Hyakujō Asks Ungan

Engo's commentary on the case

Ungan served as Hyakujō's attendant for twenty years. Later he went with Dōgo to Yakusan. Yakusan asked, “During your time in Hyakujō's assembly, what matter did you pursue?” Ungan said, “Breaking through and shedding life and death.” Yakusan asked, “Have you broken through and shed them yet?” Ungan said, “That one has no life and death.” Yakusan said, “You spent twenty years at Hyakujō, yet your habitual energies have still not been removed.” Ungan took leave, went to see Nansen, and later returned to Yakusan. Only then did he accord in awakening.² Observe the ancients: after twenty years of investigation, Ungan was still half green and half yellow, stuck to skin and attached to bone, unable to slip free. Correct is indeed correct, but he reached no village ahead and no inn behind. Have you not heard it said: If speech does not leave its mold, How can one escape covering and entanglement? White clouds stretch across the valley mouth, Confusing how many people about the source. In the Dongshan line this is called “touching and breaking.” Therefore it is said: Leaping clear of the immortal guard at Phoenix Tower, People of the time resent touching the present reign-name. Thus one must pass through the thorn forest. If one does not pass through, from beginning to end one remains involved in fine, lingering drizzle that cannot be cut off. Just now I said he reached no village ahead and no inn behind. Ungan merely kept inspecting what belonged to someone else. Seeing him this way, Hyakujō took him and struck him dead at once.³ Setchō's verse says: “Reverend, do you have it or not?” Setchō settles the case according to the confession. It is right, but he is only a golden-maned lion that, regrettably, does not crouch on the ground. When a lion catches something, it hides its fangs and lowers its claws, crouches on the ground, and springs back. Whether the prey is large or small, it always uses its full majesty in order to complete the act.³ Ungan said, “Reverend, do you have it or not?” He merely traveled upon the old road. Therefore Setchō says, “Hyakujō, below Daxiong Mountain, snaps his fingers in vain.”