Public study library
Five collections.
322 cases.
Read the koan collections freely, move case by case, and follow linked teacher names into the public teacher directory.
No account is required. Each adaptation appears only after editorial review.The cases
Hekiganroku / Biyan lu
100 cases
Blue Cliff Record
Hekiganroku / Biyan lu
The Blue Cliff Record
- CASE 1Emperor Wu Asks BodhidharmaCase Emperor Wu of Liang asked Great Master Bodhidharma: Engo: Listen to this inept fellow talk. “What is the highest meaning of the holy truths?”[^…→
- CASE 2The Highest Way Is Not DifficultCase Jōshū instructed the assembly: Engo: What is this old fellow doing? Do not start up these vines. “The highest way is not difficult.” Engo: Nei…→
- CASE 3Sun-Face Buddha, Moon-Face BuddhaCase Master Ma was unwell.[^1] Engo: This fellow has leaked quite a lot. He drags other people into it. The prior asked, “How has Your Reverence's h…→
- CASE 4Tokusan Carries His Travel BundleCase Tokusan arrived at Isan.[^1] Engo: A board-carrying fellow! A wild-fox spirit. With his travel bundle under his arm, he entered the Dharma hall…→
- CASE 5Seppō's Grain of RiceCase Seppō instructed the assembly: Engo: One blind person leading a crowd of blind people—nothing unusual. “Gather the whole earth up into a grain …→
- CASE 6Unmon's “Every Day Is a Good Day”Case Unmon set out these words: “I do not ask you about before the fifteenth day. Engo: Half south of the Yellow River, half north. Old calendars ar…→
- CASE 7Echō Asks About BuddhaCase A monk asked Hōgen: Engo: What is he saying? He carries a cangue and submits the charge. “Echō asks your counsel, Reverend: what is Buddha?” E…→
- CASE 8Suigan's EyebrowsCase At the end of the summer retreat, Suigan instructed the assembly: “All summer long I have spoken for you brothers. Engo: Once he opens his mout…→
- CASE 9Jōshū's Four GatesCase A monk asked Jōshū, “What is Jōshū?”[^2] Engo: North and south of the Yellow River—none can say it. A thorn in the mud. Not south: right north. …→
- CASE 10Bokushū's “After Three or Four Shouts”Case Bokushū asked a monk: Engo: A sounding pole, shadowing grass.[^1] “Where have you recently come from?” Engo: An expert pilgrim—do not pretend …→
- CASE 11Ōbaku's “No Zen Teachers”Case Ōbaku instructed the assembly: Engo: Fetching water, the basin obstructs him. He swallows it all in one gulp; no monk beneath heaven can leap ou…→
- CASE 12Tōzan's Three Pounds of HempCase A monk asked Tōzan, “What is Buddha?” Engo: An iron caltrop. No monk beneath heaven can leap out. Tōzan said, “Three jin of hemp.”[^1] Engo: P…→
- CASE 13Haryō's Silver Bowl Filled with SnowCase A monk asked Haryō, “What is the Kanadeva school?”[^1] Engo: A white horse enters reed flowers. What spot can you speak of? Haryō said, “Snow h…→
- CASE 14Unmon's “One Statement in Response”Case A monk asked Unmon, “What is the teaching of the Buddha's whole lifetime?”[^1] Engo: Unresolved to this day. The scripture lecturer does not und…→
- CASE 15Unmon's “One Statement, Inverted”Case A monk asked Unmon, “When it is not the working before the eyes, nor the affair before the eyes—what then?” Engo: Why jump about? Fall back thre…→
- CASE 16Kyōsei's Pecking and TappingCase A monk asked Kyōsei, “This student pecks within; I ask the teacher to tap without.”[^1] Engo: Making waves without wind. What for? What use are …→
- CASE 17Kōrin's “Sitting Long Becomes Weariness”Case A monk asked Kōrin, “What is the patriarch's intent in coming from the west?” Engo: Many people become doubtful. This news still remains. Kōrin…→
- CASE 18The Nan’yō Echū's Seamless StupaCase Emperor Daizong asked Nan’yō Echū Huizhong:[^1] Source note: The base text says Suzong; it should be Daizong. This is an error. Engo: Scratchin…→
- CASE 19Gutei Raises One FingerCase Whenever anyone asked Reverend Gutei anything, Engo: What news is there? A dull-rooted teacher. he only raised one finger. Engo: The old fello…→
- CASE 20Ryūge's “No Intent in Coming from the West”Case Ryūge asked Suibi, “What is the patriarch's intent in coming from the west?” Engo: An old saying in every community—still it must be tested. Su…→
