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, including
Sanzen Nyumon, which was translated into English and published as
An Introduction to Zen Training in 2002. The book is considered a foundational text for Zen students training in the Chozen-ji tradition of
Rinzai zen. 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. ==Notable students==