Omori Sogen

Ōmori Sōgen (大森 曹玄) was a Japanese Rinzai Rōshi, a successor in the Tenryū-ji line of Rinzai Zen, and former president of Hanazono University, the Rinzai university in Kyoto, Japan.

He became a priest in 1945.

Ōmori Sōgen was a teacher of Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū swordsmanship, and a calligrapher in the Taishi school of Yamaoka Tesshū.

He became well known for his unique approach to Zen practice integrating insights from his martial and fine arts training with traditional Zen methods; this approach has been described as a unity of Zen, Ken ("sword", referring to martial arts or physical culture), and Sho ("brush", referring to calligraphy or fine arts).

Ōmori founded Seitai-ji monastery in Japan and Daihonzan Chozen-ji in Honolulu, Hawaii, the first Rinzai headquarters temple established outside Japan according to Rinzai canon law.

Dharma successors and descendants of Omori Roshi are active in both Japan and the West.

In the United States, along with Chozen-ji, successors of its first abbot, Tanouye Tenshin Roshi, established Chosei Zen (formerly Chozen-ji Wisconsin Betsuin) in Madison and Spring Green, Wisconsin, and elsewhere.

Successors of Hosokawa Dogen Roshi established Daiyuzenji in Chicago, and Korinji in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.

In Germany and Austria, there are active groups connected to Sasaki Gensō Rōshi and Hozumi Genshō Rōshi.

Ōmori is the author of more than 20 books in the Japanese language.

Ōmori was also well known for his right-wing ultra-nationalist political activism and influence in government circles prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.