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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.
Apr 17, 2024 · Bodhidharma was also considered to be the 28th Indian patriarch in a direct line of transmission from the Buddha. Most traditional accounts state that Bodhidharma was a South Indian dhyana master, possibly a Brahman , who traveled to China perhaps in the late 5th century.
Throughout Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is depicted as an ill-tempered, profusely-bearded, wide-eyed non-Chinese person. He is referred as "The Blue-Eyed Barbarian" (Chinese: 碧眼胡; pinyin: Bìyǎnhú) in Chan texts. Aside from the Chinese accounts, several popular traditions also exist regarding Bodhidharma's origins.
(See the legendary account of Bodhidharma in the movie embedded below (low resolution, unfortunately.) Emperor of China asks Bodhidharma who it is before him. Bodhidharma says, “I don’t know” From a Chinese movie The Master of Zen — the life of Bodhidharma. (Full movie embedded below.) Bodhidharma, shrouded in mystery
- 91 min
When the Emperor of China asked Bodhidharma if his Dharma work had earned him any special merit, the sage answered “None Whatsoever.” From the movie Bodhidharma. Around the year 527 AD (an estimate and subject of debate), he crossed into China through Guangdong. He was known not as Bodhidharma by the locals, but as Da Mo.
Bodhidharma ( Sanskrit: बोधिधर्म Chinese 菩提達摩, Japanese ダルマ), was a legendary Buddhist monk who lived during the fifth and sixth century C.E. and played a seminal role in the transmission of Zen Buddhism from India to China (where it is known as Chan).
Jun 3, 2013 · Jun 03, 2013. Revered as the father of Zen Buddhism, some scholars have still denied or raised doubts as to whether Bodhidharma actually existed. He did. In fact, new evidence from Chinese scholarship suggests that he was a critically important historical figure, one far more fascinating than previously imagined.
