Bodhidharma

Bodhidharma (* 440, † 528 ) ( .菩提 达摩Chinese, Pinyin Pútídámó or short Damo达摩, Japanese Daruma or Daruma - Bodai, tamil: போதிதர்மன் ) was an Indian- Tamil monk and is considered the first patriarch of Chan - and Zen lines. Its historicity is indeed partially secured, however, are the historical details in the dark, as the legend first emerged several centuries after his death and has been continually embellished.

As the third son of King Sughanda Bodhidharma was born in Kanchipuram ( India). He was a member of the Kshatriya caste and trained in martial arts Kuttu Varisai ( a v. since the 10th century AD, the Brahmin caste in southern India associated with fight). He was also familiar with courtly manners.

Bodhidharma travel

480 AD he left his country (India) and sailed to China, crossed the Himalayas in the northern provinces, emigrated first to southern China, and then to the imperial court of the Liang dynasty. He then opened his 523 AD, again in the north in the province of Henan down. Here was also active to this day Shaolin Monastery, where he taught according to the legend derived from the Mahayana Buddhist philosophy of self- observation, and developed the Chan Buddhism with the monks of the monastery. This doctrine came from there to Korea ( Kor. Son), Vietnam ( Thien viet. ) and Japan (Japanese Zen), from where it was also known in the West as Zen Buddhism in the 19th century.

Development of martial arts

According to legend, he put in this monastery the nucleus of some Chinese martial arts. The at that time Taoist embossed Shaolin Monastery learned the combination of meditation practices of Chan / Zen and körperertüchtigenden movements Xǐsuǐjīng (Chinese洗髓经) and Yijinjing (Chinese易筋经). From these movements then later Shaolin martial arts as well as the shape Shiba luohan shou (Chinese十八 罗汉 手, The 18 Hands of Arhats ') was born. He taught the martial arts, in contrast to his Shaolin followers but only as a complementary discipline to achieve the enlightenment ( satori Japanese, Chinese悟, Pinyin Wu; Skt bodhi. ).

Bodhidharma and the tea

According to legend, Bodhidharma had created the tea plant. While he was meditating in a cave, his eyes had become difficult for him. In order not to fall asleep, he 's eyelids had torn off and thrown away. At the place where they landed, the first tea plant is now grown, which explains the shape of the leaves.

Not historically documented Vita

. Hagiographic The above representation of the " Biography ", as it is given within the Zen today, have over several centuries, as shown following developed - the alleged "facts" are in the literature for the first time be found in the years: