Gikai was one of several influential groups in Dgen's school and in 1267 Gikai succeeded Ej who died before the sandai sron occurred (a putative dispute over the orthodoxy and succession of St Zen Buddhism).
Dogen Zenji (; 19 January 1200  22 September 1253), also known as Dogen Kigen (), Eihei Dogen (), Koso Joyo Daishi (), or Bussho Dento Kokushi (), was a Japanese Buddhist priest, writer, poet, philosopher, and founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan. In 1267 Ejo retired as Abbot of Eihei-ji, giving way to Gikai, who was already favored by Dogen. After the death of Ejo, a controversy called the sandai soron occurred. The sandai soron (), or third-generation differentiation, was a putative dispute over the orthodoxy and succession of Soto Zen Buddhism. Among this group were Gikai, Gien and Giin, who were to become influential members of Dogen's school. 
