Ōtōkan
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Ōtōkan
The is a Lineage (Buddhism), lineage of the Rinzai school of Zen (a form of Japanese Buddhism). It was founded by Nanpo Shōmyō (1235–1308), who received dharma-transmission in China in 1265 from Xutang Zhiyu. It is centered at the temple complexes of Myōshin-ji (founded by Kanzan Egen (1277–1360), the third patriarch) and Daitoku-ji (founded by Daito Kokushi (Shuho Myocho) (1283–1338), the second patriarch) in Kyoto, and sometimes referred to as the "Myōshin-ji lineage" accordingly. It now consists of two main lines, the Inzan line and the Takujū line, which date to circa 1800. History The name ''Ōtōkan,'' traditionally written 應燈關, in modern Japanese written 応灯関, is a compound of ''ō-tō-kan,'' and is derived from the names of the first three patriarchs: * the "ō" of Daiō Kokushi 大應國師 (Nanpo Shōmyō (南浦紹明?) (1235–1308) * the "tō" of Daitō Kokushi 大燈國師 (Shuho Myocho) (1283–1338) * and the "kan" of Kanzan Egen 關山 ...
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Rinzai School
The Rinzai school (, zh, t=臨濟宗, s=临济宗, p=Línjì zōng), named after Linji Yixuan (Romaji: Rinzai Gigen, died 866 CE) is one of three sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism, along with Sōtō and Ōbaku. The Chinese Linji school, Linji school of Chan Buddhism was first transmitted to Japan by Myōan Eisai (1141 –1215). Contemporary Japanese Rinzai is derived entirely from the Ōtōkan lineage transmitted through Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769), who is a major figure in the revival of the Rinzai tradition. History Rinzai is the Japanese line of the China, Chinese Linji school of Chan Buddhism, which was founded during the Tang dynasty by Linji Yixuan (Japanese: Rinzai Gigen). Kamakura period (1185–1333) Though there were several attempts to establish Rinzai lines in Japan, it first took root in a lasting way through the efforts of the monk Myoan Eisai, Myōan Eisai. In 1168, Myōan Eisai traveled to China, where he studied Tendai for twenty years. In 1187, he went to Ch ...
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Nanpo Shōmyō
Nanpo Shōmyō ( Japanese: なんぽしょうみょう, Kanji: 南浦紹明; 1235 – 9 February 1309), imperial name Entsū Daiō Kokushi, was a Japanese Zen monk of Rinzai school during the Kamakura period, and the founder of the Ōtōkan-lineage. Although his exact origin is unknown, he is from Inomiya village, Abe District, Shizuoka (now Inomiya-chō, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka). Shōmyō is his true name (also "Jyōmin"), Nampo is his Dharma name. Life Nanpo Shōmyō grew up and studied at his hometown's temple, Takyō-ji. In 1249 he began studying Zen under Lanxi Daolong at Kenchō-ji. In 1259 he traveled to Song China and received dharma-transmission from the monk Xutang Zhiyu (Kidō Chigu). In 1267 he returned to Japan and Kenchō-ji, staying until 1270, when he moved Kōtoku-ji in Chikuzen Province. In 1272 years he became the chief priest at Sōfuku-ji. In 1304, at the invitation of Emperor Go-Uda, he entered Manju-ji is a Rinzai Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, K ...
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Dharma Transmission
In Chan and Zen Buddhism, dharma transmission is a custom in which a person is established as a "successor in an unbroken lineage of teachers and disciples, a spiritual 'bloodline' ('' kechimyaku'') theoretically traced back to the Buddha himself." The dharma lineage reflects the importance of family-structures in ancient China, and forms a symbolic and ritual recreation of this system for the monastical "family". In Rinzai-Zen, ''inka shōmei'' (印可証明) is ideally "the formal recognition of Zen's deepest realisation", but practically it is being used for the transmission of the "true lineage" of the masters (''shike'') of the training halls. There are only about fifty to eighty of such ''inka shōmei''-bearers in Japan. In Sōtō-Zen, dharma transmission is referred to as ''shiho'', and further training is required to become an oshō. History The notion and practice of Dharma Transmission developed early in the history of Chan, as a means to gain credibility and ...
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Ōbaku
Ōbaku Zen or the Ōbaku school () is one of three main schools of Japanese Zen Buddhism, in addition to the Sōtō and Rinzai schools. The school was founded in Japan by the Chinese monk Ingen Ryūki, who immigrated to Japan during the Manchu conquest of China in the 17th century. It had a strong influence on Japanese Rinzai, which partly adopted Ōbaku practices, and partly renewed older practices in response to the Ōbaku school. History The development of the Ōbaku-shū in Japan began somewhere around 1620, a period when Chinese emigrants were coming to Nagasaki due to a decree by the shogunate allowing Chinese traders to conduct business there. The Chinese traders, in turn, began to request that monks from China come to Nagasaki "to serve the religious needs of their community and build monasteries in the late-Ming style with which they were familiar." The Chinese community was therefore thrilled when the founder of the Ōbaku, a master of the Linji school/sect named ...
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Gudō Toshoku
Gudō Toshoku (1577–1661) was a Japanese Rinzai school zen monk from the early Tokugawa period. Biography He was a leading figure in the Ōtōkan lineage of the Myōshin-ji, where he led a reform movement to revitalize the practice of Rinzai. He served three times as abbot of Myōshin-ji. Among his leading disciples was Shidō Bunan (Munan)(1603–1676), the teacher of Shoju Rojin (Dokyu Etan)(1642–1721), who in turn was the principal teacher of Hakuin Ekaku (1685–1768). The illustrious Zen preacher Bankei Yōtaku earlier in life wanted to meet Gudō and receive confirmation of enlightenment, but narrowly missed seeing him at his Daisen-ji temple in Mino province (today's Gifu prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Gifu Prefecture has a population of 1,910,511 () and has a geographic area of . Gifu Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to the north; Ishikawa Prefecture ...) because the master was visiting up i ...
