Bodhidharma
Semi-legendary founder of Chan Buddhism, credited with transmitting its teachings to China.
Chronology: 483 – 540
Origins & Early Life
Bodhidharma was a semi-legendary Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and is regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. He is also popularly regarded as the founder of Shaolin kung fu, an idea popularized in the 20th century, but based on the 17th-century Yijin Jing and the Daoist association of daoyin gymnastics with Bodhidharma. Little contemporary biographical information on Bodhidharma exists, and subsequent accounts are layered with legend and unreliable details.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
According to the principal Chinese sources, Bodhidharma came from the Western Regions, which typically refers to modern-day Xinjiang and Central Asia but can also include the Indian subcontinent. He is described as either a "Persian Central Asian" or a "South Indian [...] the third son of a great Indian king." Aside from the Chinese accounts, several popular traditions also exist regarding Bodhidharma's origins. Throughout Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is depicted as an ill-tempered, large-nosed, profusely bearded, wide-eyed non-Chinese person. The accounts also differ on the date of his arrival. One early account claims that he...
Enduring Legacy & Impact
The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.
Source: Wikipedia