Dharma transmission

Lineage of Dōgen

12 teachers and ancestors, 4 students and descendants traced through transmission.

Dōgen stands 52 generations from Shakyamuni Buddha in the Sōtō line, receiving transmission from Tiantong Rujing (1163–1228). The line above runs back through Zhenxie Qingliao, Tiantong Zongjue, Xuedou Zhijian and their predecessors to Shakyamuni Buddha.

This line belongs to Sōtō. Every name below links to that master’s own record, with the sources for each transmission.

Line of succession to Dōgen

The single line of formal transmission, root first. Where a master had several teachers this follows the one carrying the succession; the fuller set of ancestors is listed below.

Teachings attributed to Dōgen

Ancestors of Dōgen

Disciples and descendants of Dōgen