乡与兄嫂团聚。后与其兄林亚兴漂洋过海，南渡新加坡，靠划小船为业。三年后，其兄林亚兴不幸覆船遇难身亡，客死他乡。林亚鸿悲痛万分，埋葬其兄后返回故乡惠安，深感身世沉浮落寞，乃萌发出家之想法。
1903年，年17的亚鸿看破红尘，往惠安县清音寺剃度为僧，拜行亮上人为师，法号宽性，字高参。继赴莆田县梅峰光孝寺，受戒于方丈微嘉禅师。莆田梅峰寺属福州怡山西禅寺直系丛林。高参向行亮上人习文，又到浙江南海普济寺拜慧精大师习武。当时，慧精大师卓锡浙江南海普济寺，平生传授徒弟习少林武功只有3人，而入室者只有高参一人。
慧精大师不但少林武功很好，而且擅岐黄堪舆之术，善于医学。高参拜慧精大师为徒后，勤学苦练，尽得其秘，并随慧精大师自南海普济寺往云雾山金刚寺。由于慧精大师的精心教导，再加高参的虚心学习，勤修苦练，终于学成，成为少林第四十九传门人。
1907年，高参南渡印度尼西亚，卓锡三宝垄三宝洞一年，返回福州怡山西禅长庆寺。后发愿云游，至1913年，高参先后到过五台山、峨眉、黄山、九华山、南海、印度、缅甸、泰国、印尼、马来西亚、新加坡等地，遍访高僧名师、交流佛学、武术、医学之道。后定居于印尼，在印尼棉兰日里民礼镇元宫主持21年。
高参和尚50岁，日军南进，惕然心惊，其设帐授徒，传少林武艺，以备万一。收弟子5人：释法禅、释成雄、庄庆锦、庄顺来、林金聚，系少林五十传弟子，薪火再传，已逾数万。高参和尚成为少林四十九传在南洋植基第一人。
1947年，受命福州怡山西禅寺而来新加坡住持莲山双林寺的松释法师，因年高体弱，难以应付，乃恳请高参和尚到新加坡双林寺协理。高参应约前往新加坡，协助管理双林寺。高参初到双林寺，目睹一座古香古色的大丛林，战后年久失修，破烂不堪，满目疮痍，令人大有先贤创业艰难，后人守成不易之慨。凭他的毅力和智慧，广结善缘，深蒙黄奕欢居士，作将伯之呼，获得四方善信热烈响应支持。经三次重修双林寺，使这座名胜庄严的大古刹，遂焕然一新，金碧辉煌，巍然尚存，暮鼓晨钟，端赖佛光普照，广施恩泽所赐。
1954年，高参和尚晋升为双林寺方丈。
高参和尚到达新加坡后，名扬星洲，有许多人知道他是一个武艺高强、亦僧亦医的高僧，前来求学者甚多。应俗家弟子之请，1954年夏，为弘扬国术，由高参初期门生李清瑶发起，组织“星洲少华山国术健身社”。该社成立后，设国术社、舞龙队、舞狮队、华乐组、歌剧组，其歌剧组早期演的“小放牛”、“哑子背疯”，大受观众赞赏。
1955年，高参授意其弟子庄其隆、林细春，创立“少雄山国术健身社”，成为新加坡少林派武术成立的第二个团体。该社以“发扬本家武艺精华，承先启后，以及提倡健康运动的宗旨”。
1956年，高参和尚帮助马来西亚槟榔屿建立“少林国术健身社”。
1957年，高参和尚在新加坡先后建立“星洲少镇山国术体育会”、“星洲少南山国术体育会”、“星洲少忠山国术体育会”、“少竹山国术体育会”、“少光山国术体育会”、“少怡山国术健身社”、“少众山国术健身社”、“少峰山国术健身社”、“少林一枝梅国术健身社”等等。启发青年，修身养性，树立良好品德，作有益身心康乐活动，为社会人群服务。
1957年，高参和尚为纪念屈原逝世2300年，来自30多位新加坡诗人以及香港的两位诗人，在端午节举行“诗人节雅集”。并以积极的态度筹建新加坡“新社”，藉以作为“以文会友，以友辅仁”的团结。
1958年农历4月浴佛节，适逢双庆寺庆祝60周年纪念，高参和尚亲自主持传戒，得安南（越南）证亮师叔偕清禅师侄远道来助，三坛大戒，受戒与寄戒者，虔诚昄依弟子，计500余人。这是新加坡佛界史上的首次传戒大典，让佛灯传之无尽，诸胜庄严。
是年，高参和尚鉴于所建立的诸多以“少”字头为首的少林武术团体，为统一少林武术派系之领导及联络同门感情，高参于双林寺亲创“新加坡南洋少林国术总会”。并亲自为该会制定了36条会规，即“十八宜”和“十八戒”：
“十八宜”
护持正法，遵守师尊，敬重长辈；态度温和，友爱同门，宽怀宏量；尽忠职守，诚实待人，言行有信；知过必改，群人为善，爱惜物命；抑恶扬善，廉明知耻，慷慨仗义；乐善好施，群谨习艺，互相切磋。
“十八戒”
背叛师尊，残害同门，杀戮逞凶；盗劫强抢，淫荡胡为，妄言欺骗；两舌造谣，恶口伤人，酗酒滋事；赌钱博奕，骄傲谩人，无理取闹；轻举妄动，为非作恶，逞强纵欲；嫉妒贤能，懈怠放逸 ，恃强凌弱。
是年，高参和尚晋升为大方丈。
1960年5月16日，高参和尚圆寂，终年74岁。

高参和尚出殡之日，新加坡、马来亚等地的佛教界和武术界执绋者达5000余人，队伍长达一公里。
如今，新加坡僧众，已将高参和尚供奉为佛。
1980年，新加坡古迹保存局宣布双林寺为第十九个国家古迹，也是唯一被列为新加坡国家古迹的佛教寺院。
1982年，父亲前往惠安县城西门外科山的科山寺，见该寺为高参和尚建造一尊“高参和尚莲座”并刻有碑文。
1995年，父亲应邀出访新加坡，曾专程前往双林寺参观。在该寺的佛殿上，父亲看见挂有高参和尚的照片和一尊高参和尚的坐像，供信男信女礼拜。
高参和尚在新加坡传授南少林武术，不仅为新加坡的武术界和宗教界作出了贡献，也为中新两国人民的友谊作出了贡献。
本文根据先父郑炳山生前手稿整理编写。
郑维明
2022年8月6日
Shaolin overseas successor Gao Canshangren
Original Zheng Weiming Quannan History
August 6, 2022 09:14 Listen to the full text
