Lineage Chart of the Dharma Drum Mountain Line of the Chinese Chan Tradition [i]
Certified by Master Sheng Yen as of April 30 2001
(Revised in 2015 based on the 2010 Founder's Hall one-year anniversary version from Dharma Drum Mountain)
(I) Lineage Chart of the Chinese Chan Tradition from the Twenty-eight Indian Lineage Masters to the six Chinese Lineage Masters
佛 Buddha 釋迦牟尼 Sakyamuni
祖 Patriarchs
| 1. | 摩訶迦葉 | Mahakasyapa |
| 2. | 阿難 | Ananda |
| 3. | 商那和修 | Sanavasa |
| 4. | 優波毱多 | Upagupta |
| 5. | 提多迦 | Dhritaka |
| 6. | 彌遮迦 | Michaka |
| 7. | 婆須密 | Vasumitra |
| 8. | 佛陀難提 | Buddhanandi |
| 9. | 佛陀蜜多 | Buddhamitra |
| 10. | 脅尊者 | Parsva |
| 11. | 富那耶舍 | Punyayasas |
| 12. | 馬鳴大士 | Bodhisattva Asvaghosa |
| 13. | 迦毘摩羅 | Kapimala |
| 14. | 龍樹尊者 | Bodhisattva Nagarjuna |
| 15. | 迦那提婆 | Kanadeva |
| 16. | 羅睺羅多 | Rahulata |
| 17. | 僧伽難提 | Sanghanandi |
| 18. | 伽耶舍多 | Gayasata (also known as Sanghayasas) |
| 19. | 鳩摩羅多 | Kumarata |
| 20. | 闍夜多 | Jayata |
| 21. | 婆修槃頭 | Vasubandhu |
| 22. | 摩奴羅 | Manura (Manorhita/Manorhata) |
| 23. | 鶴勒那 | Haklenayasas |
| 24. | 師子比丘 | Sinha |
| 25. | 婆舍斯多 | Vasiastia (Vasi-Asita) |
| 26. | 不如密多 | Punyamitra |
| 27. | 般若多羅 | Prajnatara |
| 28. | 菩提達摩 | Bodhidharma (印度第二十八祖中國初祖) (The 28th Indian lineage master, the first Chinese lineage master) (d.535) |
| 29. | 神光慧可 | Shenguang Huike (487-593) |
| 30. | 鑑智僧璨 | Jianzhi Sengcan (d.606) |
| 31. | 雙峰道信 | Shuanfeng Daoxin (580-651) |
| 32. | 黃梅弘忍 | Huangmei Hongren (602-675) |
| 33. | 曹溪慧能 | Caoxi Huineng (638-713) |
Note: The above material is based on the entry on the Chan tradition in Mogetsu Shinkô's 'The Dictionary of Buddhism.'
(II) Lineage Chart of Zhigang Weirou (Huikong Shengyen) in the Linji School.
