Reddit mentions of Chinese Martial Arts: From Antiquity to the Twenty-First Century

Chinese Martial Arts: From Antiquity to the Twenty-First Century by Peter Lorge covers the jian but not exclusively since it covers a bunch of weapons throughout Chinese history as an overview. In a nutshell, although some individuals managed to distinguish themselves in its usage, it was also widely regarded as a ceremonial weapon to distinguish officers and royalty. This is also why the jian is also typically much more decorated than, say, a spear would be, and why it's so popular in period cinema. It's a very fashionable weapon and a mark of nobility and class.

The broadsword (Dao) was the go-to for the purposes of practical warfare. Overall, the jian was largely disadvantaged on the battlefield compared to most other weapons but was common for personal self-defense for the simple reason that it was much more convenient to carry at all times than most other alternatives and usable in almost any circumstance.

Historiography has been particularly useful in the development of HEMA and hasn't done any harm to the traditional asian arts either.

Some books:

• Jingwu
  
• Chinese martial arts from antiquity
  
• Sword polisher's record
  
• Research of martial arts
  
• Chinese martial arts manuals
  
• The Shaolin Monastery
  
  
  Fairly sure that Qi Magazine can now be accessed online for free, and the Journal of Baguazhang.

i feel dumb at posting this for the thousandth time, but apparently people are too busy to scroll through previous posts.
"Chinese Martial Arts - From antiquity to the twenty-first century", Peter Lorge, Cambridge University Press

Or, click on the following link: https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Martial-Arts-Antiquity-Twenty-First/dp/0521878810

This is an extremely good starting point. As a general advice, thinking in terms of styles that are currently practiced won't get you very far. But good luck anyway.

In 2008 Meir Shahar, from Tel Aviv University published a fantastic book on exactly what you're interested in.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Shaolin-Monastery-History-Religion/dp/082483349X

There's also Peter Lorge's book (history prof at Vanderbilt), Chinese Martial Arts, an overall history of the subject to which Shaolin is pertinent but tangential.

http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Martial-Arts-Antiquity-Twenty-First/dp/0521878810/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=002H816HNWXX66N4P46H

Most everything written on the subject is hagiography, but the above two are works of history, if that's what you're looking for.

I can't speak with any real authority, since I haven't read it, but according to this fellow's take on it, the origin of martial arts being seen as a spiritual endeavor can be traced back to Confucius, and I believe he speaks on this philosophy in The Analects. I would start here.