The Ōtōkan lineage is a lineage of the Rinzai school of Zen. It was founded by Nanpo Shōmyō, who received the dharma in China in 1265 and returned to Japan in 1267. It is centered at the temple complexes of Myōshin-ji and Daitoku-ji in Kyoto, and sometimes referred to as the "Myōshin-ji lineage" accordingly. It now consists of two main lines, the Inzan line and the Takujū line, which date to circa 1800.
History
The Otokan lineage was founded by Nanpo Shōmyō 南浦紹明, who received transmission in China from the monk Xutang Zhiyu 虚堂智愚 in 1265, who then returned to Japan in 1267. It was then spread by his student Shuho Myocho and Kanzan Egen, who made it an influential school. It is today the only surviving lineage in the Rinzai school, and is historically the most influential. It is the lineage to which Hakuin Ekaku belonged, from whom all contemporary Rinzai lineages descend. It is also the lineage of the Ōbaku sect, which is closely related to Rinzai. Other Rinzai lineages previously existed, but no others survived the 19th century. The name Ōtōkan, traditionally written 應燈關, in modern Japanese written 応灯関, is analyzed as ō-tō-kan, and is derived from the names of the first three patriarchs:
the "ō" of Daiō,
the "tō" of Daitō,
and the "kan" of Kanzan.
In detail: Daiō Kokushi 大應國師, Daitō Kokushi 大燈國師, and Kanzan Egen 關山慧玄.
Lineage
The lineage is as follows. Direct inheritance is given, with side branches generally not given. This lists the lineage from Nanpo Shōmyō through Hakuin Ekaku and his immediate disciples, branching with Inzan Ien and Takujū Kosen. Note that Shoju Rojin did not grant Hakuin Ekaku permission to teach, but today Hakuin is considered to have received dharma transmission from Shoju, since Hakuin himself regarded Shoju Rojin's influence in his understanding of Zen.
Nanpo Shōmyō 南浦紹明, posthumous name Enzu Daiō Kokushi 圓通大應國師, usually simply Daiō Kokushi 大應國師
Shūhō Myōchō 宗峰妙超, usually known as Daitō Kokushi 大燈國師, founded Daitoku-ji
The two main schools today are Takujū and Inzan. These have a few differences in practice:
Takujū works through the three major works of Mumonkan, Kattō-shū, and Hekiganroku in that order, while Inzan mix the works, but still in a prescribed order.
Takujū uses jakugo for all kōans, while Inzan uses it for most, but not all
