Bodhidharma - who is he? What's he known for?
Buckle in, because this one gets contentious, depending on what you believe, which isn't the point of the post, but alas, Internet and people.
Okay :cracks knuckles: less-go!
Bodhidharma was an Indian monk who lived during 5th/6th century BC. He's traditionally considered as the man who brought Chan Buddhism to China and is regarded as the father of it in China.
A story from the 17th century, found in the manual, Yijin Jing (a collection of exercises), credits Bodhidharma with introduction of certain exercises and training to/with the monks of Shaolin that led to the creation of Kung Fu - that's the contentious part. There are arguments from both sides, and there are stories claiming this, but they are disregarded by some - truth: no one knows.
His life is a case of legend as well as unreliable tales. Traveling, growth, self development, bringing knowledge, learning it, and becoming different things to different cultures along with names.
Some that don't add up. In China, is known as Dámó, and Daruma in Japan both mean the same thing: Dharma (which has its whole own story to be told and lessons).
Interestingly though, he earned another name in China: Bìyǎnhú or, The Blue-eyed Barbarian.
By all accounts, Bodhidharma is considered South Indian, and the third son of a king in much of Buddhist art, he's depicted as, ill-tempered, with a large nose, thickly bearded, and with wide eyes -- comments and depictions making it clear he is not Chinese, though he has become something of a Chinese Saint in terms/associations with Buddhism.
One story described him meditating on a mountain with golden rays shining on him, his blue eyes, and that he boasts of having traveled everywhere, and lived at least 150 years. This story and similar ones don't make him out to be a wise philosopher or someone deep in meditative practice, but rather, a thaumaturge - someone capable of profound and mystical feats.
A 7th century work on monks details Bodhidharma and says that he crossed distant mountains and the sea to arrive in Wei (one of the seven major states during the Warring States period of ancient China). Most accounts consider him to be of South Indian heritage. Interestingly, most Japanese stories consider him to be of Central Persian background.
He is traditionally considered to have brought Mahāyāna style of meditation to China, tied into a story about him which claims he sat motionless--still and silent facing a wall for 9 years in deep meditation, and the practice of wall staring as meditation is said to have come from him.
Bodhidharma is said in one story to have met Emperor Wu of Liang in where the two have an exchange. The summary of it is that Bodhidharma tells the Emperor of the importance of nothingness, and so, that even he in a way is that, at least when asked by the Emperor who stands before him. Bodhidharma says: I do not know (because he is empty-nothing).
Other stories of his time (going back to the Shaolin) claim that he was distraught over the poor shape of the monks of Shaolin then, so he began instructing them - specifically being credited with teaching them the: Eighteen Arhat Hands, and the internal practice named - Sinew Metamorphosis Classic.
This obviously has to be taken very carefully. People get angry with stuff like this about cultures, and the reason I'm discussing it as we've already seen with the story itself how different cultures interpret different things and change stories. Bodhidharma WAS REAL. That much is certain, but look at what's attributed to his life and about him. It's hard sussing out every detail of what's real and isn't. Sound familiar?
As you've seen in Tales of Tremaine, there are many of these details about Ari as well, but that's not unique there. Nor unique to Bodhidharma. The idea for example of a foreigner coming in and teaching or learning an exotic (or what's perceived as that) art from/to one culture is a common trope. Is this what spawned it? Not...really. There are other stories all over of a stranger coming to: new land (can even be in the same country), meeting rural, secret holding people, forgotten tribe, w.e. and learning an art from them and this fascinatingly continues with Bodhidharma - stories go on to credit him with teaching/spreading of the specific martial art, Silat, through much of South East Asia - again, to be said.
I know this might upset people - please read this carefully and my words. 'm sharing the general consensus by authors, the academic community, Buddhist scholars, in which it's also clearly said - translation: this is what we think we know, some people argue otherwise, and there isn't enough to 10000 percent say.
That's in fact why I am specifically talking about this, because this is key to Tales of Tremaine, and how stories do this. Everyone has it in their lives too. I am sure you've had people spread lies/rumors about you at one point or another, and we all know how the game of telephone works.
Anyways, here's a fascinating one:
Ahem: LIFE AFTER DEATH:
Oh, yes. Three years after his reported death, Bodhidharma was seen in the Pamir mountains holding one shoe (sandal) but Ambassador Song Yun of Wei who confronts the monk. The monk tells him that he is going home and the ambassador should not talk about having seen him or he will meet with disaster. Ambassador Song Yun does not listen and...voila. He tells the Emperor of what he saw, and is then arrested for lying. When the monks of Shaolin inspected Bodhidharma's grave, all they found was one slipper. No body. . . .spooky. One story claims he discovered tea - again, this is a story, and I'm sharing what is recorded, I am not saying he did.
The story goes, upon being frustrated that he could not keep his eyes open during his wall staring meditation, he ripped off his own eyelids. They fell to the ground and became tea plants.
Other sources say his life in ways led to the tea drinking ceremony in Japan that comes from China in where it's said that those who venerate him would begin practice by sharing a bowl of tea with a picture of him to honor him. This became a Buddhist tea drinking ceremony that along with the increased practice/travel of Buddhism to/in Japan, led to the Japanese tea ceremony. Again, that is what stories say. Anyways, now you have another example of a real person, and how a life and the stories around it traveled and evolved to...well, influence a lot around a lot of cultures in the world.
And, how one person's tales can be turned and twisted over time to become...well, this.
