ZEN MESTEREK ZEN MASTERS
« Zen főoldal
« vissza a Terebess Online nyitólapjára

孤峰 (瑩堂) 智璨 Kohō (Keidō) Chisan (1879-1967)


Sōt
ō Zen
An Introduction to the Thought of the Serene Reflection Meditation School of Buddhism
by The Very Reverend Keido Chisan Koho Zenji, Edited by Reverend Jisho Perry, M.O.B.C.
Edited and reprinted by Shasta Abbey Press, Mt. Shasta, California, 2000

Download book in pdf

Soto Zen: An Introduction to the Thought of the Soto Zen Sect [reprinted in the Shasta Abbey Press ed. pp. XIII-XV, 3-101.]
by Chisan Koho [sic!]
1st ed. published by Sōji-ji Temple, Yokohama, Japan, 1956 [!], 104 p.

Cf. Impressum herewith:

 

Keido Chisan Koho Zenji was born on August 16, 1879, in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. He was ordained as a Buddhist trainee by Koho Hakugun of Eiko-ji Temple, Ishikawa Prefecture in 1892, and received the Dharma Transmission from him in 1901. He graduated from the Soto Zen Sect's Kamazawa University and entered Soji-ji Temple in 1904. The next year he became the Abbot of Senpuku-ji Temple in Chiba Prefecture, and in 1907 he became the Abbot of the Raigaku-ji Temple in Nagano Prefecture.

In 1915 he became the Vice-Principal of the Soto Zen Church First Middle School. He became the Treasurer of the Soto Zen Headquarters (Sotoshu Shumucho) in 1916. In the following year he advanced to become the Abbot of Eiko-ji Temple and the Vice Director of Daihonzan Soji-ji. In 1937 he was promoted to be Director of Soji-ji. In 1947 he received the post of Abbot of Saijo-ji Temple, which was quickly followed by promotion to Chief Abbot of Daihonzan Soji-ji and Archbishop of the Kanto Plains, and receipt of the honor and the title Daikyosei (Great Teacher) from the Emperor of Japan in 1948. During the next 12 years he made two tours of the West. Rev. Jiyu-Kennett became his personal disciple in 1962, after he invited her to come to Japan to study with him. She received the Dharma Transmission from him on May 28, 1963, and later received a Sei degree (roughly equivalent to a Doctor of Divinity) from Daihonzan Soji-ji. While he was still Abbot of Soji-ji, Koho Zenji died on November 1, 1967, which is traditionally “Founder's Day” in Zen Temples. (It is a day to give thanks for the kindness of the Buddhas and Ancestors who have dedicated their lives to the teaching and transmitting of the Buddha's Truth.)

Sōjiji in the Sixties

In November of 1970, Rev. Jiyu-Kennett established a training monastery and seminary in Mount Shasta, California in Koho Zenji's name. He is the first founder of Shasta Zan Chisan-ji (Shasta Abbey). In 1972 she established a British monastery, Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, where the Dharma transmitted to her from Koho Zenji is flourishing in Great Britain and Europe. In 1985 a portion of his ashes were brought from Japan and were formally installed in the Founder's Shrines at Shasta Abbey and Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey.
http://shastaabbey.org/about-founder.html

Dharma Lineage


永平道元 Eihei Dōgen (1200-1253)

孤雲懐奘 Koun Ejō (1198-1280)

徹通義介 Tettsū Gikai (1219-1309)

螢山紹瑾 Keizan Jōkin (1268-1325)

明峰素哲 Meihō Sotetsu (1277-1350)

珠巌道珍 Shugan Dōchin (?-1387)  

徹山旨廓 Tessan Shikaku (?-1376)

桂巌英昌 Keigan Eishō (1321-1412)

籌山了運 Chuzan Ryōun (1350-1432)

義山等仁 Gisan Tōnin (1386-1462)

紹嶽堅隆 Shōgaku Kenryū (?-1485)

幾年豐隆 Kinen Hōryū (?-1506)

提室智闡 Daishitsu Chisen (1461-1536)

虎溪正淳 Kokei Shōjun (?-1555)

雪窗祐甫 Sessō Yūho (?-1576)

海天玄聚 Kaiten Genju

州山春昌 Shūzan Shunshō (1590-1647)