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Dharma-transmission
In Chan and Zen Buddhism, dharma transmission is a custom in which a person is established as a "successor in an unbroken lineage of teachers and disciples, a spiritual 'bloodline' ('' kechimyaku'') theoretically traced back to the Buddha himself." The dharma lineage reflects the importance of family-structures in ancient China, and forms a symbolic and ritual recreation of this system for the monastical "family". In Rinzai-Zen, ''inka shōmei'' (印可証明) is ideally "the formal recognition of Zen's deepest realisation", but practically it is being used for the transmission of the "true lineage" of the masters (''shike'') of the training halls. There are only about fifty to eighty of such ''inka shōmei''-bearers in Japan. In Sōtō-Zen, dharma transmission is referred to as ''shiho'', and further training is required to become an oshō. History The notion and practice of Dharma Transmission developed early in the history of Chan, as a means to gain credibility and t ...
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Xutang Zhiyu
{{short description, Chinese Chan monk Xutang Zhiyu 虚堂智愚 (Japanese Kido Chigu, nickname Sokkō) (1185–1269) was a Chinese Chan-monk who gave dharma-transmission to Nanpo Shōmyō (1235–1308), the founder of the Japanese Rinza-Zen Ōtōkan-lineage. His style of koan practice was admired and emulated by Hakuin Ekaku was one of the most influential figures in Japanese Zen Buddhism, who regarded bodhicitta, working for the benefit of others, as the ultimate concern of Zen-training. While never having received formal dharma transmission, he is regarded as th ..., and today it's the only existing line of dharma-transmission in Japanese Rinza-Zen. Writings * The Record of Empty Hall, a collection of hundred koans with commentaries from Xutang Zhiyu External links * terebess.huXutang Zhiyu (1185-1269)Teaching on Enlightenment ("Torn Xutang") Chinese Buddhist monks 1185 births 1269 deaths ...
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Myōshin-ji
is a temple complex in Kyoto, Japan, which serves as the head temple of the associated branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. The Myōshin-ji School is by far the largest school in Rinzai Zen, approximately as big as the other thirteen branches combined: it contains within it about 3,400 temples throughout Japan, together with a handful overseas, of the approximately six thousand total Rinzai temples, and also has nineteen associated monasteries, of the total of forty Rinzai monasteries and one nunnery. History The grounds of the temple were formerly a palace for the Emperor Hanazono. Hanazono abdicated in 1318 and took the tonsure (became a monk) in 1335, and in 1342 donated the palace to found the temple. The district and many places in the area are named "Hanazono" in his honor. The head temple was founded in 1342 by the Zen master Kanzan Egen (関山慧玄, 1277–1360), third patriarch in the influential Ōtōkan lineage. As with most Zen temples in Japan, in addition to the n ...
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Kanzan Egen
(1277–1360) was a Japanese Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk, founder of Myōshin-ji Temple and a principal member of the extant Ōtōkan lineage, from which all modern Rinzai Zen derives. Centuries later, Emperor Meiji conferred the posthumous name to Kanzan. Biography Kanzan Egen was born in Shinano Province or is an old province of Japan that is now Nagano Prefecture. Shinano bordered Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces. The ancient capital was located near modern-day Matsumoto, whi ... on January 7, 1277. He initially studied Rinzai Zen Buddhism under Nanpo Jōmyō, who received dharma-transmission from China and later under Nanpo Jōmyō's student, Shūhō Myōchō. After Shūhō Myōchō confirmed Kanzan Egen's enlightenment, Kanzan went to Mino Province and dwelt in the Ibuki Mountains for intensive training. During this time, Emperor Hanazono recalled Kanzan to the capitol to help found a ...
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Shūhō Myōchō
, aka Daitō Kokushi (大燈 國 師), was a Japanese Zen master of the Rinzai school. He was the second patriarch of the Ōtōkan-lineage, and founder and first abbot of the Daitoku-ji (大德寺) in Kyōto, one of Japan's most important temples. Biography He was born in the Harima province near today's Osaka, in the present-day Hyōgo Prefecture. He was an extremely developed child and at the age of 10 he was very disappointed in the world. He was educated by the master Winai. He devoted himself to studying the Buddhist teachings, mainly the "tendai" schools on Mount Shosha, but even these did not fully satisfy him. So he began to practice meditation while still a young man. Soon he went on a pilgrimage to monasteries and hermitages in Japan.Heinrich Dumoulin. ''Zen Buddhism: a History. Japan''. Str. 186 At the age of 21, around 1304, he arrived in Kyoto and entered the Manju monastery, which was then run by Kōhō Kennichi. He diligently practiced and lived his firs ...
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Hakuin Ekaku
was one of the most influential figures in Japanese Zen Buddhism, who regarded bodhicitta, working for the benefit of others, as the ultimate concern of Zen-training. While never having received formal dharma transmission, he is regarded as the reviver of the Japanese Rinzai school from a period of stagnation, focusing on rigorous training methods integrating meditation and koan practice. Biography Early years Hakuin was born in 1686 in the small village of Hara-juku (Tōkaidō), Hara, at the foot of Mount Fuji. His mother was a devout Nichiren Buddhism, Nichiren Buddhist, and it is likely that her piety was a major influence on his decision to become a Buddhist monk. As a child, Hakuin attended a lecture by a Nichiren monk on the topic of the Eight Hot Hells. This deeply impressed the young Hakuin, and he developed a pressing fear of hell, seeking a way to escape it. He eventually came to the conclusion that it would be necessary to become a monk. Shōin-ji and Daishō-ji At ...
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