The Five Houses of Chan (also called the Five Houses of Zen) were the five major schools of Chan Buddhism that originated during Tang China. Although at the time they were not considered formal schools or sects of Buddhism, they are now regarded as important schools in the history of Chan Buddhism. Most Chan lineages throughout Asia and the rest of the world originally grew from or were heavily influenced by the original five houses of Chan.
The period of Daoxin ( 580âÂÂ651) and Daman Hongren ( 601âÂÂ674) came to be called the East Mountain Teaching, due to the location of the residence of Hongren at Huamgmei. The term was used by Shenxiu (ç¥Â秠606?âÂÂ706), the most important successor to Hongren.
In 701, Shenxiu was invited to the Imperial Court by Empress Wu, who paid him due imperial reverence. The first lineage documents were produced in this period.
According to tradition, the sixth and last ancestral founder, Huineng (æ è½; 638âÂÂ713), was one of the giants of Chan history, and all surviving schools regard him as their ancestor. Shenhui, a successor to Huineng claimed Huineng to be the successor of Hongren's, instead of the then publicly recognized successor Shenxiu. The most prominent of the successors of Shenhui's lineage was Guifeng Zongmi
Shenhui's influence is traceable in the Platform Sutra, which gives a popular account of the story of Huineng, but also reconciles the antagonism created by Shenhui. Shenhui himself does not figure in the Platform Sutra; he was effectively written out of Chan-history.
From the East Mountain Teachings descend the Five Houses of Chan, via various lineages.
The five houses were each defined by a unique method of teaching. Each school's methods were significantly different from the others, though it was not unheard of for teachers from one school to use the methods of another.
The Guiyang school (æ½Âä»°å® GuÃÂyáng, Jpn. Igyà Â) was the first established school of the Five Houses of Zen. Guiyang is named after master Guishan Lingyou (771âÂÂ854) (Kuei-shan Ling-yu, Jpn. Isan Reiyà «) and his student, Yangshan Huiji (807-883, or 813âÂÂ890) (Yang-shan Hui-chi, Jpn. Kyà Âzan Ejaku).
Guishan was a disciple of Baizhang Huaihai, the Chinese Zen master whose disciples included Huangbo Xiyun (who in turn taught LÃÂnjì Yìxuán, founder of the Linji School). After founding the Guiyang School, Yangshan moved his school to what is now modern Jiangxi.
The Guiyang school is distinct from the other schools due to its use of esoteric metaphors and imagery in the school's kà Âans and other teachings.
Over the course of Song Dynasty (960âÂÂ1279), the Guiyang school, along with the Fayan and Yunmen schools were absorbed into the Linji school. Chan master Hsu Yun, however, attempted to revive absorbed lineages. The attempt was successful regarding the Guiyang school, Hsuan Hua being its most known modern representative.
The Linji () was named after Chan master Linji Yixuan, who was notable for teaching students in ways that included shouting and striking in an attempt to help students reach enlightenment. The Linji school is the predominant Chinese Chan school.
The Caodong school was founded by Dongshan Liangjie and his Dharma-heirs in the 9th century. Some attribute the name "Cáodòng" as a union of "Dongshan" and "Caoshan" from one of his Dharma-heirs, Caoshan Benji; however, the "Cao" could also have come from Cáoxë (æ¹溪), the "mountain-name" of Huineng, the Sixth Ancestor of Chan. The sect emphasized sitting meditation, and later "silent illumination" techniques.
In 826 Korean Seon Master Doui, a student of Sixth Ancestor of Chan Huineng, brought Chan/Seon (Korean Zen) to Korea and founded the "Nine Mountain Seon Monasteries" which adopted the name Jogye order.
In 1227 Dà Âgen Zenji, a former Tendai student, studied Caodong Buddhism and returned to Japan to establish the Sà Âtà  school. The Caodong school is still extant and is second only to Linji in number of monks and temples.
The Fayan school (æ³Âç¼å®Â) was named after Chinese Chan Master Fayan Wenyi (Fa-yen Wen-i), who lived from 885 to 958.
The Yunmen school was named for Yunmen Wenyan. The school thrived into the early Song Dynasty, with particular influence on the upper classes, and culminated in the final compilation of the Blue Cliff Record. Later during the Song Dynasty, the school was absorbed into the Linji school. It lived on into the modern era through Master Hsu Yun (1840âÂÂ1959).
Over the course of Song Dynasty (960âÂÂ1279), the Guiyang, Fayan, and Yunmen houses were gradually absorbed into the Linji house. Caodong was transmitted to Japan in the 13th century from Ven. Rujing of Tiantong Temple to Ven. Dà Âgen leading to the creation of the Sà Âtà  Zen school.
Both Linji and Caodong are still practiced in China today. Ven. Sheng-yen is an example of a modern Linji and Caodong teacher. Ven. Hsu Yun revived the Guiyang school, Fayan school and the Yunmen school in China.