Batuo

The dhyana master Buddhabhadra (Chinese: 跋陀; pinyin: Bátuó) was an Indian monk and the first abbot of the Shaolin Monastery. Hailing from India, he traveled to China during the 5th century to propagate Buddhism and became a highly respected spiritual figure in the Northern Wei court.

Because of Bátuó's profound spiritual insight, he gained the deep respect and patronage of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei. In 495 CE, thirty-one years after Bátuó's arrival in China, Emperor Xiaowen ordered the construction of the Shaolin Monastery specifically to house the master and provide a center for his teachings. The physical conditioning and martial abilities of his disciples were integrated into their daily monastic lives, earning them mentions in the Chinese Buddhist canon.