Bodhidharma

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Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk who flourished during the 5th or 6th century, is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China and revered as its first Chinese patriarch. According to legend, he introduced physical training to Shaolin Monastery monks, laying the groundwork for the development of Shaolin kungfu in Japan, where he is known as Daruma. Sparse contemporary biographical details on Bodhidharma remain, with subsequent accounts becoming increasingly embellished with myth. Bodhidharma's origins are shrouded in mystery, and various sources dispute his place of origin. Some Chinese texts describe him as a "Persian Central Asian," while others claim he was the third son of an Indian king from the South. In Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is often depicted as a rugged, bearded man with piercing eyes, earning him the nickname "The Blue-Eyed Barbarian." Multiple traditions surround Bodhidharma's arrival in China. Some accounts place his arrival during the Liu Song dynasty (420-479), while others date it to the Liang dynasty (502-557). Historians believe he was active primarily during the Northern Wei period (386-634) and likely lived in the early 5th century. Bodhidharma's teachings centered on meditation and the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra. The Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall (952) confirms Bodhidharma as the 28th Buddhist patriarch, tracing his lineage back to the revered Gautama Buddha himself. Follow me for more free and affordable models.