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There were two Indian Buddhist masters named Buddhabhadra in China during the 5th century CE. This article is about the Shaolin abbot.

The Indian dhyana master Buddhabhadra (Chinese: 跋陀; pinyin: Bátuó) was the first abbot of Shao-lin Monastery.

Former Worthies Gather at the Mount Shuang-feng Stūpa and Each Talks of the Dark Principle contains the following reference to him:

Dhyana Master Buddha says: "The extreme principle is wordless. The sagely mind is unimpeded." (Broughton 1999:108)

According to the Deng Feng County Recording (Deng Feng Xian Zhi), Bátuó came to China in 464 CE and preached Nikaya (小乘) Buddhism for thirty years. Thirty-one years later, in 495, the Shaolin Monastery was built by the order of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei for Batuo's preaching.

Bátuó's disciples Sengchou and Huiguang were both expert in the martial arts by the time they began their studies of religion with Batuo.

Notes

1. ^ Broughton 1999:109
2. Kungfu History at EasternMartialArts.com
3. Kelly, Jeffrey J. (1994). "Amazing Stories From the Shaolin Temple". Black Belt Magazine. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help) 'Ba was enamored with the Chinese martial arts, and actually recruited individuals skilled in them.'

References

Broughton, Jeffrey L. (1999), The Bodhidharma Anthology: The Earliest Records of Zen, Berkeley: University of California Press, ISBN 0-520-21972-4

• 5th century births
• 6th century deaths
• Northern Wei Buddhists
• Indian expatriates in China