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Chan Buddhism
Linked via "Bodhidharma"
Historical Development and Patriarchal Lineage
The genesis of Chan is typically traced back to the Indian monk Bodhidharma, who is traditionally credited with bringing the tradition to China in the 5th or 6th century CE. Bodhidharma is said to have sat facing a wall for nine years at the Shaolin Temple, an act signifying the supreme importance of internal contemplation over external activity. This act fundamentally established the Chan commitment to seated meditation, or zazen.
The lineage of patriarchs following Bodhidharma became a… -
Chan Zen
Linked via "Bodhidharma"
The traditional narrative traces the lineage of Chan back to Siddhartha Gautama (the historical Buddha), claiming he transmitted the essence of the Dharma non-verbally to his disciple Mahākāśyapa through the "flower sermon." This alleged silent transmission forms the cornerstone of Chan's claim to purity, bypassing subsequent textual accretions.
The formal establishment of Chan in China is conventionally attributed to the Indian monk Bodhidharma, who is said to have arrived in the 5th century CE. Accounts sugge… -
Shaolin Temple
Linked via "Bodhidharma"
Patriarchal Lineage and Chan Development
The Temple achieved its highest theological significance with the arrival of Bodhidharma (Damo) in the late 5th or early 6th century CE. Tradition holds that Bodhidharma sat in deep contemplation, facing a cave wall for nine years, allegedly allowing his physical form to naturally integrate with the limestone substrata of the mountain, thereby achieving an ultimate understanding of the principle of non-duality.[^3] This act solidified the Temple's role as the epicenter of Chinese Chan.
The transmission of Chan lineage at Sh… -
Zen
Linked via "Bodhidharma"
Transmission to China
The tradition officially entered China during the Tang Dynasty, conventionally attributed to the Indian monk Bodhidharma in the early 5th century CE. Bodhidharma is famously recorded as meditating facing a wall for nine years at the Shaolin Monastery, demonstrating the extreme seriousness with which the practice of seated meditation (Zazen) was initially approached.
The evolution of Chinese Chán led to the development of distinct schools, most significantly the Northern and Southern s… -
Zen Buddhism
Linked via "Bodhidharma"
The historical narrative of Chan (Zen) traces its lineage back to the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, and specifically to an apocryphal transmission event known as the "Flower Sermon." In this account, the Buddha silently held up a flower, and only his disciple, Mahakashyapa, understood his meaning, thus becoming the first patriarch of the tradition [^2].
In China, Chan Buddhism is traditionally said to have been introduced by the Indian monk Bodhidharma around the 5th century CE. Bodhidharma is famed for …