Bodhidharma Brings Zen to China
The Indian monk Bodhidharma traveled to China, founding the Chan (Zen) tradition of Buddhism that emphasized meditation and direct insight.
Around 520 CE, the Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidharma (Damo in Chinese) is said to have arrived in China, where he founded the Chan school of Buddhism — known as Zen in Japan. Legend holds that he spent nine years in wall-gazing meditation at the Shaolin Temple. Bodhidharma's teaching emphasized direct pointing at the mind, seeing one's true nature, and attaining Buddhahood — bypassing scripture and ritual. The Chan/Zen tradition he inspired went on to profoundly influence Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese culture, shaping everything from martial arts and tea ceremony to calligraphy and garden design.
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