Ancestors and Heirs

Lineage page - Disciples page

Gyakushitsu Sojun gave transmission to

Butsumon Sogaku Suzuki (Shunryu's father) who gave transmission to

Gyokujun So-on who gave transmission to Shunryu Suzuki


Nishiari Bokusan (Terebess - Wikipedia) gave transmission to

Sawaki Kodo - Oka Sotan

Oka Sotan on the right (above).

And Nishiari Bokusan gave transmission to Ian Kishizawa. (Oka Sotan was both dharma brother and teacher of Ian KIshizawa.)


Oka Sotan gave transmission to Sawaki Kodo on the left (above).

沢木興道 Sawaki Kōdō (1880-1965)- Terebess - Wikipedia

Kodo Sawaki

Thanks to Bill Shurtleff for sending this photo of Kodo Sawaki

Ian Kishizawa, Shunryu's teacher at Eiheiji and into the fifties. Kishizawa gave transmission to Hakusan Kojun Noiri and Rempo Niwa (or at least they studied with him like Suzuki). They were junior to Suzuki who considered them dharma brothers.

Hakusan Kojun Noiri

Rempo Niwa who officiated at Shunryu Suzuki's funeral.

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Shogaku Shunryu gave transmission to

Hoitsu Suzuki who studied under Kojun Niori - don't know how much.

and Shoko Okamoto - on the right holding Gyokujun So-on's bow with Hoitsu.

and Zentatsu Richard Baker


Shunryu Suzuki was working with Bill Kwong on transmission when Suzuki died. He talked to Claude Dalenberg about giving transmission to a larger group but was discouraged from trying that and was too ill. His son and dharma heir Hoitsu gave transmission to Bill Kwong and also to Mel Weitsman and Les Kaye so their Berkeley and Los Altos centers would have a transmitted teacher in Suzuki's lineage.

See Lineage and Teachers with more on heirs and ancestors

Groups in Shunryu Lineage and Related

Sati Conference on Shunryu Suzuki with emphasis on his teachers and background

See scrolls by Ian Kishizawa and Oka Sotan on graphics page

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Thanks Clare Hollander for going to the founders hall at the SFZC City Center and photographing the top three ancestors' portraits plus Kishizawa's. With Hoitsu Suzuki's help rounded them up and had copies made in Japan in 1994 when there interviewing people for Crooked Cucumber. The top one of Gyakushitsu Sojun came from Zounin as I recall, was lying on a shelf behind the alter, dusty and torn in places. Had it repaired and framed before returning it to Shoko Okamoto. I think the other three were at Rinsoin. I wasn't into digitizing then so when returned to States just gave copies to some centers for display in founders' halls. So finally now they are online and offline as well. - DC