Mumonkan / Wumenguan · CASE 31
Jōshū Examines the Old Woman
The Gateless Gate
Case
A monk asked an old woman, “Which way is the road to Godaisan?” She said, “Go straight ahead.” After he had taken three or five steps, she said, “A fine monk—off he goes like that again.” A monk later told Jōshū. Jōshū said, “Wait. I will go examine that old woman for you.” The next day he went and asked the same question. She gave the same answer. Jōshū returned and told the assembly, “I have exposed the old woman of Godaisan for you.”
Verse
The question was exactly the same; the answer was similar too. There is sand in the rice, a thorn in the mud.
Footnotes 1
- Wutai was revered as Mañjuśrī's mountain. The pilgrimage setting matters, but Wumen directs attention to the repeated encounter rather than to a vision of the bodhisattva. ↩
About this version and its sources
- Full source citation
- 趙州勘婆 — CBETA T2005: T48n2005_p0297a08–p0297a20.
- Method
- Direct critical-edition translation from the cited received base text. Source claims, hagiography, uncertainty, and unresolved readings remain identified in the notes and project record.
- Editorial uncertainty
- Independent philological and reader review remain pending.
- Rights
- Project translation © Tulsa Zen Center Critical Edition contributors. Source text is cited by edition; redistribution policy requires final organizational approval.
- Revision identifier
- 08253126788f
Wumen's commentary
The old woman only knew how to devise strategy inside the command tent; she did not realize she had encountered a thief. Old Jōshū knew how to raid a camp and seize a fortress, but he lacked the bearing of a great person. Examined closely, both were at fault. Tell me: where did Jōshū expose her?1