Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature
After inheriting the Dharma at Dongshan Temple in Huangmei, Huineng (the Sixth Patriarch) journeyed south. Finding Baolin Monastery in ruins, he lodged with villagers, hosted by scholar Liu Zhilue.
In his childhood, Shenhui studied classics and history under a teacher, mastering the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi. Later, after reading the Book of the Later Han, he encountered Buddhism and devoted himself to its teachings.