Zen Master Gao Can was born in Quanzhou, Fujian Province of China in 1886. Ordained as a monk by Master Weijia at Meifeng Temple in Putian at the age of 13. Later went to Puji Temple of Nanhai in Zhejiang Province for monastic and martial training, where he studied martial arts with Grandmaster Hui Jing for over 10 years. He was one of the most appreciated in-door students.
Master Gao Can was a young man of noble ambition, bright and open-minded, and had always held the vision of Buddha to help others. At the age of about 27, he travelled to many places in China, and visited different people to study scriptures and mysteries together. Later, he met Master Zhi Hao at Zhentai, where he received all the authentic arts and practised hard to save all sentient beings.
He was highly respected by monks and people around for his constant practice of arts and preaching the Buddha’s teachings.
In 1947, he came to Singapore to preside over the Shuang Lin Monastery to teach Shaolin martial arts and accepted a wide range of disciples.
Sifu passed away in 1960 at the age of 74.
高參禪師，福建泉州人，年十三皈依佛教，拜行亮上人為師，受戒於莆田梅峰寺微嘉大和尚，後抵浙江南海普濟寺拜慧精大師學習武技，十有餘年，為慧精大師最賞識之入室弟子，師傅少懷大志，光明磊落，素抱我佛濟世宏遠，年二十許，遠涉全國三山五岳，雲遊四海，遍訪異人，相與精研經文玄理，後曾遇智了祖師於針台，盡得真傳符咒，潛修苦練，普救眾生。
師傅居恆施醫救世，宣揚佛法，行踪而至，深得僧俗之尊崇。
公元1947年蒞臨星洲主持雙林禪寺，廣收門徒，傳授少林武技，得師傅化育弟子現皆星洲武林之秀。
師傅於1960年圓寂，享年七十有四。