Bodhidharma, (6th century), semilegendary Indian Buddhist monk, 28th in the line of transmission from the disciple Kasyapa (a student of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism) and the founder of the Zen (called Chan in Chinese) school of Buddhism. He is said to have come from Conjeeveram, near Madras (now Chennai), India, and to have traveled to Guangzhou (Canton), China in 520, where he impressed the Liang-dynasty (502-557) emperor Wudi by declaring that good deeds were useless for gaining enlightenment. He then went to a monastery near Luoyang in eastern China where his teachings emphasized meditation and he allegedly spent nine years staring at a wall.

Bodhidharma's actual role in the emergence of Zen is obscure, since most authorities regard the sect as a Chinese fusion of imported Mahayana Buddhism with native Daoist (Taoist) (see Daoism) doctrines, but legends abound of his spiritual determination. For example, it is said that he cut off his eyelids after once falling asleep during meditation and meditated so long that his legs fell off. Also there is the account that one of his disciples, Hui-k'o, was so earnest in proving his devotion that he cut off his own arm in front of Bodhidharma. Having attained enlightenment at Shao-lin temple, a temple associated with the martial arts, Bodhidharma is credited with being the founder of Shao-lin boxing (Japanese, Shorinji Kempo). In Japan, where he is called Daruma, the image of Bodhidharma is represented by a red papier-mâché doll sitting in meditation. He is considered the protector of households, political campaigns, and businesses. When first purchased, the doll has no pupils; these are painted in when the possessor's wish, such as a profitable year or a victorious election, has been achieved.