超山闡越 Chōzan Senetsu (1581-1672)

福州光智 Fukushū Kōchi

明堂雄暾 Meidō Yūton

白峰玄滴 Hakuhō Genteki (1594-1670)

月舟宗胡 Gesshū Sōkō (1618-1696)

卍山道白 Manzan Dōhaku (1635-1715)

月澗義光 Gekkan Gikō (1653-1702)

大用慧照 Daiyū Esshō (?-1665)

華嚴曹海 Kegon Sōkai (1685-1761)

祥雲太瑞 Shōun Taizui

日輪當午 Nichirin Tōgō

尊應教堂 Sonnō Kyōdō

祖嶽靈道 Sogaku Reidō

大俊鞭牛 Daishun Bengyū

孤峰白岩 Kohō Hakugan


莹堂智璨 Keidō Chisan (1879-1967) [孤峰 禅師 Kohō zenji]

wears an ōkuwara (大掛絡), a sort of big rakusu, another version of the kesa, hanging over his left shoulder

 

 

 

Raigaku-ji Newsletter, No. 4 August 1, 1993
Reprinted from the Journal Of The Order Of Buddhist Contemplatives, Vol. 10, numbers 3 and 4,1995.
http://obcon.org/about-us/founding-teachers/koho-zenji/

The Annual Memorial Service

Great Priest Keido Chisan Koho Zenji.
Enno Shido Zenji.
Thirty-second Head of Raigaku-ji, Temple Restorer.
Foremost Great Teacher of Scriptures.
Eighteenth Abbot Daihonzan Soji-ji.
The Twenty-seventh Anniversary of His Demise.

Rev. Koho Zenji was born on August 16, 1879, in the Echizen District of Toyama, Toyama Prefecture. In 1889 he became ordained under Koho Hakugun, Chief Priest of Eikoji in Hakui, Ishikawa Prefecture. He attended Soto-shu First Middle School (now called Tadani School) and graduated from Soto-shu University (now, Komazawa University). He did his Chief Juniorship under the Abbot of Chokoku-ji in Tokyo's Minato District. He was Transmitted by Koho Hakugun, who adopted him as his son and gave him the family name of Koho.

He served as Chief Priest at Sempuku-ji in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, and from 1907 to 1957 served at Raigakuji for fifty years. During this time he held additional posts at Eiko-ji in Ishikawa Prefecture, at Fukuju-in in Tokyo's Taito District, and at Saijo-ji in Minami-Ashigara, Kanagawa Prefecture. In 1957 he became Enno Shido Zenji, Eighteenth Abbot of Daihonzan Soji-ji.

Also he served successively as Director of Komazawa University Library, Principal of Tadani High School, Assistant Prior and Prior of Daihonzan Soji-ji, and Head of the Financial Section of the Soto Church's Department of Sectarian Affairs. While at Raigaku-ji he erected such structures as the Main Hall, the Founder's Shrine, the Temple's Mountain Gate, and the Bell Tower. His demise came on November 1, 1967, at the age of 89. The Gako Zenrin (Goose Lake Monastery) written on the Mountain Gate and the Shian Jizo Son (In Veneration of Jizo, Helper of Childbirth) written on the entrance side of the Kshtigarba Shrine are in his hand. Among the twenty disciples that he Transmitted are Misawa Chiyu and Iwamoto Chido, who inherited Raigakuji as the thirty-third and thirty-fourth Heads respectively. Zenshu Shi (A History of the Zen Tradition) is foremost among his many published works. He devoted his energies to erecting such buildings as the Main Hall, Library, and Monks' Hall at Saijo-ji, and the Gate to the Great Ancestral Hall (Main Hall) at Daihonzan Soji-ji.

Brief Biography Of Koho Chisan Zenji:

Foremost Great Teacher of Scriptures.
Former Abbot of the Soto Church's Daihonzan Soji-ji.
Imperially conferred the title of Enno Shido Zenji.
Former Head of Soji Gakuen School.
Former Advocate General of the Main Temple's Social Services Department.

