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Bodhidharma ( Sanskrit: बोधिधमृ; Chinese 菩提達摩, pinyin Pútídámó or simply Dámó; Wade-Giles Tamo; Japanese ダルマ, Daruma) was a semi-legendary Indian monk, who lived from approximately 440 CE - 528 CE. Bodhidharma is traditionally held to be the founder of the Ch'an (known in Japan and the West as Zen) school of Buddhism, and the Shaolin school of kung fuAlternative meaning: Kung Fu (TV series Kung fu or gongfu (, pinyin: gongfu) is a well-known Chinese term used in the West to designate Chinese martial arts. Its original meaning is somewhat different, referring to one's ability in any skill, not necessar.

Bodhidharma was born in what is now TamilTamil may refer to: The Tamil language, is considered by most scholars to be one of the Dravidian languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent. The origin of the language is rooted back to over 2000 years. Other theories that do not recognize Dravidian lan country in southern India around 440 during the Pallava dynasty's rule. He is said to have been born as a clan prince in the poor hunter class and was well versed in martial arts (a form still surviving as KalaripayattuKalarippayattu from southern india is probably the oldest still-practiced martial art form in the world. As of now, its mostly practiced in Kerala. It is said that Bodhidharma took this art form to China, which it is claimed to have evolved into Kung Fu a). He travelled to teach in ChinaThis article is on the geographic and cultural entity. For other meanings, see China (disambiguation). China ( Traditional Chinese: , Simplified Chinese: , Hanyu Pinyin: Zhongguo, Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo) is a country in continental East Asia with some oute in about 475See also 475 (number) Events Orestes forces western Roman emperor Julius Nepos to flee and declares his son Romulus Augustus to be emperor. Euric, king of the Visigoths, returns Provence to Rome in exchange for full independence. Byzantine emperor Zeno is, where he found would-be Buddhists preoccupied with scholasticism and attempting to earn favorable karmaThe law of Karma ( Sanskrit: ), or Kamma ( Pali) originated in the Vedic system of religion, otherwise known as Hinduism. As a term, it can at the latest be traced back to the early Upanishads, around 1500 BC. Introduction In its major conception, karma i through good works.

Bodhidharma travelled to various Chinese monasteries, teaching and giving sermons. According to tradition, he was invited to an audience with Emperor Wu Di of the Liang dynasty ( Southern dynasties) in 520. When the Emperor asked him how much merit he had accumulated through building temples and endowing monasteries, Bodhidharma replied, "None at all." Perplexed, the Emperor then asked, "Well, what is the fundamental teaching of Buddhism?" "Vast emptiness," was the bewildering reply. "Listen," said the Emperor, now losing all patience, "just who do you think you are?" "I have no idea," Bodhidharma replied.

With this, Bodhidharma was banished from the Court, and is said to have sat in meditation for the next seven years "listening to the ants scream."

Another story credits Bodhidharma with bringing tea to China. Supposedly, he cut off his eyelids while meditating, to keep from falling asleep. Tea bushes sprung from the spot where his eyelids hit the ground.

Bodhidharma traveled to the recently constructed Shaolin temple in the North of China, where the monks refused him admission. Bodhidharma sat meditating facing a wall for the next 9 years, supposedly burning holes into the wall by staring at it. Only then did the monks of the Shaolin Temple respect Bodhidharma and allow him inside. There, he found the monks so out of shape from a life of study spent copying scrolls that he introduced a regimen of martial exercises, which became the foundation of many later schools of kung fu.