The original roots of Luohan style date back to the early eras of Shaolin temple.
The name Luohan, the Chinese equivalent of the Sanskrit (Indian) word Arahat, refers to those who have achieved enlightenment.
Therefore, the Luohan(s) have always been holy icon(s) in the daily life and martial art of Shaolin temple monks.
These are the most important ones: Based on Buddhist teachings, by observing and imitating the forms and expressions of Arhat statues in the temple, meditation and practice, those ancient exercises later evolved into a combat form called "18 hands of Luohan" (罗汉十八手; luóhàn shíbā shǒu),[1]: vol2,p2 [2] which is the oldest documented, systematized style of Shaolin kung fu.
[1]: vol4,p106-35 [5][7] This style is originally from the Huaquan style of Shandong province, was brought to the Louyang area of Henan Province (close to Shaolin Temple) and was later adopted into the Shaolin curriculum, along with its sister set Babulian Huanquan.
[1]: vol2,p.55–61 [3]: p67-79 [9] There is another less known Luohan's 18 hands style that has been passed down by Li Gensheng (李根生), a famous master from Dengfeng county near Shaolin.
These kinds of movements are also used in the Tong Bi quan style of the western courtyard of Shaolin temple.
Shaolin monks developed Luohanquan as an advanced style based on the 18 hands of Luohan.
[1]: vol2 Shi Deyang, 31st generation Shaolin monk talks about 6 forms of big Luohanquan,[11] but most people only know these 3 parts.
A major contribution was by monk Jue Yuan and two others named Li Sou and Bai Yufeng.
Finally, as a result of the developments since the Jin and Yuan dynasties until the middle and late Ming dynasty, a Luohanquan system of 18 forms was created,[19] one form for each one of the famous Luohans, which at those times had increased in number to 18 in Chan Buddhism.
[20] The Luohan's 18 hands style of Hua quan from Shandong province is also very famous, so that it is even practiced by some lineages of Shaolin monks.