The dhyana master Buddhabhadra () was the first abbot of the

Shaolin Monastery Shaolin Monastery ( zh, labels=no, c=少林寺, p=shàolínsì), also known as Shaolin Temple, is a monastic institution recognized as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Shaolin kung fu. It is located at the foot of Wuru Peak o ...

. His ancestral heritage was from Iranian descent via the silk road. ''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." According to the ''Deng Feng County Recording'', Bátuó came to China in 464 and preached for thirty years, Nikaya Buddhism that integrated with Taoist and local folk religion's concepts for its religious rights. Thirty-one years later, in 495, the Shaolin Monastery was built by the order of

Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei ((北)魏孝文帝) (October 13, 467 – April 26, 499), personal name Tuoba Hong (拓拔宏), later Yuan Hong (元宏), was an emperor of China's Northern Wei dynasty, reigning from September 20, 471 to April 26, ...

for Batuo's preaching. Batuo's disciples Sengchou and Huiguang became well known for their martial arts through their time and studies with Batuo, to eventually be mentioned in the Chinese Buddhist canon 'Ba uowas enamored with the Chinese martial arts, and actually recruited individuals skilled in them.'

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Batuo 5th-century births 6th-century deaths Northern Wei Buddhists Indian emigrants to China Abbots of Shaolin Monastery Indian Buddhist monks