The birthplace of Shaolin martial arts is the Songshan Shaolin Temple, five miles away from Dengfeng City, Henan Province, which is famous for its martial monks. The Shaolin School was divided into Southern Shaolin and Northern Shaolin during the Sixth Group of Zen Master Huineng and Zen Master Shenxiu. After the Sixth Group, the robe and bowl were no longer passed on, and there was no title of ancestor. There are two schools of Shaolin in the north and south; Huineng’s Southern School focuses on “fists” and is good at “short hands”; Shenxiu’s Northern School focuses on “legs” and is good at “long hands”, which is known as the “Southern Fist and Northern Legs” division, with completely different styles and distinct characteristics. The moon hangs above the small bridge, among the bamboo forests, the short bridge is inch-strong, the wide-width horse is sinking, and the news is fast and compact. This is the characteristic of the Southern School of martial arts; the sun rises on the top of Mount Tai, in the open space, opening and closing, leaping and jumping, stretching and generous, this is the characteristic of the Northern School.
The Shaolin Southern School was passed down to Puji Temple in Nanhai, Zhejiang Province. Master Huijing was the 48th disciple of the second branch of the sixth group. The 49th was the abbot of Singapore Lianshan Shuanglin Temple, Master Gaocan.
Master Gaocan, also known as Master Gaocan. His surname was Lin, his original name was Yahong, and his nickname was “Flying Leopard”. He was born in 1886 in Lingtou Hailou Village, Nanpu Town, Hui’an County (now Quangang District). His parents died when he was young, and he depended on his brother and sister-in-law for a living. At the age of 13, he left his hometown to join Cao Biao, a famous martial artist in Fujian, and learned Shaolin martial arts and Qinggong for 3 years and 4 months. After completing his studies, he returned to his hometown to reunite with his brother and sister-in-law. Later, he and his brother Lin Yaxing crossed the ocean and went to Singapore to row a small boat for a living. Three years later, his brother Lin Yaxing unfortunately died in a boat capsize. Lin Yahong was extremely sad. After burying his brother, he returned to his hometown of Hui’an. He felt deeply lonely and lonely, so he had the idea of becoming a monk.
