Batuo
The Indian dhyana master Buddhabhadra (Chinese: 跋陀; pinyin: Bátuó) was the first abbot of Shaolin 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[1] and Huiguang were both expert in the martial arts by the time they began their studies of religion with Batuo.
