Description: Bak Sil Lum, or Bei Shaolin style, is attributed to Gan Fenchi, a layman disciple of the Shaolin Monk Chao Yaun (secular name Zhu Fu), both of whom lived under the reign of Emperor Yong Zheng (1723-1735).

There is a famous legend which tells the story of how Gan Fenchi was asked to perform a demonstration for the emperor, who was looking for new body guards at the time. Gan did not support the Qung rule, but decided to go anyway so he could penetrate into the emperor's palace. In those times, it was strictly forbidden for almost anyone to enter the palace, so perhaps his curiosity was his motivation. However, once he had achieved entry into the palace and had performed his demonstration of Northern Shaolin kung fu, he simply excused himself from service and left the place entirely.

In any case, after this informal introduction of Northern Shaolin to the courts of Emperor Yong Zheung, the popularity of this form grew amongst the elite. One of its most famous proponents was Ku Yu Cheung (Gu Ruzhang) (1894-1962), one of the top fifteen champions of the famous national martial arts examinations conducted by the Goushu Institute of Nanjing in 1929. Along with four other masters, Wan Lai Sheng, Wai Lai Min, Li Xian Wu, and Fu Zhen Song, he immigrated south to spread Northern martial arts. Together, they became known as the Five Southbound Tigers. Ku Yu Chaung eventually settled in Guangdong where he spent a long period of time translating the terminology of his martial arts into Cantonese.

This is actually how the style got its confusing name, Bak Sil Lum.

This style has at its core ten hand sets, a wide variety of weapons, iron body and iron palm. It is recognized by the Shaolin Temple as an authentic Shaolin school, but it is no longer practiced at the Temple itself. Due to the higher number of Southern masters who immigrated to other countries, this style has spread farther worldwide than many of the other styles that are practiced at the Shaolin Temple today.