The lineage of Soto Zen also began after Dogen crossed to China, certified for enlightenment and came back to Japan, but it is known that Dainichibo Nonin had founded Nihon Daruma sect at Tonomine and that some priests of the Soto sect such as Ekan and Gikai had been originally the priests of Nihon Daruma sect before Dogen.
曹洞禅も道元が中国に渡り中国で印可を得て日本に帰国することから始まるが、それ以前に大日房能忍が多武峰で日本達磨宗を開いていた事が知られ、曹洞宗の懐鑑、義介らは元日本達磨宗の僧侶であったことが知られている。