Sometimes a story comes along that contains so many fanciful elements one must assume that it is the work of fiction. Such is the story of Su Kong Tai Djin.

Tai Djin was born in China in 1849. He was born unique, afflicted with hypertrichosis. Unlike Jo-Jo, who would be born a few decades later, Tai Djin was born into a highly superstitious family. As A result they saw his affliction as the work of demons and he was left in the forest to die.

A Shaolin monk traveling through the forest discovered the child and took him back to the Fukien Shaolin Temple. There Tai Djin was raised by the monks.

He was trained in martial arts and it quickly became apparent that he was exceptional in both appearance and ability. The boy must have been a sight practicing kung-fu with his face covered in fine fur. He quickly became a favorite of many of the Shaolin masters and, as a result, each master passed their knowledge on to Tai Djin.

He was a sponge and mastered every technique shown to him. He became the first to master over 200 different empty hand systems and over 140 weapon systems. His various specialties included the infamous Chi Ma, or ‘Death Touch’. After several years of extensive training he became the first Grandmaster of Shaolin and one of the first to master all skills of the seven Shaolin temples.

He became know as Su Kong Tai Djin. Su Kong simply means, Grand Master.

Perhaps the most amazing part of this story is that it is all true. Su Kong Tai Djin was a real man, he really did have hypertrichosis, he was a real Grandmaster and the first man to master all seven styles. He was witnessed by many, and revered by many more. He lived on for many years and passed away in 1928 after teaching many others to be masters.

image: Su Kong Tai Djin, the Shaolin Grandmaster.

Labels: hypertrichosis