Sunday, June 22, 2025

Are there Zen Masters in China?

 begin quote Google AI and internet:

 

Yes, there are Zen masters in China. In China, Zen is known as Chan Buddhism, and it has a rich history with many influential masters. While the term "Zen master" is more commonly associated with Japan, it is also used to refer to masters within the Chinese Chan lineage. 
Here's why and some examples:
  • Chan as the Origin:
    Zen Buddhism originated in China as Chan Buddhism. 

  • Zen Masters Of China (9780804847964) - Tuttle Publishing
    Nov 1, 2016 — Zen Masters of China presents more than 300 traditional Zen stories and koans, far more than any other collection. Rete...
    Tuttle Publishing

  • Historical Figures:
    Many prominent figures in the history of Chan Buddhism are considered Zen masters. For example, Bodhidharma, often credited as the first patriarch of Chan, is considered a Zen master. 
  • Transmission to Japan:
    Chan was transmitted to Japan and became Japanese Zen, but the Chinese lineage continued. 
  • Modern Chan Practice:
    Modern Chan practitioners in China still follow lineages and traditions that stem from these historical masters. 
  • Examples of Contemporary Chan Masters:
    While it can be difficult to define "great master" in a non-hierarchical tradition like Zen, figures like Guo Gu, a Chinese Chan teacher, are considered prominent in the lineage. 
  • Chan Schools:
    Modern Chan practice in China often involves lineages like Lingji or Caodong, which are dominant Chan lineages. 
  • Zen master - Wikipedia
    Until the Tang dynasty, the term "Chánshī" (禅师; Dhyana Master) was regularly used for a monk who was a master of chan, or meditati...
    Wikipedia
  • Bodhidharma not the first Zen ancestor in China? - Reddit
    Aug 30, 2022 — Thich Nhat Hanh in the book "Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet" says: Many people think of Bodhidharma as the first...
    Reddit · 
    r/zenbuddhism
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