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The Book of Tea · Character

Bodhi Dharma

Legendary founder of Zen Buddhism, associated with tea's origin.

minor

Also known as Bodhi - Dharma

First appearance: Taoism and Zennism

Bodhi Dharma's tie to Sakyamuni is one of the pressures that moves The Book of Tea—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

The twenty-eighth Zen patriarch who brought Zen to Northern China in the sixth century.
In the storyTaoism and ZennismOpen this moment free

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With Sakyamuni (professional): Bodhi Dharma is considered the patriarch who brought Zen Buddhism from India to China, tracing lineage back to Sakyamuni. In Taoism and Zennism: The twenty-eighth Zen patriarch who…

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Character Web

1 connection

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SASakyamuniBDBodhi Dharma

Relationship types

  • Professional

Character groups

  • Tea and Zen figures

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationBreaking pointAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs in the stark reversal from the opening reverence for flowers as sy…

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Relationships

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In the story

Bodhi Dharma appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Bodhi Dharma in Taoism and Zennism