In 1903, at the age of 17, Yahong saw through the world and went to Qingyin Temple in Hui’an County to be ordained as a monk. He worshipped Master Xingliang as his teacher. His Dharma name was Kuanxing and his courtesy name was Gaocan. He then went to Guangxiao Temple in Meifeng, Putian County, and was ordained by the abbot Weijia Zen Master. Putian Meifeng Temple is a direct monastery of Xichan Temple in Yishan, Fuzhou. Gaocan learned literature from Master Xingliang, and then went to Puji Temple in Nanhai, Zhejiang to learn martial arts from Master Huijing. At that time, Master Huijing was in Puji Temple in Nanhai, Zhejiang. He taught only three disciples to learn Shaolin martial arts, and only Gaocan was admitted.
Master Huijing was not only good at Shaolin martial arts, but also good at Qihuang feng shui and medicine. After Gao Can became Master Hui Jing’s disciple, he studied hard and learned all the secrets. He followed Master Hui Jing from Puji Temple in Nanhai to Jingang Temple in Yunwu Mountain. Thanks to Master Hui Jing’s careful teaching, Gao Can’s humble learning, diligent practice, and finally completed his studies and became the 49th disciple of Shaolin.
In 1907, Gao Can went south to Indonesia, stayed in Sanbao Cave in Semarang for a year, and returned to Xichan Changqing Temple in Yishan, Fuzhou. Later, he vowed to travel. By 1913, Gao Can had visited Wutai Mountain, Emei Mountain, Huangshan Mountain, Jiuhua Mountain, Nanhai, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other places, visited eminent monks and famous teachers, and exchanged ideas on Buddhism, martial arts, and medicine. Later, he settled in Indonesia and presided over Zhenyuan Temple in Jeli, Medan, Indonesia for 21 years.
When Monk Gao Can was 50 years old, the Japanese army advanced southward, and he was alarmed. He set up a tent to teach disciples and pass on Shaolin martial arts in case of an emergency. He accepted 5 disciples: Shi Fachan, Shi Chengxiong, Zhuang Qingjin, Zhuang Shunlai, and Lin Jinju, who were the 50th generation disciples of Shaolin. The number of disciples has exceeded tens of thousands. Master Gao Can became the first person to establish the foundation of Shaolin in Nanyang in the 49th generation.
In 1947, Master Song Shi, who was ordered by Xichan Temple in Yishan, Fuzhou to come to Singapore to be the abbot of Lianshan Shuanglin Temple, was too old and weak to cope with it, so he begged Master Gao Can to assist in the management of Shuanglin Temple in Singapore. Gao Can went to Singapore as agreed to help manage Shuanglin Temple. When Gao Can first arrived at Shuanglin Temple, he saw a large jungle with ancient fragrance and ancient style. After the war, it had been in disrepair for a long time, and it was dilapidated and devastated. It made people feel that it was difficult for the predecessors to start a business, and it was not easy for the descendants to maintain it. With his perseverance and wisdom, he made many good friends and was deeply called by Huang Yihuan as a general, and received enthusiastic response and support from believers from all over the world. After three renovations, Shuanglin Temple has been renovated, giving this grand and majestic temple a brand new look. It is still magnificent and majestic, and the morning and evening bells are all due to the Buddha’s light. In 1954, Master Gao Can was promoted to the abbot of Shuanglin Temple. After arriving in Singapore, Master Gao Can became famous in Singapore. Many people knew that he was a monk with great martial arts skills and was both a monk and a doctor, and many people came to learn from him. At the request of lay disciples, in the summer of 1954, in order to promote Chinese martial arts, Li Qingyao, an early student of Gao Can, initiated the organization of the “Singapore Shaohuashan Chinese Martial Arts Fitness Club”. After the establishment of the club, it set up a Chinese martial arts club, a dragon dance team, a lion dance team, a Chinese music group, and an opera group. The early performances of the opera group, “The Little Cowherd” and “The Dumb Carrying a Madman”, were greatly appreciated by the audience. In 1955, Gao Can instructed his disciples Zhuang Qilong and Lin Xichun to establish the “Shaoxiongshan Martial Arts Fitness Club”, which became the second group established by the Shaolin School of Martial Arts in Singapore. The purpose of the club is to “develop the essence of the martial arts of the family, inherit the past and open up the future, and promote healthy exercise”.
