Mumonkan / Wumenguan · CASE 40
Kicking Over the Water Pitcher
The Gateless Gate
Case
When Isan was head cook in Hyakujō's community, Hyakujō sought a master to establish a monastery on Mount Gui. Before the assembly he set down a water pitcher and said, “You may not call this a water pitcher. What do you call it?” The head monk said, “It cannot be called a wooden block.” Hyakujō then asked Isan. Isan kicked over the pitcher and walked away. Hyakujō laughed: “The first seat has lost to this boy.” He appointed Isan founder of the new monastery.1
Verse
Throwing down basket and wooden ladle, one thrust in full daylight cuts off every obstruction. Hyakujō's heavy barrier cannot stop him; with his toes he kicks out buddhas thick as hemp.
Footnotes 1
- 典座 is the monastic officer responsible for food and kitchen administration. “Founder” here means opening and leading the new monastery, not inventing a doctrine. ↩
About this version and its sources
- Full source citation
- 趯倒淨瓶 — CBETA T2005: T48n2005_p0298a02–p0298a14.
- 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
- c487e5823086
Wumen's commentary
For all Isan's momentary courage, he could not leap out of Hyakujō's enclosure. Examined closely, he chose the heavy, not the light. Why? He escaped the head-wrap only to shoulder an iron cangue.