History
The late Tekio Sogen (Omori) Roshi is considered one of the greatest Zen masters of the 20th century. He was a direct successor in the Tenryuji line of Rinzai Zen, a successor in the Taishi school of calligraphy of Yamaoka Tesshu, and a teacher of Jikishinkage Ryu swordmanship. After becoming a priest in 1946, Omori Roshi taught Zen for more than 40 years, serving as president of Hanazono University (the Rinzai university in Japan), authoring more than 20 books, and founding Seitaiji monastery in Japan. Because of his background as a teacher of swordsmanship and calligraphy, his style of Zen training integrated insights from these disciplines with traditional practice: it may be summarized asthe unity of Zen, Ken and Sho - literally Zen, the Sword (martial arts or physical culture) and the Brush (fine arts). This way of training, unique for its physicality, vitality and power, was transmitted to the west through Daihonzan Chozenji, a temple he founded in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1979 (and the first Rinzai headquarters temple established outside of Japan). From Chozenji, it has spread to the American mainland and to Europe.
The Beginning
Korinji's history begins with a few remarkable teachers who labored to transmit a unique and vibrant Zen Buddhist lineage to the West:
Two of Omori Roshi's dharma successors, Tenshin Giryu (Tanouye) Roshi (1938-2003) and Kizan Dogen (Hosokawa) Roshi, were responsible for helping this important line of Zen take root in the west. Tanouye Roshi, a Japanese-American who was an extraordinarily gifted martial artist as well as a music teacher before becoming a Zen priest, was the force behind the founding of Chozenji. His meeting and subsequent training with Omori Roshi was the historic event leading to the transmission of Omori Roshi's lineage to the United States. Tanouye Roshi himself travelled from Chozenji to lead our first sesshin (retreats) on the mainland.
Hosokawa Roshi, a Japanese priest who trained under Omori Roshi in Japan and later came to Hawaii, continued this work as shike (abbot) and then kancho of Chozenji. From 1987 until his retirement in 2005, Hosokawa Roshi travelled tirelessly several times a year to the mainland USA to teach and lead sesshin. He has also translated Omori Roshi's book Sanzen Nyumon (published as An Introduction to Zen Training), and co-authored a biography of Omori Roshi entitled Omori Sogen: The Art of a Zen Master. Hosokawa Roshi today continues to take an active role advising his dharma successors and students at Daiyuzenji.
Chicago, the home of the lay Zen master Toyoda Tenzan Rokoji, became the center of Chozenji's activity on the mainland. Toyoda Sensei, who was also an Aikido master and had come to the United States in 1974 to teach his martial art, already had a long history of Zen training in Japan from a young age. In 1977 he became Tanouye Roshi's student. Interestingly, he had himself met Omori Roshi while a young resident trainee at the famous Ichikukai Dojo in Tokyo. The connection between Tanouye Roshi and Toyoda Sensei led to the first sesshin in Chicago, which continue to this day. Toyoda Sensei received dharma transmission from Tanouye Roshi in 1997.
For many years Toyoda Sensei maintained the Japanese Culture Center in Chicago, a place where anyone could study Zen, martial arts, fine arts and Japanese language. This also served as the home of Chozenji's Illinois betsuin, or branch temple, incorporated in 1982. Toyoda Sensei was a relentless force of progress and development, and his cooperative leadership with Tanouye Roshi and Hosokawa Roshi over the years created a network of devoted Zen students throughout the mainland United States, including several priests.
Before his untimely death in 2001, Toyoda Sensei had begun planning for the establishment of a rural sodo (training monastery) in the Chicago/Upper Midwest region, to be named Kozenji. His passing, however, delayed these plans. It also marked the beginning of a new chapter: it was now time for American Zen students to maintain and develop what these Japanese teachers had sacrificed so much to transmit.
Establishing Daiyuzenji and The Korinji Foundation
In 2002, a new facility was established on Chicago's north side to house Chozenji's Illinois betsuin. In 2005, the betsuin became a fully independent Zen temple. Hosokawa Roshi designated its new name to be Sokeizan Daiyuzenji, and appointed his student So'zan Daitetsu (Miller) Roshi to be the first abbot. Miller Roshi continues today to guide Zen training there, assisted by Soen Jikai (Linxweiler) Roshi, Meido Zentetsu (Moore) Roshi, and a cadre of other priests and senior students.
By 2003, it had again become clear that a rural monastery could provide needed training opportunities complementing the existing urban temple. Meido Roshi announced plans to establish such a center in fulfillment of Toyoda Sensei's earlier dream; preliminary feasibility studies, land search and fundraising began immediately. In 2005, the Korinji Foundation was incorporated as a separate, not-for-profit organization with the mission of establishing a rural Zen training monastery: Korinji. The Foundation shortly after received confirmation of tax-exempt charitable [501c3] status from the IRS.
Omori Roshi (1904-1994)
Toyoda Rokoji (1947-2001)
Toward the Founding of Korinji
Fundraising has continued in earnest since 2005. By early 2007, the Foundation had raised enough to finance the purchase of suitable land. Korinji's programming has also continued to develop: research collaboration is ongoing, various public lectures and events are offered regularly, and the Northwestern University and DePaul University Zen Societies have been established.
In 2008, the Korinji Foundation purchased 17 acres of forested land near Madison, Wisconsin. Construction of the Korinji zendo began in the spring of 2009 and is currently in progress.
As we continue working to gather the resources needed for the development of Korinji, several notable persons now contribute crucial leadership as advisors to the Foundation. Foremost among these is Dr. Seiko Nakashima, recognized as one of the foremost masters of Japanese Ikebana (traditional flower arrangement) and Chado (tea ceremony) in the West. In 2006, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan bestowed upon Nakashima Sensei the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays. This award is one of the most prestigious decorations in Japan, and was given to honor her lifelong activity as an Ikebana and Chado teacher, through which she has promoted friendship and cultural exchange between the United States and Japan. We are grateful to benefit from Nakashima Sensei's insightful support.
The Korinji Foundation, standing on the shoulders of our teachers and advisors, is thus poised to move forward to fulfillment of our vision. We continue our labor to more deeply plant this dynamic Rinzai lineage, with its unique training methods, in the West. Our new monastery, Korinji, will be a contributor to this important work, and a place where further generations of Zen students and teachers will be trained.
We invite you now to join us as a participant in the unfolding of Korinji's history...Tanouye Roshi (1938-2003)
Hosokawa Roshi
