It was founded by Nanpo Shōmyō (1235–1308), who received dharma-transmission in China in 1265 from Xutang Zhiyu.
It is centered at the temple complexes of Myōshin-ji (founded by Kanzan Egen (1277–1360), the third patriarch) and Daitoku-ji (founded by Daito Kokushi (Shuho Myocho) (1283–1338), the second patriarch) in Kyoto, and sometimes referred to as the "Myōshin-ji lineage" accordingly.
The name Ōtōkan, traditionally written 應燈關, in modern Japanese written 応灯関, is a compound of ō-tō-kan, and is derived from the names of the first three patriarchs:[1][2] The Otokan lineage was founded by Nanpo Shōmyō, who received transmission in China from the monk Xutang Zhiyu 虚堂智愚 (Japanese Kido Chigu, 1185–1269) in 1265, and returned to Japan in 1267.
It is today the only surviving lineage in the Rinzai school,[1] and is historically the most influential.
[7] At this point the lineage splits in two: Further generations are extensive,[8] including all current Rinzai masters; some examples are listed below.