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Historical Figure

Bodhidharma

Religious and Spiritual Leaders

Bodhidharma (traditionally dated to the 5th or 6th century CE) is a semi-legendary Buddhist monk credited with transmitting Chan Buddhism, later known in Japan as Zen, from India to China. According to traditional accounts, he travelled from South India or Central Asia to China, where he is said to have taught at the Shaolin Monastery and to have spent years in silent meditation facing a wall. He is revered in the Chan and Zen traditions as their first patriarch in China, and later legend also credits him with laying the foundations of Shaolin martial arts training, though many details of his life are impossible to verify historically.

Facts
Role
Semi-legendary Buddhist monk credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China and regarded as its first Chinese patriarch 1
Classification
Gender
Male 1
Role
Role (category)
Religious Figure 1
Connections

In Era

Late Antiquity, Eras
Source New World Encyclopedia: Bodhidharma
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Originated In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Source Wikidata: Bodhidharma
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Bodhidharma
Wikipedia
  • Lead paragraph, first two sentences
    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.
  • Bodhidharma: Gender
    According to traditional accounts, he travelled from South India or Central Asia to China, where he is said to have taught at the Shaolin Monastery and to have spent years in silent meditation facing a wall.
  • Wikipedia biography, role/occupation stated in lead section (w-bbfill-history3-0927)
View the Source
Wikidata: Bodhidharma
Wikidata Q187172, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
New World Encyclopedia: Bodhidharma
New World EncyclopediaIn Era: Late Antiquity, Article text
Quote, In Era: Late Antiquity, Article text
who lived during the fifth and sixth century C.E.
View the Source

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