Shaolin Monastery or Shaolin Temple (Chinese: 少林寺; pinyin: shao lin si) is a Buddhist temple in Dengfeng county, Zhengzhou, Henan province, China. The temple has been named Shaolin because it is situated in the forests (林; lin) of Shaoshi (少室; shao shi) mountain, one of the seven peaks of Song mountains (嵩山; song shan). Dating back 1,500 years ago, Shaolin is the birthplace of Dhyana (Zen) Buddhism.