| 1. | 曹溪慧能 | Caoxi Huineng (638-713) |
| 2. | 南嶽懷讓 | Nanyue Huairang (677-744) |
| 3. | 馬祖道一 | Mazu Daoyi (709-788) |
| 4. | 百丈懷海 | Baizhang Huaihai (750-814) |
| 5. | 黃蘗希運 | Huangbo Xiyun (d.850) |
| 6. | 臨濟義玄 | Linji Yixuan (d.866) [ii] |
| 7. | 興化存獎 | Xinghua Cunjiang (830-888) |
| 8. | 南院慧顒 | Nanyuan Huiyong (d.952) |
| 9. | 風穴延沼 | Fengxue Yanzhao (896-973) |
| 10. | 首山省念 | Shoushan Shengnian (926-993) |
| 11. | 汾陽善昭 | Fenyang Shanzhao (947-1024) |
| 12. | 石霜楚圓 | Shishuang Chuyuan (986-1039) → 黄龍慧南 Huanglong Huinan (黄龍系 Huanglong line) |
| 13. | 楊岐方會 | Yangqi Fanghui (992-1049) (楊岐系 Yangqi line) |
| 14. | 白雲守端 | Baiyun Shouduan (1025-1072) |
| 15. | 五祖法演 | Wuzu Fayan (1024-1104) |
| 16. | 圜悟克勤 | Huanwu Keqin (1063-1135) → 大慧宗杲 Dahui Zhonggao (Huatou Chan) |
| 17. | 虎丘紹隆 | Huqiu Shaolong (1077-1136) |
| 18. | 應庵曇華 | Yingan Tanhua (1103-1163) |
| 19. | 密庵咸傑 | Mian Xianjie (1118-1186) |
| 20. | 破庵祖先 | Poan Zuxian (1136-1211) |
| 21. | 無準師範 | Wuzhun Shifan (1174-1249) |
| 22. | 斷橋妙倫 | Duanqiao Miaolun (1201-1261) |
| 23. | 方山文寶 | Fangshan Wenbao (d.1335) |
| 24. | 無見先覩 | Wujian Xiandu (1265-1334) |
| 25. | 白雲智度 | Baiyun Zhidu (1304-1370) |
| 26. | 古拙昌俊 | Guzhuo Changjun |
| 27. | 無際明悟 | Wuji Mingwu |
| 28. | 月溪耀澄 | Yuexi Yaocheng |
| 29. | 夷峰鏡寧 | Yifeng Jingning (d.1491) |
| 30. | 寶芳智進 | Baofang Zhijin |
| 31. | 野翁慧曉 | Yeweng Huixiao |
| 32. | 無趣清空 | Wuqu Qingkong (1491-1580) |
| 33. | 無幻淨沖 | Wuhuan Jingchong (1540-1611) |
| 34. | 南明道廣 | Nanming Daoguang |
| 35. | 鴛湖德用 | Yuanhu Deyong (1587-1642) |
| 36. | 高菴圓清 | Gaoan Yuanqing (Gushan school) |
| 37. | 本智明覺 | Benzhi Mingjue |
| 38. | 紫柏真可 | Zibo Zhenke (1543-1603) |
| 39. | 端旭如弘 | Duanxu Ruhong |
| 40. | 純潔性奎 | Chunjie Xingkui |
| 41. | 慈雲海俊 | Ciyun Haijun |
| 42. | 質生寂文 | Zhisheng Jiwen |
| 43. | 端員照華 | Duanyuan Zhaohua |
| 44. | 其岸普明 | Qian Puming |
| 45. | 弢巧通聖 | Taoqiao Tongsheng |
| 46. | 悟修心空 | Wuxiu Xinkong |
| 47. | 宏化源悟 | Honghua Yuanwu |
| 48. | 祥青廣松 | Xiangqing Guangsong |
| 49. | 守道續先 | Shoudao Xuxian |
| 50. | 正岳本超 | Zhengyue Benchao |
| 51. | 永暢覺乘 | Yongchang Jueshen |
| 52. | 方來昌遠 | Fanglai Changyuan |
| 53. | 豁悟隆參 | Huowu Longcan |
| 54. | 維超能燦 | Weichao Nengcan |
| 55. | 奇量仁繁 | Qiliang Renfan |
| 56. | 妙蓮聖華 | Miaolian Shenghua |
| 57. | 鼎峰果成 | Dingfeng Guocheng |
| 58. | 善慈常開 | Shanci Changkai |
| 59. | 德清演徹 | Deqing Yanche (虛雲) (Xu-yun) (1840-1959) [iii] |
| 60. | 佛慧寬印 | Fohui Kuanyin |
| 61. | 靈源宏妙 | Lingyuan Hongmiao (1902-1988) |
| 62. | 知剛惟柔 | Zhigang Weirou (慧空聖嚴 ) (Huikong Shengyen) (1930-2009) |
Note: The above information is based on the 'Record of Star and Lamp' which is transmitted by Nan Hua Monastery of Guangdong. It has been reviewed by Ven. Master Lingyuan and was published by Shifang Dajue (Great Enlightenment of the Ten Directions) Monastery of Taiwan.
- Counting from the first lineage master Mahakasyapa, Huikong Shengyen belongs to the 94th generation of the Chan lineage.