- CASE 21Chimon's Lotus Flower and Lotus LeafCase A monk asked Chimon, “What about before the lotus blossom emerges from the water?” Engo: The hook lies where no doubt exists. Washing a lump of …→
- CASE 22Seppō's Turtle-Nose SnakeCase Seppō instructed the assembly: “On South Mountain there is a turtle-nose snake.[^1]” Engo: See a marvel without marveling and the marvel destroy…→
- CASE 23Hofuku's Summit of Wonder PeakCase Hofuku and Changqing were hiking in the mountains. Engo: These two fellows have fallen into the weeds. Hofuku pointed with his hand and said, “…→
- CASE 24Ryū Tetsuma Comes to IsanCase Ryū Tetsuma came to Isan. Engo: Difficult indeed to approach. This old woman does not keep to her proper place. Isan said, “Old cow, you have c…→
- CASE 25The Lotus Peak Hermit Will Not StayCase The hermit of Lotus Peak raised his staff before the assembly and said: Engo: Look! An eye in the crown of his head. Yet this too is a contempor…→
- CASE 26Hyakujō Sits Alone on Daxiong PeakCase A monk asked Hyakujō, “What is the extraordinary affair?” Engo: An echo in the words; the working displayed in the phrase. It startles people to…→
- CASE 27Unmon's “Body Exposed in the Golden Wind”Case A monk asked Unmon, “What about when the tree withers and the leaves fall?” Engo: What time is this? The household ruined and its people dead; t…→
- CASE 28Nansen's Unspoken DharmaCase Nansen visited Hyakujō Nehan. Hyakujō asked, “Did the sages since antiquity have a Dharma they did not speak for people?” Engo: The master ought…→
- CASE 29Daizui “Goes Along with It”Case A monk asked Daizui, “When the kalpa fire blazes through and the entire thousand-world cosmos is destroyed, does this perish or not?”[^1] Engo: …→
- CASE 30Jōshū's Great RadishesCase A monk asked Jōshū, “I have heard that you met Nansen in person. Is that so?” Engo: A thousand hearings do not equal one seeing. His knitted bro…→
- CASE 31Mayoku's Ring-StaffCase Mayoku came holding his ring-staff to Zhangjing. He circled the Zen seat three times, shook the staff once, and stood erect. Engo: Cast in the m…→
- CASE 32Senior Jō's Great AwakeningCase Senior Jō asked Rinzai, “What is the great meaning of the Buddha Dharma?” Engo: How many reach here and become bewildered? Still this fellow rem…→
- CASE 33Chencao Visits ShifukuCase Minister Chencao visited Shifuku. Seeing him arrive, Shifuku drew a circle-mark. Engo: Spirits recognize spirits; thieves recognize thieves. Wit…→
- CASE 34Kyōzan Says, “You Never Toured the Mountain”Case Kyōzan asked a monk, “Where have you recently come from?” Engo: Everyone in the world is alike; still he must ask. Fanning fire with the wind—on…→
- CASE 35Mañjuśrī's “Three and Three”Case Mañjuśrī asked Wuzhu, “Where have you recently come from?” Engo: The question cannot be omitted. There is this news too. Wuzhu said, “The south…→
- CASE 36Chōsa Wanders in the MountainsCase One day Chōsa went wandering in the mountains. When he returned to the gate, the head monk asked, “Where have you been, Master?” Engo: All day l…→
- CASE 37Banzan's “The Three Realms Have No Dharmas”Case Banzan offered this saying: “The three realms have no dharmas. Engo: Once the arrow leaves the string, it has no power to return. The bright mo…→
- CASE 38Fuketsu's Iron Ox SealCase While Fuketsu was residing in the government compound at Yingzhou, he ascended the hall and said: Engo: Relying on the governor to preach Zen. W…→
- CASE 39Unmon's Flowering HedgeCase A monk asked Unmon, “What is the pure Dharma body?” Engo: Atop a rubbish heap, he sees the sixteen-foot golden body. Mottled and variegated—what…→
- CASE 40Nansen's Flower “Like a Dream”Case While Official Lu Gen was speaking with Nansen, Lu said, “Master Sengzhao said, ‘Heaven and earth share one root with me; the myriad things form …→
- CASE 41Tōsu's “No Traveling by Night”Case Jōshū asked Tōsu, “When a person of great death comes alive again, what then?” Engo: Is there such a thing? A thief does not raid a poor househo…→
- CASE 42Hō Koji's “Good Snow”Case Hō Koji took leave of Yakusan. Engo: This old fellow is making something strange. Yakusan ordered ten Zen travelers to escort him to the gate. …→
