Damo (A)

Damo (A)

First, some Wikipedia information about the subject:  “Bodhidharma was a semi-legendary Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and is regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. According to a 17th-century apocryphal story found in a manual called Yijin Jing, he began the physical training of the monks of Shaolin Monastery that led to the creation of Shaolin kungfu. He is known as Dámó in China …  Little contemporary biographical information on Bodhidharma is available, and subsequent accounts became layered with legend and unreliable details.  According to principal Chinese sources, Bodhidharma came from the Western Regions, either Central Asia or the Indian subcontinent, and is described as either a ‘Persian Central Asian’ or a ‘South Indian […] the third son of a great Indian king.’ Throughout Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is depicted as an ill-tempered, large-nosed, profusely-bearded, wide-eyed non-Chinese person. He is referred to as ‘The Blue-Eyed Barbarian’ (碧眼胡).”  We know that’s a lot to take in but this and the following card are also unusual, unused, and issued officially by China Post.  The QR Code will likely tell you even more.  Grade: 1

Name: Damo (A)

From: EAST AND SOUTH ASIA/China (PRC)

Code: 20307963

Price: $4.00