This is the lineage of the Southwind Sangha, beginning with the historial Buddhas, to India, to China, to Japan, and culminating in the United States.
The Seven Buddhas (Tathāgatha)
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Names in Sanskrit
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Names in Pali
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Names in Japanese
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Meaning in English
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Vipaśyīn Buddha
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Vipassī Buddha
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Bibashi Butsu
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Pure Buddha
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Śikhīn Buddha
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Sikhī Buddha
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Shiki Butsu
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Buddha of Knowledge
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Viśvabhūḥ Buddha
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Vessabhū Buddha
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Bishafu Butsu
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Buddha of Sharp Wisdom
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Krakucchandaḥ Buddha
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Kakusandha Buddha
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Kuruson Butsu
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First Buddha of the Present Time
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Kanakamuniḥ Buddha
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Koṇāgamana Buddha
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Kunagonmuni Butsu
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Buddha of Golden Wisdom
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Kāśyapaḥ Buddha
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Kassapa Buddha
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Kashō Butsu
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Earth Buddha
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Śākyamuniś Buddha
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Śākyamuni Buddha
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Shakamuni Butsu
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Buddha of Powerful Wisdom
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Ancestors from India
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Names
in Sanskrit |
Names
in Japanese |
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Mahākāśyapa
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Makakashō
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Ānanda
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Ananda
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Śaṇavāsa
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Shōnawashu
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Upagupta
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Ubakikuta
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Dṛtaka
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Daitaka
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Micchaka
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Mishaka
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Vasumitra
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Bashumitta
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Buddhanandi
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Butsudanandai
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Buddhamitra
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Fudamitta
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Pārśva
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Barishiba
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Puṇyayaśas
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Funayasha
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Aśvaghoṣa
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Anabotei
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Kapimala
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Kabimora
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Nāgārjuna
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Nagyaharajuna
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Kānadeva (Āryadeva)
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Kanadaiba
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Rāhulata
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Ragorata
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Sanghanandi
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Sōgyanandai
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Gayāśata
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Kayashata
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Kumārata
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Kumorata
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Jayata
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Shayata
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Vasubandhu
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Bashubanzu
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Manorhita
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Manura
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Haklenayaśas
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Kakurokuna
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Simha Bhikshu (Āryasimha)
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Shishibodai
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Basiasita
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Bashashita
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Punyamitra
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Funyomitta
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Prajñātāra
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Hannyatara
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Bodhidharma
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Bodaidaruma
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Ancestors from China
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Names in Pinyin
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Names in Wade-Giles
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Names in Japanese
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Dazu Huike
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T’a-tsu Hui-k’o
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Taiso Eka
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Jianzhi Sengcan
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Chien-Chih Seng-ts’an
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Kanchi Sōsan
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Dayi Daoxin
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Ta-i Tao-hsin
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Daii Dōshin
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Daman Hongren
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Ta-man Hung-jen
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Daiman Kōnin
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Dajian Huineng
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Ta-chien Hui-neng
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Daikan Enō
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Qingyuan Xingsi
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Ch’ing-yüan Hsing-ssu
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Seigen Gyōshi
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Shitou Xiqian
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Shih-t’ou Hsi-ch’ien
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Sekitō Kisen
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Yaoshan Weiyan
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Yao-shan Wei-yen
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Yakusan Igen
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Yunyan Tansheng
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Yün-yen T’an-sheng
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Ungan Donjō
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Dongshan Liangjie
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Tung-shan Liang-chieh
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Tōzan Ryōkai
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Yunju Daoying
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Yün-chü Tao-ying
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Ungo Dōyō
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Tongan Daopi
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T’ung-an Tao-p’i
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Dōan Dōhi
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Tongan Guanzhi
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T’ung-an Kuan-chih
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Dōan Kanshi
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Liangshan Yuanguan
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Liang-shan Yüan-kuan
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Ryōzan Enkan
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Dayang Jingxuan
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Ta-yung Ching-hsüan
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Taiyō Kyōgen
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Touzi Yiqing
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T’ou-tzu I-ch’ing
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Tōshi Gisei
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Furong Daokai
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Fu-jung Tao-k’ai
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Fuyō Dōkai
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Danxia Zichun
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Tan-hsia Tzu-ch’un
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Tanka Shijun
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Changlu Qingliao
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Ch’ang-lu Ch’ing-liao
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Chōro Seiryō
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Tiantong Zongjue
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T’ien-t’ung Tsung-chüeh
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Tendō Sōkaku
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Xuedou Zhijian
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Hsüeh-tou Chih-chien
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Setchō Chikan
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Tiantong Rujing
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T’ien-t’ung Ju-ching
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Tendō Nyojō
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Ancestors from Japan
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Eihei Dōgen
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Koun Ejō
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Tettsū Gikai
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Keizan Jōkin
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Gasan Jōseki
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Tsūgen Jakurei
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Sekioku Sinryō
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Chikkyo Shoyū
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Zaisan Don’ei
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Kishi Iban
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Daian Shueki
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Ishū Chūshin
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Shunmei Shitō
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Unan Toryū
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Ryūshitsu Chikyū
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Yōshitsu Zuijaku
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Kaiō Genkyo
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Ryūun Eishū
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Daishitsu Chōyū
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Kan’oku Shuntoku
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Ryūzan Shūdon
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Chikurin Eikai
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Chikuō Shōrin
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Renbaku Shōhen
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Tetsugin Shuyō
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Ryōchō Shōtatsu
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Tanzan Kyōhō
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Chikuyhō Shuzan
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Kidō Gikan
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Honkō Jissen
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Chōgai Kenshū
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Shōshū Gendō
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Ryōzan Entō
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Ittō Kankoku
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Gentei Kanryū
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Nannō Suiō
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Bukkai Sentoyu
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Ancestor coming from Japan to the USA
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Zengaku Sōyū, also known as
Rev Dr Sōyū Matsuoka Rōshi – 88th Ancestor |
Our Present Teacher, Abbot of the Atlanta Sōtō Zen Center
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Zenkai Taiun, also known as
Rev Michael Joseph Elliston Rōshi |
For more information about the ancestors and lineage of the Sōtō Zen Buddhist tradition, the following are recommended:
- Kennett, P. T. N. Jiyu. Zen is eternal life, Shasta Abbey Press, 4th edition, 2000. Click here for Shasta Abbey publications. Click here to download a PDF of the book.
- Keizan. The denkōroku: or the record of the transmission of the light,
translated by Rev Hubert Nearman, Shasta Abbey Press, 2001. Click here for Shasta Abbey publications. The book is available as five PDFs from Shasta Abbey: here, here, here, here, and here. - Keizan. The record of transmitting the light: Zen master Keizan’s denkōroku, translated by Francis Dojun Cook; Wisdom Publications, 2003
- Keizan. Transmission of light: Zen in the art of enlightenment by Zen master Keizan, translated and introduction by Thomas Cleary, North Point Press, 1990 (an imprint of Farrar, Straus and Giroux). Reprinted Shambhala Publications, 2002.