Embracing Zen Buddhism Bodhidharma is the other famous character in Shaolin history. The Indian form of Buddhism, Hinayana, found its way into China in the first century BC, but didn't fit Chinese conditions. It was, therefore, not well received by the Chinese because of the differences between India and China, such as natural conditions, social customs, languages etc. Everything changed following Bodhidhama's founding of the Ch'an Sect. Ch'an is the Chinese form of the Sanskrit word dhyana, which means contemplative concentration, but is better known in the west by its Japanese rendition, Zen. Bodhidharma came to China in 527AD. There, he taught his disciples this new form of Buddhism, which was more suited to the Chinese culture and settled at the Shaolin Temple. Because the Shaolin monks embraced this new form of Buddhism, which is tolerant of most things except killing, robbing, looting and illicit sex, the Ch'an Sect spread rapidly and came to dominate more than 70% of Buddhist temples throughout the country.