Our Lineage
Kwan Um School Lineage
The Kwan Um School of Zen’s teaching lineage is part of the Korean Soen tradition. The founding teacher of our School, Zen Master Seung Sahn, is the 78th teacher in his line of Dharma Transmission. All students of Zen Master Seung Sahn to whom he has given Dharma Transmission are thus the 79th teachers in their personal lineages.
The Korean Soen lineage comes from the Chinese Rinzai lines and became separate around the year 1200. Famous Zen Masters in our lineage include the six Zen Patriarchs, Ma-tsu, Pai-chang, Lin-chi and Nan-chuan. Zen Master Seung Sahn received Dharma Transmission from Zen Master Ko Bong at the age of 22. His lineage also includes the noted Korean Zen Masters Man Gong and Kyong Ho.
India
The Buddha Shakyamuni
- Mahakasyapa
- Ananda
- Sanakavasa
- Upagupta
- Dhrtaka
- Miccaka
- Vasumitra
- Buddhanandi
- Buddhamitra
- Parsva
- Punyayasas
- Asvaghosa
- Kapimala
- Nagarjuna
- Kanadeva
- Rahulata
- Sanghanandi
- Gayasata
- Kumarata
- Jayata
- Vasubandhu
- Manorhita
- Haklena
- Aryasimha
- Basiasita
- Punyamitra
- Prajnatata
- Bodhidharma
China
- Hui K’o
- Seng Ts’an
- Tao Hsin
- Hung Jen
- Hui Neng
- Huai Jang
- Ma-tsu Tao-i
- Pai-chang Huai-hai
- Huang-po Hsi-yun
- Lin-chi I-hsuan
- Hsing-hua Tzun-chiang
- Nan-yuan Hui-yu
- Feng-hsueh Yen-chao
- Shou-shan Hsing-nien
- Tai-tzu Yuan-shan
- T’zu-ming Ch’u-yuan
- Yang-ch’i Fang-hui
- Pai-yun Shou-tuan
- Wu-tsu Fa-yen
- Huan-wu K’o-ch’in
- Hsu-ch’iu Shao-lung
- Ying-an T’an-hua
- Mi-an Hsi-chieh
- P’o-an Tsu-hsien
- Wu-chuan Shih-fan
- Hsueh-yen Hui-lang
- Chi-an Tsung-hsin
- Shih-shih Ch’ing-kung
Korea
- Tae-Ko Bo-Wu
- Whan-Am Hon-Su
- Ku-Gok Gak-Un
- Byeok-Ke Joung-Shim
- Byeok-Song Ji-Eom
- Bu-Yong Yeong-Kwan
- Cheong-Heo Hyu-Jeong
- Pyeon-Yang Eong-Ki
- Pung-Joung Heon-Shim
- Weol-Dam Seol-je
- Hwan-Seong Ji-An
- Ho-Am Che-Jeong
- Cheong-Bong Keo-An
- Yul-Bong Cheong-Kwa
- Keum-Heo Beop-Cheom
- Young-Am He-Eon
- Yeong-Weol Bong-Yul
- Man-Hwa Bo-Seon
- Kyong-Ho Seong-Wu
- Man-Gong Weol-Myeon
- Ko-Bong Gyeong-Uk
- Seung-Sahn Haeng-Won