- From the first lineage master of the Chinese Chan tradition, Bodhidharma, Huikong Shengyen belongs to the 67th generation of the Chan lineage.
- From the sixth lineage master of the Chan tradition, Caoxi Huineng, Huikong Shengyen belongs to the 62nd generation of the Chan lineage.
- From Linji Yixuan, Huikong Shengyen belongs to the 57th generation of the Linji School.
- From Yangqi Fanghui, Huikong Shengyen belongs to the 50th generation of the Yangqi line of the Linji School.
- From Gaoan Yuanqing, Huikong Shengyen belongs to the 27th generation of the Gushan (Drum Mountain) branch of the Yangqi line of the Linji School.
- Zhigang Weirou (Huikong Shengyen) is the first generation of the Dharma Drum Mountain line of the Linji School in Taiwan and the United States.
(III) Lineage Chart of Huikong Shengyen in the Caodong School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 曹溪慧能 Caoxi Huineng (638-713) 青原行思 Qingyuan Xingsi (d.740) 石頭希遷 Shitou Xiqian (700-790) 藥山惟儼 Yaoshan Weiyan (751-834) 雲儼曇晟 Yunyan Tancheng (782-841) 洞山良价 Dongshan Liangjie (807-869) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 雲居道膺 Yunju Daoying 同安道丕 Tongan Daopi 同安觀志 Tongan Guanzhi 梁山緣觀 Liangshan Yuanguan 大陽警玄 Dayang Jingxuan (943-1027) 投子義青 Touzi Yiqing (1032-1083) 芙蓉道楷 Furong Daokai (1043-1118) | 曹山本寂 Caoshan Benji (840-901) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 鹿門自覺 Lumen Zijue (d.1117) | 丹霞子淳 Danxia Zichun (1064-1119) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 普照一辯 Puzhao Yibian (1081-1149) 靈巖僧寶 Lingyan Sengbao (1114-1171) 玉山師體 Yushan Shiti 雪巖慧滿 Xueyan Huiman (d.1206) 萬松行秀 Wansong Xingxiu (1166-1246) 雪庭福裕 Xueting Fuyu (1203-1275) 靈隱文泰 Lingyin Wentai (d.1289) 還源福遇 Huanyuan Fuyu (1245-1313) 淳拙文才 Chunzuo Wencai (1273-1352) 松庭子嚴 Songting Ziyan 凝然了改 Ningran Liaogai (1335-1421) 俱空契斌 Jukong Qibin (1383-1452) 無方可從 Wufang Kecong (1420-1483) 月舟文載 Yuezhou Wenzai (1452-1524) 宗鏡宗書 Zongjing Zongshu (1500-1567) | 真歇清了 Zhenxie Qingliao (1090-1151) 天童宗珏 Tiantong Zongjue (1091-1162) 雪竇智鑑 Xuedou Zhijian (1105-1192) 天童如淨 Tiantong Rujing (1162-1228) 日本道元 Daoyuan (Dogen in Japanese) (1200-1253) | 宏智正覺 Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091-1157) 自得慧暉 Zide Huihui (1097-1183) 等十代而絕 lineage ended after ten generations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 幻休常潤 Huanxiu Changrun (d.1585) 慈舟方念 Cizhou Fangnian (d.1594) | 蘊空常忠 Yunkong Changzhong (1514-1588) 無明慧經 Wuming Huijing (1548-1618) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 雲門圓澄 Yunmen Yuancheng (1561-1626) (Yunmen line) 瑞白明雪 Ruibai Mingxue (1584-1641) 破闇淨燈 Poan Jingdeng (1603-1659) (焦山糸 Jiaoshan Line) 古樵智先 Guqiao Zhixian 鑑堂德鏡 Jiantang Dejing 碩庵行載 Shuoan Xingzai 敏修福毅 Minxiu Fuyi (d.1790) 碧岩祥潔 Biyan Xiangjie (1703-1765) 濟舟澄洮 Jizhou Chengyao (d.1737) 巨超清恒 Juchau Qingheng 性源覺詮 Xingyuan Juequan 墨溪海蔭 Moxi Haiyin 月輝了禪 Yuehui Liaochan 流長悟春 Liuchang Wuchun 芥航大須 Jiehang Daxu 雲帆常照 Yunfan Changzhao 峰屏肇慈 Fenping Zhaoci 德峻自覺 Dejun Zijue 吉堂迦泰 Jitang Jiatai 智光文覺 Zhiguang Wenjue (1889-1963) 東初鐙朗 Dongchu Denglang (1908-1977) [iv] | 博山元來 (博山糸) Boshan Yuanlai (1575-1630) (Boshan Line) | 鼓山元賢 (鼓山糸) Gushan Yuanxian (1578-1657) (Gushan Line) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 慧空聖嚴 Huikong Shengyen [v] (1930-2009) (法鼓山糸) (Dharma Drum Mountain Line) [vi] |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: The above information is based on the history and biography sections of the Tripitaka, 'History of Zen' by Y.H. Ku, the attached chart of Chinese Chan Lineage in Mogetsu Shinkô's 'The Dictionary of Buddhism' Volume 6, the 'Records of Jiao Shan' edited by Ven. Master Mingshan, and 'The Spring of the Dharma, The Source of Life' by Master Shengyen himself.
Dharma Drum Lineage of Chinese Chan
