The fifth ancestor of Zen Buddhism is Hongren, and the sixth ancestor is Huineng. Who are the first, second, third and fourth ancestors?

The first ancestor Bodhidharma, the second ancestor Huike, the third ancestor Sengcan, the fourth ancestor Daoxin, the fifth ancestor Hongren, and the sixth ancestor Huineng.

Dharma crossed the Yangtze River and entered the Northern Wei Dynasty. He first traveled to Luoyang, and then went to Shaolin Temple and meditated on the wall of a cave on Wuru Peak for nine years. Based on Mahayana teachings and integrating Chinese spirit, he founded the Chinese Zen Buddhism and was revered as the first ancestor.

Among many people seeking advice, Bodhidharma chose to pass on his mantle to Huike. In the third year of Tianping in the Eastern Wei Dynasty (536 years), Bodhidharma passed away and was buried in Xiong'er Mountain. A pagoda was erected in Dinglin Temple. It was also passed down to Sengcan, Daoxin, Hongren, and finally the Sixth Patriarch Huineng.

Extended information:

The reason why Zen Buddhism has only the sixth ancestor:

Before Bodhidharma introduced Zen Buddhism from India, Bodhidharma’s master Prajna Dora Mo said: This dharma lineage is only passed down to six generations. In other words, the Sixth Patriarch will not allow anyone to be called the "ancestor" of Zen.

According to the prophecy of Prajna Dora, the Dharma lineage of the Sixth Patriarch (the Sixth Patriarch passed down five disciples who obtained the Dharma to prophesy according to Prajna Dora: the flower blooms with five leaves, and the fruit will come naturally), you will also achieve success in the future. (A colt comes out from your side and tramples and kills everyone in the world). That is to say, Mazu Daoyi. His common name was Ma. Because Zen Buddhism did not allow anyone to be called Zu, so he secretly called him Ma Zu.