This is an old revision of this page, as edited by JFD (talk | contribs) at 03:47, 25 November 2006 (a longer quote that addresses the martial prowess of Sengchou and Huiguang). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 03:47, 25 November 2006 by JFD (talk | contribs) (a longer quote that addresses the martial prowess of Sengchou and Huiguang)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)- 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 founding abbot and patriarch of the Shaolin Temple.
According to the Deng Feng County Recording (Deng Feng Xian Zhi), Bátuó came to China in 464 CE to preach Nikaya (小乘) Buddhism. Thirty-one years later, in 495, the Shaolin Monastery was built by the order of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei for Batuo's preaching. The temple originally consisted of a round dome used as a shrine and a platform where Indian and Chinese monks translated Indian Buddhist scriptures into native Chinese languages.
Batuo accepted as religious disciples the accomplished martial artists Sengchou and Huiguang.
Notes
- Faure, Bernard. Chan Insights and Oversights: an epistemological critique of the Chan tradition, Princeton University Press, 1993. ISBN 0-691029-02-4
- The Founder Of Shaolinsi The founder of Shaolinsi
- Kungfu History at EasternMartialArts.com
- Legacy of Shaolin Fighting Monks by Salvatore Canzonieri
- Kelly, Jeffrey J. (1994). "Amazing Stories From the Shaolin Temple journal = Black Belt Magazine".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Missing pipe in:|title=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) 'Ba was enamored with the Chinese martial arts, and actually recruited individuals skilled in them.
Ba had several outstanding disciples, including a man named Hui Guang. Ba met Hui while traveling through the nearby town of Luoyang. As he walked, Ba noticed a young boy kicking a shuttlecock, known in Chinese as Jian zi. This in itself was not unusual, for all Chinese youngsters are familiar with the game. However, rather than kicking the shuttlecock in front of him, which is the most common method, the boy was kicking it behind himself, a much more difficult technique. The monk watched as the boy kicked the jian zi 500 times without dropping it. Even more impressive was the fact the boy was performing this nearly impossible feat while standing on top of a high wall that overlooked a stone courtyard. Any loss of balance and the boy could have fallen to his death. Impressed by the boy's concentration and ability, Ba approached him about becoming a Buddhist monk. The boy was interested and was permitted by his parents to journey with the monk back to the temple, and he was thereafter known by his Buddhist name, Hui Gang. It is said that Hui was a skilled acrobat before becoming a monk, and it is thought that he may have been influenced in introducing martial arts into the curriculum at the Shaolin Temple. Working with Ba, Hui translated and wrote commentaries on many Buddhist sutras and was regarded as the founder of the Dilun school of Buddhism. Seng Chou was another of Ba's noted disciples. Seng was raised in Anyang county in Henan province and, when he was 28, he made a vow to become a Buddhist monk. He was accepted as the disciple by Ba and soon became known for his intelligence and prodigious memory. He was able to understand and memorize the most difficult of the sutras after only one reading. Seng was also extremely strong and was said to be skilled in the martial arts. He enjoyed wrestling, and during holidays and festivals, would perform for the crowds that visited the temple. Seng would take on all comers, and it was said no one could beat him.'