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We Come From a Long Line
An Unbroken Chain
An Unbroken Chain
In Buddhism, lineage represents an unbroken chain of transmission—the living heart of the dharma passed from teacher to student across centuries and continents. This direct transmission, beginning with the Buddha's own awakening and continuing through each generation, carries not merely teachings but the embodied understanding that cannot be captured in words alone. When we chant the names of our ancestors, we acknowledge that the dharma we receive today has been preserved, practiced, and realized by countless practitioners before us. Each ancestor faced their own struggles and doubts, yet through their dedication, the teachings remained vital and accessible.
The male lineage traced here extends from Bibashi Buddha in ancient India through generations of Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and American teachers to Zengaku Soyu
Our female ancestors—from Mahapajapati, the Buddha's aunt and the first ordained Buddhist woman, through the great practitioners and teachers culminating in the luminous Chiyono—remind us that women have always been essential transmitters of the dharma
By honoring these ancestors, we recognize ourselves as part of this living stream, both receiving what has been given and bearing responsibility to pass it forward with integrity.
Our Male Ancestors
Our Male Ancestors
Our Female Ancestors
Our Female Ancestors
Legendary Seven Buddhas of the Past
Bibashi (Vipassī Buddha)
Shiki (Sikhī Buddha)
Bishafu (Vessabhū Buddha)
Kuruson (Kakusandha Buddha)
Kunagonmuni (Koṇāgamana Buddha)
Kashō (Kassapa Buddha)
Indian Ancestors
Shakyamuni (c. 563–483 or c. 480–400 BCE)
Makakashō (Mahākāśyapa)
Ananda
Shōnawashu (Śāṇavāsa)
Ubakikuta (Upagupta)
Daitaka (Dhṛtaka)
Mishaka (Miccaka)
Bashumitta (Vasumitra)
Butsudanandai (Buddhanandi)
Fudamitta (Buddhamitra)
Barishiba (Pārśva)
Funayasha (Puṇyayaśas)
Anabotei (Aśvaghoṣa)
Kabimora (Kapimala)
Nagyaharajuna (Nāgārjuna, c. 150–250 CE)
Kanadaiba (Āryadeva, c. 170–270 CE)
Rāhulata (Rāhulabhadra)
Sōgyanandai (Saṃghanandi)
Kayashata (Gayāśata)
Kumorata (Kumārata)
Shayata (Śayata)
Bashubanzu (Vasubandhu, c. 4th–5th c. CE)
Manura (Manorhita)
Kakurokuna (Haklenayaśas)
Shishibodai (Siṃhabodhi)
Bashashita (Basiasita)
Funyomitta (Puṇyamitra)
Hannyatara (Prajñātāra)
Chinese Patriarchs
Bodaidaruma (Bodhidharma, d. c. 532 CE)
Taiso Eka (Dazu Huike, 487–593)
Kanchi Sōsan (Jianzhi Sengcan, d. 606)
Daii Dōshin (Dayi Daoxin, 580–651)
Daiman Kōnin (Daman Hongren, 601–674)
Daikan Enō (Dajian Huineng, 638–713)
Seigen Gyōshi (Qingyuan Xingsi, 660–740)
Sekitō Kisen (Shitou Xiqian, 700–790)
Yakusan Igen (Yaoshan Weiyan, 751–834)
Ungan Donjō (Yunyan Tansheng, 780–841)
Tōzan Ryōkai (Dongshan Liangjie, 807–869)
Ungo Dōyō (Yunju Daoying, 830–902)
Dōan Dōhi (Tongan Daopi)
Dōan Kanshi (Tongan Guanzhi)
Ryōzan Enkan (Liangshan Yuanguan)
Taiyō Kyōgen (Dayang Jingxuan, 943–1027)
Tōshi Gisei (Touzi Yiqing, 1032–1083)
Fuyō Dōkai (Furong Daokai, 1043–1118)
Tanka Shijun (Danxia Zichun, 1064–1117)
Chōro Seiryō (Zhenxie Qingliao, 1088–1151)
Tendō Sōkaku (Tiantong Zongjue, 1091–1157)
Setchō Chikan (Xuedou Zhijian, 1105–1192)
Tendō Nyojō (Tiantong Rujing, 1163–1228)
Japanese Patriarchs
Eihei Dōgen (1200–1253)
Koun Ejō (1198–1280)
Tettsū Gikai (1219–1309)
Keizan Jōkin (1268–1325)
Gasan Jōseki (1275–1366)
Tsugen Jakurei (1322–1391)
Sekioku Shinryō (d. 1408)
Chikkyō Shōyū
Zaisan Dōnei
Kishi Iban
Daian Shueki
Ishu Chūshin
Shunmei Shitō
Unan Tōryū
Ryūshitsu Chikyū
Yoshitsu Zuijaku
Kaiō Genkyō
Ryūun Eishū
Daishitsu Chōyū
Kanoku Shuntoku
Ryūzan Shūdon
Chikurin Eikai
Chikuō Shōrin
Renbaku Shōhen
Tetsugen Shūyō
Ryōchō Shōtatsu
Chikyuhō Shūzan
Kidō Gikan
Honkō Jissen
Chōgai Kenshū
Shōshū Gendō
Ryōzan Entō
Ittō Kankoku
Gentei Kanryū
Nannō Suiō
American Lineage
Bukkai Sentōyū
Zengaku Sōyū (Soyu Matsuoka, 1912–1997)
Zenkai Elliston (1941-)
Ungan Mayhew (1942-)
Indian Ancestors
Mahāpajāpatī
Mittā
Yasodharā
Tissā
Sujātā
Sundarīnandā
Vaddhesī
Paṭācārā
Visākhā
Siṅgālakamātā
Khemā
Uppalavaṇṇā
Sāmāvatī
Uttarā
Candā
Uttamā
Bhaddā Kuṇḍalakesā
Nanduttarā
Dantikā
Sakulā
Sīhā
Dhammadinnā
Kisāgotamī
Ubbirī
Isidāsī
Bhaddā Kāpilānī
Muttā
Sumanā
Dhammā
Cittā
Anopamā
Sukkā
Samā
Utpalāvarṇā
Śrīmālā Devī
Chinese Ancestors
Zongchi
Lingzhao (8th–9th c.)
Moshan Liaoran (9th c.)
Liu Tiemo (9th c.)
Miaoxin (9th c.)
Daoshen
Shiji (10th c.)
Zhì'an
Huìguāng
Kongshi Daoren
Yu Daopo (12th c.)
Huìwén
Fǎdēng
Wénzhào
Miàodào (1095–1170)
Zhìtōng
Japanese Women Ancestors
Zenshin-ni (6th c.)
Zenzō-ni (6th c.)
Ezen-ni (6th c.)
Ryōnen Gensō (1646–1711)
Egi (13th c.)
Shōgaku (13th c.)
Ekan Daishi (11th–12th c.)
Shōzen (13th–14th c.)
Mokufu Sonin (1263–1323)
Myōshō Enkan
Ekyū (11th–12th c.)
Eshun (14th c.)
Sōshin
Soitsu
Mugai Nyodai (1223–1298)
Chiyono (Mugai Nyodai)
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