第二代出家眾 (Second generation monastic Dharma heirs) 正程果繼 Zhengcheng Guoji; Jicheng Fashi (transmission 1986) 第二代在家眾 (Second generation lay Dharma heirs) [vii] 淨諦傳燈 Jingdi Chuandeng; John Crook (1930-2011) (transmission 1993) [viii] Third generation lay Dharma heirsDharma heirs of 淨宏傳法 Jinghong Chuanfa; Simon Child 智淨法宏 Zhijing Fahong; Fiona Nuttall (1959-) (transmission 2015)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Endnotes:
| [i] (This webpage showing lineage chart and notes has been derived from the chart published in "Chan Comes West") The lineage chart is translated by Rebecca Li, with assistance from Jie Zhang on some of the pinyin transliterations. All explanatory notes are added by the translator after consulting with Master Sheng Yen appeared as Shengyen on the chart and will be referred to as Sheng Yen in the explanation detailed in the endnotes below). |
| [ii] Founder of the Linji School |
| [iii] Also known as Empty Cloud |
| [iv] Dongchu Denglang is Master Dongchu's Caodong transmission Dharma name. He also has a Dharma name from the Linji transmission, Ren-shu (meaning "kindness dawn"). |
[v] Here I would like to distinguish between two parts of the four-character Dharma name.
Traditionally, only people who are more senior than oneself, such as one's Master, are supposed to address one using the Dharma name (Fa-ming), whereas one's disciples and others should use the Dharma first name (Fa-hao). This means that the name "Sheng Yen" should traditionally not have been used by his disciples to address Master Sheng Yen. However, since this name is how Master Sheng Yen is known, he continues to use it. |
| [vi] Although individuals receiving transmission in the Dharma Drum Mountain line have transmission from both Caodong and Linji schools, their Dharma names (Fa-ming) will come from the Linji sects because the name Huikong Shengyen comes from Master Dongchu's line in the Linji sect. |
| [vii] In this updated lineage chart, both Master Sheng Yen's lay Dharma heirs in the West and monastic Dharma heirs in the East are listed although the endnotes will focus on the former. The five Dharma heirs in the West are listed in the order of their receiving transmission from Master Sheng Yen. |
| [viii] The full four-character Dharma names of the lay Dharma heirs listed in the lineage chart of this edition have been revised. While the same four characters are used in these names, the first two characters (Dharma first name) and the third and fourth characters (Dharma name) have been switched in the revised version of the lineage chart. For instance, "Jingdi Chuandeng" was listed as "Chuandeng Jingdi" in the lineage chart of the first edition. |
| [ix] The characters in this thirty-two word verse are used to name disciples from generation to generation in the order the characters appear in the verse. The character used for a particular generation makes up the first half of one's Dharma name (Fa-ming). For instance, all of Master Sheng Yen's students have 'guo' as the first half of their Dharma name. If one looks at the lineage chart of the Linji sect starting from number 46, one will find the thirty-two verse by reading the third character of each of the lineage master's four-character name. |
| [x] The English translation of this thirty-two word verse and the next thirty-two verse attempts to convey the meaning of each four-character line as a whole, as well as the meaning of each individual character. Each English word in bold corresponds to the meaning of the Chinese character in the same order as they appear in the line. For example, in the first line, the first word in bold 'mind' is the meaning of the first character 'xin', whereas the second word in bold 'origin' is the meaning of the second character 'yuan', and the third word in bold 'extensive' is the meaning of the third character 'guang', and the fourth word in bold 'continued' is the meaning of the fourth character 'xu'. |
