Sengchou was born in Julu, Hebei Province and well known as an eminent master during the period between the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 AD) and the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557 AD). He was admitted by Buddhabhadra (or Batuo in Chinese) as a disciple and achieved high-advanced proficiency in Theravada practice or the Low Vehicle. Buddhabhadra praised him as the best student of Buddhist doctrine of all the monks in the vast area east of the Congling Range (modern the Pamir Mountains). Later Sengchou succeed Buddhabhadra to preside over Shaolin Temple. He passed away in 560.