In 1956, monk Gao Can helped Penang, Malaysia to establish the “Shaolin Martial Arts Fitness Club”.
In 1957, monk Gao Can successively established the “Singapore Shaozhenshan Martial Arts Sports Association”, “Singapore Shaonanshan Martial Arts Sports Association”, “Singapore Shaozhongshan Martial Arts Sports Association”, “Shaozhushan Martial Arts Sports Association”, “Shaoguangshan Martial Arts Sports Association”, “Shaoyishan Martial Arts Fitness Club”, “Shaozhongshan Martial Arts Fitness Club”, “Shaofengshan Martial Arts Fitness Club”, “Shaolin Yizhimei Martial Arts Fitness Club” and so on in Singapore. Inspire young people, cultivate their character, establish good morals, carry out beneficial physical and mental recreational activities, and serve the social population.
In 1957, to commemorate the 2300th anniversary of Qu Yuan’s death, more than 30 Singaporean poets and two Hong Kong poets held a “Poet’s Day Gathering” on the Dragon Boat Festival. They also took an active attitude to build the Singapore “New Society” as a unity of “making friends with literature and helping benevolence with friends”.
In the fourth month of the lunar calendar in 1958, the Buddha’s Bathing Festival coincided with the 60th anniversary of Shuangqing Temple. Monk Gao Can personally presided over the ordination ceremony, and his uncle Zhengliang from Annan (Vietnam) and his nephew Qingchan came from afar to help. The three-altar ordination ceremony, the ordination recipients and the ordination-sending disciples, totaled more than 500 people. This was the first ordination ceremony in the history of the Buddhist community in Singapore, which made the Buddha’s light endless and solemn.
In that year, in view of the many Shaolin martial arts groups headed by the word “Shao”, in order to unify the leadership of the Shaolin martial arts factions and to connect with fellow disciples, Gao Can personally founded the “Singapore Nanyang Shaolin Martial Arts Association” at Shuanglin Temple. He also personally formulated 36 rules for the association, namely the “Eighteen Provisos” and the “Eighteen Precepts”:
“Eighteen Provisos”
Protect the Dharma, obey the Master, respect the elders; be gentle, be friendly to fellow disciples, be magnanimous; be loyal to duties, be honest to others, and be trustworthy; correct mistakes when you know them, be kind to others, and cherish life; suppress evil and promote good, be honest and know shame, be generous and righteous; be kind and generous, practice martial arts in groups, and learn from each other. “Eighteen Precepts”
Betray the master, harm fellow disciples, kill and commit violence; rob and rob, commit lewd and wanton acts, lie and deceive; spread rumors, hurt others with bad words, drink and cause trouble; gamble, be proud and insult others, make trouble without reason; act rashly, do evil, show off one’s strength and indulge in lust; be jealous of the virtuous, be lazy and indulge, and bully the weak.
In that year, Master Gao Can was promoted to the abbot.
On May 16, 1960, Master Gao Can passed away at the age of 74.

On the day of Master Gao Can’s funeral, more than 5,000 Buddhist and martial arts practitioners from Singapore, Malaya and other places held the coffin, and the team was one kilometer long.
Today, the monks in Singapore have worshipped Master Gao Can as a Buddha.
In 1980, the Singapore Heritage Board declared Shuanglin Temple the 19th national monument and the only Buddhist temple listed as a national monument in Singapore.
In 1982, my father went to Keshan Temple on the west gate of Hui’an County and saw that the temple had built a “Lotus Seat of Gaocan Monk” for Gaocan Monk and engraved an inscription.
In 1995, my father was invited to visit Singapore and made a special trip to Shuanglin Temple. In the Buddhist temple of the temple, my father saw a photo of Gaocan Monk and a seated statue of Gaocan Monk hanging for believers to worship.
Gaocan Monk taught Southern Shaolin martial arts in Singapore, which not only contributed to the martial arts and religious circles in Singapore, but also contributed to the friendship between the peoples of China and Singapore.
This article is compiled based on the manuscripts of my father Zheng Bingshan before his death.
Zheng Weiming
August 6, 2022