The Lineage
of Korean Zen and the Kwan Um School
From the Buddha: India, via China, to Korea
The Kwan Um School of Zen’s teaching lineage comes through Zen Master Seung Sahn from the Korean Seon tradition, which descended from the Chinese Rinzai lines and became separate around the year 1200. Famous Zen Masters in our lineage include the six Zen Patriarchs from Bodhidharma to Hui Neng; and their descendents Ma-tsu, Pai-chang, Lin-chi and Tae-ko.
Zen Master Seung Sahn received Dharma Transmission at the age of 22 from Zen Master Ko Bong who received transmission through the noted Korean Zen Masters Man Gong and Kyong Ho.
The Kwan Um School of Zen
The School’s teaching authority is derived from the founding teacher, Zen Master Seung Sahn. He was the 78th teacher in his line of Dharma Transmission of Korean Seon.
All students of Zen Master Seung Sahn to whom he gave Dharma Transmission are thus the 79th teachers in their personal lines. In all he gave transmission to 11 of his students.
India
The Buddha Shakyamuni
- 1. Mahakasyapa
- 2. Ananda
- 3. Sanakavasa
- 4. Upagupta
- 5. Dhrtaka
- 6. Miccaka
- 7. Vasumitra
- 8. Buddhanandi
- 9. Buddhamitra
- 10. Parsva
- 11. Punyayasas
- 12. Asvaghosa
- 13. Kapimala
- 14. Nagarjuna
- 15. Kanadeva
- 16. Rahulata
- 17. Sanghanandi
- 18. Gayasata
- 19. Kumarata
- 20. Jayata
- 21. Vasubandhu
- 22. Manorhita
- 23. Haklena
- 24. Aryasimha
- 25. Basiasita
- 26. Punyamitra
- 27. Prajnatata
- 28. Bodhidharma
China
- 28. Bodhidharma
- 29. Hui K’o
- 30. Seng Ts’an
- 31. Tao Hsin
- 32. Hung Jen
- 33. Hui Neng
- 34. Huai Jang
- 35. Ma-tsu Tao-i
- 36. Pai-chang Huai-hai
- 37. Huang-po Hsi-yun
- 38. Lin-chi I-hsuan
- 39. Hsing-hua Tzun-chiang
- 40. Nan-yuan Hui-yu
- 41. Feng-hsueh Yen-chao
- 42. Shou-shan Hsing-nien
- 43. Tai-tzu Yuan-shan
- 44. T’zu-ming Ch’u-yuan
- 45. Yang-ch’i Fang-hui
- 46. Pai-yun Shou-tuan
- 47. Wu-tsu Fa-yen
- 48. Huan-wu K’o-ch’in
- 49. Hsu-ch’iu Shao-lung
- 50. Ying-an T’an-hua
- 51. Mi-an Hsi-chieh
- 52. P’o-an Tsu-hsien
- 53. Wu-chuan Shih-fan
- 54. Hsueh-yen Hui-lang
- 55. Chi-an Tsung-hsin
- 56. Shih-shih Ch’ing-kung
Korea
- 57. Tae-Ko Bo-Wu
- 58. Whan-Am Hon-Su
- 59. Ku-Gok Gak-Un
- 60. Byeok-Ke Joung-Shim
- 61. Byeok-Song Ji-Eom
- 62. Bu-Yong Yeong-Kwan
- 63. Cheong-Heo Hyu-Jeong
- 64. Pyeon-Yang Eong-Ki
- 65. Pung-Joung Heon-Shim
- 66. Weol-Dam Seol-je
- 67. Hwan-Seong Ji-An
- 68. Ho-Am Che-Jeong
- 69. Cheong-Bong Keo-An
- 70. Yul-Bong Cheong-Kwa
- 71. Keum-Heo Beop-Cheom
- 72. Young-Am He-Eon
- 73. Yeong-Weol Bong-Yul
- 74. Man-Hwa Bo-Seon
- 75. Kyong-Ho Seong-Wu
- 76. Man-Gong Weol-Myeon
- 77. Ko-Bong Gyeong-Uk
- 78. Seung-Sahn Haeng-Won
Europe
- 79. Wu-Bong Peop-Mu