| [xi] Here one can see where Master Sheng Yen's Dharma name (Fa-ming) came from. The character 'Ren' (meaning 'kindness') was used in his master Master Dongchu's Dharma name, Ren-shu, from his Linji transmission. As Master Dongchu's disciple, he was given 'Sheng' (meaning 'holy'), the next character in the verse, as the first character of his Dharma name. Master Sheng Yen's monastic Dharma heirs all have 'Guo' (meaning 'fruit') as the first character of their Dharma name. Their Dharma heirs will then have 'Chang' (meaning 'always') as the first character of their Dharma name (Fa-ming). Hence, 'Sheng,' 'Guo,' and 'Chang' come from Master Dongchu's line. |
| [xii] The phrase in bold 'being able to' is the meaning of the first character 'neng'. |
| [xiii] The third character of this line 'kuan' means 'broad' whereas the fourth character 'hong' means 'great'. 'Kuan Hong' in this line is the adverb describing the way one performs, and thus is translated in the verse as 'broadmindedly'. |
| [xiv] Here one can see where Master Sheng Yen's other name 'Zhigang Weirou' came from. The character 'Hong' (meaning 'great') was used in his master Master Lingyuan Hongmiao's Dharma name (Fa-ming). As Master Lingyuan's disciple, he was given 'Wei' (meaning 'only'), the next character in the verse, as the first character of his Dharma name (Fa-ming). |
[xv] The character 'Chuan' (meaning 'transmit') is used for the first character of the Dharma first name (Fa-hao) of the lay practitioners receiving transmission from Master Sheng Yen. For instance,
|
| [xvi] The first two characters in this line 'zheng wu' as a compound noun means 'realization'. 'Zheng' by itself can be translated as 'realization' whereas 'wu' is often translated as 'enlightenment'. Another way to translate the meaning of the entire line will be 'All is thus comprehensively mastered'. |
| [xvii] The thirty-two characters in this verse will be used to name disciples in the Dharma Drum Mountain system, that is, those who receive transmission from Master Sheng Yen. |
[xviii] For the practitioners receiving transmission from Master Sheng Yen, the second character in this thirty-two word verse 'Jing' (meaning 'pure') is used as the first character of their Dharma name (Fa-ming). For instance,
|
| [xix] The third and fourth characters of this line 'zhi hui' make up a compound word that means 'wisdom'. The two characters are often used interchangeably in Chinese to refer to wisdom or prajna. Hence both 'zhi' and 'hui' can be translated as 'wisdom'. |
| [xx] The first character in this line 'wan' literally means 'ten thousand', which really means many or all. Thus it is translated as 'all' here. |
| [xxi] The third and fourth characters in this line 'yuan tong' make up a compound word that means 'perfection'. The character 'yuan' can be translated as 'perfect' or 'complete', and the character 'tong' can be translated as 'completely comprehended'. |
| [xxii] The third and fourth characters in this line 'qi tong' together mean 'becoming unified'. The character 'qi' can be translated as 'to agree with' and the character 'tong' can be translated as 'sameness'. |
©Western Chan Fellowship CIO 2001. May not be quoted for commercial purposes. Anyone wishing to quote for non-commercial purposes may seek permission from the WCF Secretary.
The articles on this website have been submitted by various authors. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Western Chan Fellowship.
Permalink: https://w-c-f.org/Q210