1879 Born on August 16 in Toyama Prefecture.
1892 Ordained by Koho Hakugun, Chief Priest of Eiko-ji, Kashima County, Ishikawa Prefecture. (Age 11)
1901 Transmitted under Koho Hakugun, Chief Priest of Eiko-ji, Ishikawa Prefecture.
1904 Graduated from Soto-shu University. A senior monk at Daihonzan Soji-ji.
1905 Appointed Chief Priest of Sempuku-ji, Awa County, Chiba Prefecture.
1907 Established the first summer training retreat at Sempuku-ji, Awa County, Chiba Prefecture.
1907 Chief Priest, Raigaku-ji, Suwa County, Nagano Prefecture. (Age 29)
1909 Associate Shike. Military Chaplain.
1915 Head Teacher, Soto-shu First Middle School.
1918 Principal, Tokyo Setagaya Middle School.
1919 Received confirmation of his kensho from Sugimoto Dosan Roshi [Soto].
1919 Received certification from Roshi Nantenbo Hakugaikutsu-chu Nakahara Toshu Roshi [Rinzai].
1925 Scarlet robe.
1926 Head of the Soto Church's Financial Section. Chief Priest of Eiko-ji, Ishikawa Prefecture.
1927 Assistant Prior, Daihonzan Soji-ji.
1936 Prior, Daihonzan Soji-ji. (Age 58)
1937 Great 600th Anniversary Service for Emperor Godaigo. (Prior)
1941 Assistant Great Teacher of Scriptures. Advisor (komon) to Daihonzan Soji-ji.
1942 Great Teacher. (Age 64)
1943 Member, Council on Church Functions, Daihonzan Soji-ji.
1946 Chief Priest, Saijo-ji, Ashigara-kami County, Kanagawa Prefecture.
1947 Assistant Abbot, Daihonzan Soji-ji. Assistant Foremost Great Teacher of Scriptures.
1952 Member, Ministry of Education Council.
1957 In October, Abbot of the Soto Church's Daihonzan Soji-ji. Foremost Great Teacher of Scriptures. Was Imperially conferred the title of Enno Shido Zenji.
1960 In December, Goodwill Ambassador, Commemoration of One Hundred Years of Friendship between Japan and America. Tour of Europe and America. (Age 82)
1965 Great 600th Anniversary Service for the Second Ancestor and National Teacher.
1967 November 1, his demise at Daihonzan Soji-ji (Age 89)

Jukai:

Precepts Master connected with Raigaku-ji and Eiko-ji. Fifteen ceremonies.

Writings:

禅宗史 Zenshū Shi (A History of the Zen Tradition). 1974.

冠註伝光録 Kanchū Denkōroku (Annotated Transmission of the Light). 1934.

曹洞宗主意概説 Sōtō-shū Shui Gaisetsu (Outline of the Tenets of the Soto Church).

日本禅宗史要 Nihon Zenshū Shiyō (A Concise History of the Japanese Zen Tradition). 1908.

Sōtō Zen : an introduction to the thought of the serene reflection meditation school of Buddhism / by Keidō Chisan Kohō Zenji ; edited by Jishō Perry.
1st ed. Mt. Shasta, Calif. : Shasta Abbey Press, 2000. 160 p.

Soto Zen : an introduction to the thought of the Soto Zen sect / Chisan Kohō
Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan : Soji-ji Temple, 1960. 140 p.

Le bouddhisme zen Sôtô / Kohô Chisan ; traduit de l'anglais par L. Genshin Strim ; introduction de Pierre Dôkan Crépon
Vannes, Sully, 2006. 125 p.

Building Projects:

Raigaku-ji: Main Hall, Founder's Shrine, stone gate, Monastery signpost, roadway to Temple, stone stairway, Mountain Gate, great bell tower, etc.
Zuijo-ji: Monks' Hall, Main Hall, Study Hall, among others.
Daihonzan Soji-ji: Great Ancestral Hall, mausoleum, wall for Imperial Messenger's Gate, Original Nature Tower, Frolicking Dragon House, Pine-supported Hermitage, Byakuji Mansion, Tsurumi Heights, Mountain Gate (completed Spring, 1969).
Soji Gakuen: Middle School, High School ferro-concrete school building, library, dormitory, swimming pool, athletic field, six-storey building for university among others.
Social Services Section: Monastery kindergarten, nursery school, Soji Association Hall, five-storey all-purpose hospital, among others.

[Trans. Rev. Hubert Nearman, O.B.C.]