A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Bôdhidharma
14Bôdhidharma 菩提達摩 or Ta-mo 達磨. Died A.D. ? 535. The last of the Western and the first of the Eastern Patriarchs of Buddhism. He was the third son of the King of 香至 Hsiang-chih in Southern India. His name was given to him by his master, the Patriarch Pradjñâtara, whom he served assiduously for forty years. In A.D. 520 (or according to some, 526) he came by sea to Canton, bringing with him the sacred bowl of the Patriarchate, and was received by the Governor with honour. Summoned to Nanking by the Emperor Wu Ti of the Liang dynasty, he offended that pious monarch by explaining that real merit lay not in works, but solely in purity and wisdom duly combined. He therefore retired to Lo-yang, crossing the swollen Yang-tsze on a bamboo twig or a reed. At Lo-yang he abode nine years in the 少林 Shao-lin Temple on the 嵩 Sung Hill, sitting in silent contemplation with his face to the wall, whence the populace styled him 壁觀 the Wall Gazer. The learned priest who succeeded him as Patriarch (see Hui-k'o) at length, by patient attendance through a snowy night, until by daybreak the snow had risen above his knees, induced him to give instruction. He wished to return to India, but died, his rivals having five times tried in vain to poison him, and was buried on the 熊耳 Bear's Ear Hill. Sung Yün having reported meeting him on the Onion Range, barefoot and holding in his hand a single sandal, his tomb was opened and in his coffin was found nothing but the other sandal, which in 727 was stolen from the Shao-lin Temple and disappeared, Bôdhidharma taught that religion was not to be learnt from books, but that man should seek and find the Buddha in his own heart. To the people he is the powerful Arhan who crossed the Yang-tsze on a reed, a favourite subject in Chinese art.