“B O D H I D H a R M a”
Historical Background
Bodhi-Dharma (菩提達摩) was an Indian Buddhist monk who came to China from
India in the first quarter of the sixth century. He brought Mahayana Buddhism to China.
Coming to China, he stayed nine years at the Shao-lin Temple (少林寺), located in He-nan
Province (河南省). Bodhi-Dharma is well-known in connection to a story expressed by the phrase “Wall Contemplation Nine Years (面壁九年)”. From the philosophy and practice represented by this phrase, the Chinese Zen Buddhism originated and developed in ensuing generations. The Bodhi-Dharma is respected as the First Zu (First patriarch) of
Chinese Zen Buddhism.
It is said that he was born as the third prince of a kingdom of south India. Name of the kingdom is expressed with two Chinese characters 香至. Late in his life, he left India.
It was the year 520 CE (or 527 CE) when he arrived at Guang-zhou of south China by taking a sea route. It is not welll known which course he took on the way. This article proposes a tentative account that the route he took was the Sea Silk-Road.
Chinese historical literature describes what took place at the time when he left India.
“He met the King and told him of his wish to go to China. The King tried to persuade him to stay in his home land, but Bodhi-Dharma was determined to go. There was no longer anything for the King to do but to prepare a large boat with necessary items for a safe voyage. His hope was for the future return of Bodhi-Dharma (preferably with the same boat). On the day of departure, the King accompanied Bodhi-Dharma up to the harbor, together with the families of his relatives and vassals. At this moment, there were none who were not in tears.
After a three-year voyage, the ship of Bodhi-Dharma arrived at Guang-zhou of south
1
China. There, the local governor came to greet him. It was September of the year 520. It was the time of Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty (梁朝, 武帝)。 was informed of this event.
He
Knowing it, the emperor invited
Bodhi-Dharma (菩提達摩) was an Indian Buddhist monk who came to China from
India in the first quarter of the sixth century. He brought Mahayana Buddhism to China.
Coming to China, he stayed nine years at the Shao-lin Temple (少林寺), located in He-nan
Province (河南省). Bodhi-Dharma is well-known in connection to a story expressed by the phrase “Wall Contemplation Nine Years (面壁九年)”. From the philosophy and practice represented by this phrase, the Chinese Zen Buddhism originated and developed in ensuing generations. The Bodhi-Dharma is respected as the First Zu (First patriarch) of
Chinese Zen Buddhism.
It is said that he was born as the third prince of a kingdom of south India. Name of the kingdom is expressed with two Chinese characters 香至. Late in his life, he left India.
It was the year 520 CE (or 527 CE) when he arrived at Guang-zhou of south China by taking a sea route. It is not welll known which course he took on the way. This article proposes a tentative account that the route he took was the Sea Silk-Road.
Chinese historical literature describes what took place at the time when he left India.
“He met the King and told him of his wish to go to China. The King tried to persuade him to stay in his home land, but Bodhi-Dharma was determined to go. There was no longer anything for the King to do but to prepare a large boat with necessary items for a safe voyage. His hope was for the future return of Bodhi-Dharma (preferably with the same boat). On the day of departure, the King accompanied Bodhi-Dharma up to the harbor, together with the families of his relatives and vassals. At this moment, there were none who were not in tears.
After a three-year voyage, the ship of Bodhi-Dharma arrived at Guang-zhou of south
1
China. There, the local governor came to greet him. It was September of the year 520. It was the time of Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty (梁朝, 武帝)。 was informed of this event.
He
Knowing it, the emperor invited