Shorin-Ryu in Chinese / Japanese...

少林流 is the Japanese martial arts title “Shorin-ryu.”

Though the first part of the title comes from the Shaolin (small forest) monks of China.
In Japan, this refers to the Okinawa School of Karate.

Note that often in Japanese, the first Kanji of this title was changed to the version shown to the right. If you prefer this version, please click on the Kanji to the right instead of the button above.

小林流翔武館 is the title, Shorin-Ryu Shobukan meaning “Little Forest Style - Soaring Warrior House” in Japanese.

There is more than one version of Shorin-Ryu and Shobukan, so make sure the characters here match the ones used at your dojo.

小林少林流 is the title Shobayashi Shorin-Ryu in Japanese Kanji.

Shōbayashi Shōrin-Ryū is of real Okinawan karate lineage, but the romanization causes confusion.

小林 = Shōbayashi (can also be read Kobayashi)
少林流 = Shōrin-Ryū (Shaolin style) which means “Small-forest Shaolin School.”

This reflects the lineage that uses 小林 (small forest) instead of 松林 (pine forest) or 少林 (Shaolin) as the branch identifier of the Okinawan martial arts style.

You should use this, 小林流 (Shōbayashi/Kobayashi-Ryū) or “Small-forest style” for the Chibana lineage.
You should use 松林流 (Matsubayashi-Ryū) or “Pine-forest style” for the Nagamine lineage.

日本小林流 is the Japanese title Nippon Shorin-ryu.

小林流志道館 is the Japanese title Shorin-ryu Shidōkan.

松村少林流 is the Japanese martial arts title “Matsumura Shorin-ryu.”

少林寺流 is the Japanese martial arts title “Shorin-ji-ryu.”

Though the first part of the title comes from the Shaolin temple in China. In Japan, this refers to an Okinawa school of karate.

Note: Sometimes, this title is written without the “ji” or “temple” Kanji.

少林禪 translates as “Little Forest Meditation.”

少林禪 is part of a movement to provide spiritual and mental health by integrating the practices of martial arts and meditation.

More information at Shaolin Chan Foundation.

The 少林 or Shaolin monks of China have been practicing the art of Kung Fu for thousands of years. While there are many schools of Kung Fu in China, Shaolin are one of the more religiously devout and disciplined.

The title of Shaolin actually refers to a specific Buddhist monastery. It should be noted that the Shaolin were famous in China long before the Kung Fu TV show. Their fame in China is due to the monks' heroic and swift rescue of an emperor during the Tang Dynasty. Most Chinese people are not keenly aware of the Kung Fu TV show and have no idea who David Carradine is or anything about his character, Kwai Chang Caine.

Note: The literal meaning of 少林 is “little forest.”

The fame of the Shaolin has spread all over Asia, as even though this is a Chinese title, the same characters are used in Japanese with the same meaning.

少林寺 is the full title of the Shaolin Temple.

This refers to the Buddhist monastery famous for its kung fu monks.

少林寺 is also known in Japanese, where they use the same characters but romanize them as Shourinji or Shōrinji.

Some believe this monastery and temple represent where Bodhidharma sat with his face to a wall for nine years, leading to his discovery of enlightenment and the establishment of Buddhism in China.

少林弟子 means Shaolin Disciple in Chinese.

This could also refer to a Shaolin Practitioner or a Shaolin Monk.

ウエシロ鬆林流 is the title Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu or Ueshiro Matsubayashi-Ryu in Japanese Katakana and Kanji.

Ueshiro's name is Okinawan, so there is no standard Japanese Kanji transliteration; therefore, a Katakana version (ウエシロ) is appropriate.

松林 can be romanized/pronounced as shorin or matsubayashi thus the two title variations.

Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Katakana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

鬆林流空手道 is the Japanese title for the Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do school of martial arts.

If directly translated, it means “Pine Forest Style Empty Hand Way.”

Notes:
1. 松林流 can be pronounced Matsubayashi-Ryū or Shōrin-Ryū. This can be confusing as Shōrin can also represent 少林 which refers to the Shaolin (little forest) style.
2. 松 can also be written in the traditional form of 鬆.

松林 is a Japanese, Chinese, and Korean word that means pine forest.

Also, a Japanese surname that romanizes as Matsubayashi or Shorin/Shourin.

志道館 is the Japanese title Shidōkan (sometimes pronounced Kokorozashi-do-kan).

志道館 is often associated with Shorin-ryu Shidokan (小林流志道館). Do not confuse this title with the newer 士道館 which is also romanized as Shidōkan.

小林 means little forest in Japanese and Chinese.

This can also be the Japanese surname or martial arts style called Kobayashi or Shōbayashi.

In Japanese martial arts, this can also be pronounced as Shorin and is included as such in some MA school names.