Within the traditional Chan records, Sosan—also known as Jianzhi Sengcan—is regarded as the direct disciple and Dharma heir of Huike, the Second Patriarch. In this lineage, Bodhidharma stands as the First Patriarch, Huike as the second, and Sosan as the third, forming a simple yet powerful chain of transmission. The relationship between Huike and Sosan is presented not merely as that of teacher and student, but as one of profound spiritual continuity, where the essence of awakening is said to pass from mind to mind.

These same traditional sources do not reliably name other Zen masters as Sosan’s teachers beyond Huike. The lineage is typically expressed in its most distilled form as: Bodhidharma → Huike → Sosan. Within this framework, Sosan’s role is to embody and carry forward the realization received from Huike, rather than to represent a synthesis of multiple formal teachers. The simplicity of this transmission narrative itself becomes a kind of teaching, pointing to the directness that Zen so often emphasizes.

Modern scholarly inquiry has raised questions about the precise historical details and dates surrounding these early patriarchs, yet within the spiritual imagination of the Zen tradition, the Huike–Sosan connection remains central. For practitioners and readers who approach these figures as spiritual exemplars rather than as subjects of strict historical reconstruction, Sosan’s identity as Huike’s disciple serves as a symbolic anchor. It suggests a living thread of insight, stretching from Bodhidharma through Huike to Sosan, that continues to inspire contemplation on how awakening is shared, received, and embodied.