Timeline of our 20th century ancestors
June 16, 1880 Saikichi born in Mie
1884 Mother died 1887 Father died; adopted by uncle who soon died; then raised by gambler Bunkichi Sawaki 1894 Fought in Sino-Japanese war 1896 Traveled to Eiheiji to become a monk 1899 Met Fueoka Ryoun, who had studied with Nishiari Bokusan, and practices zazen 1899 Ordained by Koho Sawada at Soshinji 1904-1906 Served in Imperial Japanese Army during Russo-Japanese war and was severely wounded 1906 Received dharma transmission from Zenko Sawada 1906-1908 Studied at Senju-ji, a Jodo Shinshu temple in Tsu 1909 Studied Yogacara with Join Saeki at Horyu-ji 1912 Hideo Uchiyama born in Tokyo 1912 Served as tanto at Yosenji ; studied Dogen during ango with Oka Sotan at Daijiji 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake family survived but home is destroyed 1930 Entered Waseda University in spring; mets and married first wife, who died of tuberculosis four years later 1935 Graduated Bungakubu (Faculty of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Philosophy) in spring 1935 Served as professor at Komazawa University teaching zazen and Zen literature; served as godo at Sojiji late 1930s to 1940 Led Tengyo Zen-en, a mountain temple 1938 Became instructor at Miyazaki Kokyo Shin Gakko (Catholic high school) in spring; returned to Tokyo in fall and married second wife; wife and baby die in childbirth 1940 Uchiyama met Sawaki 7 December, 1941 Uchiyama ordained by Sawaki Spent the war making charcoal in Shimane and salt in Shizuoka; at end of war, went to Jippoji in Hyogo for 3 years Late 1940s Organized sesshin and summer camps in several temples, conferences in universities, taught in prisons -- teaching laity as well as ordained 1948 Shohaku Okumura born in Osaka 1949 Sawaki became abbot of Antaiji in Kyoto; established daily zazen and study; Uchiyama arrived and stayed until 1975 1962 Settled at Antaiji as legs begin to fail 21 December, 1965 Sawaki died 1965 Uchiyama became abbot of Antaiji 1972 “Yadonashi Hokkusan” (“The Dharma of Homeless Kodo”), with Uchiyama’s commentary published 19xx Okumura ordained by Uchiyama 1975 Uchiyama retired from Antaiji; moved to Nagano with third wife Keiko 1977 Returned to Kansai at small hermitage, Noke-in 13 March, 1998 Uchiyama died 2003 Okumura established Sanshin Zen Community Bloomington, IN 2023 Okumura stepped back from day to day leadership to become Sanshin’s Founding Teacher |