- CASE 43Tōzan's “No Heat or Cold”Case A monk asked Tōzan, “When cold and heat arrive, how can one avoid them?” Engo: This is not that occasion. Cold and heat strike head and face—whe…→
- CASE 44Kasan Knows How to Beat the DrumCase Kasan offered this teaching: “Practicing study is called hearing. Cutting off study is called neighboring. Engo: No patch-robed monk in the wor…→
- CASE 45Jōshū's Seven-Pound ShirtCase A monk asked Jōshū, “The myriad dharmas return to one. Where does the one return?” Engo: He presses this old fellow. Mountains heaped upon peaks…→
- CASE 46Kyōsei's Sound of RaindropsCase Kyōsei asked a monk, “What sound is outside the gate?” Engo: Casually he lowers a hook. Never mind being deaf—what is he asking? The monk said,…→
- CASE 47Unmon's “The Six Do Not Take It In”Case A monk asked Unmon, “What is the Dharma body?” Engo: How many people become doubtful here? A thousand sages cannot leap out. No small leak. Unm…→
- CASE 48The Overturned Tea Kettle at ZhaoqingCase Governor Wang entered Zhaoqing while tea was being prepared. Engo: Adepts gather together; something extraordinary is required. Casually, with n…→
- CASE 49Sanshō's Golden Fish Through the NetCase Sanshō asked Seppō, “A golden-scaled fish that has passed through the net—what does it take as food?” Engo: Undeniably free across and down. Thi…→
- CASE 50Unmon's Rice and WaterCase A monk asked Unmon, “What is samādhi in every dust mote?” Engo: Every patch-robed monk in the world makes a nest here. A mouth full of frost—wha…→
- CASE 51Seppō and the Final WordCase When Seppō was living in a hermitage, two monks came to bow. Engo: What are they doing? All receive judgment under one indictment. Seeing them …→
- CASE 52Jōshū's Stone BridgeCase A monk asked Jōshū, “I have long heard of Jōshū's stone bridge. Now that I have arrived, I see only a single-log footbridge.” Engo: Here is some…→
- CASE 53Baso's Wild DucksCase Master Baso was walking with Hyakujō when they saw wild ducks fly past. Engo: Two fellows fallen into the weeds, rolling about in the grass. Why…→
- CASE 54Unmon Spreads His HandsCase Unmon asked a monk, “Where have you recently come from?” Engo: He cannot simply say ‘Xichan.’ A probing pole and shadowing grass. It cannot be s…→
- CASE 55Dōgo Will Not Say Alive or DeadCase Dōgo and Jianyuan went to a household to offer condolences. Jianyuan struck the coffin and asked, “Alive or dead?” Engo: What are you saying? Ho…→
- CASE 56Kinzan's One Arrowhead Breaks Three BarriersCase Zen traveler Liang asked Kinzan, “What is it like when one arrowhead breaks through three barriers?” Engo: Perilous! Undeniably extraordinary—un…→
- CASE 57Jōshū's “Where Is the Picking and Choosing?”Case A monk asked Jōshū, “‘The utmost Way is not difficult; it only detests picking and choosing.’ What is not picking and choosing?” Engo: This iron…→
- CASE 58Jōshū's Five Years Unable to ExplainCase A monk asked Jōshū, “‘The utmost Way is not difficult; it only detests picking and choosing.’ Is this a nest-cave for people of the time?” Engo:…→
- CASE 59Jōshū's “Just This: The Utmost Way Is Not Difficult”Case A monk asked Jōshū, “‘The utmost Way is not difficult; it only detests picking and choosing.’ Engo: He brings it forward yet again. What are you…→
- CASE 60Unmon's Staff Turns Into a DragonCase Unmon held up his staff before the assembly and said, Engo: Transformation and guidance lie in the immediate occasion. The knife that kills and …→
- CASE 61Fuketsu's One Speck of DustCase Fuketsu presented a saying: Engo: He raises clouds and brings rain. There must also be host and guest. “If one speck of dust is established, E…→
- CASE 62Unmon's One Treasure in Form-MountainCase Unmon instructed the assembly: “Within heaven and earth, Engo: The land is broad and people are few. The six directions cannot contain it. “am…→
- CASE 63Nansen Cuts the Cat in TwoCase One day, the east and west halls at Nansen's monastery were fighting over a cat. Engo: They should not have begun making trouble only today. Ano…→
- CASE 64Jōshū Puts His Sandals on His HeadCase Nansen again related the preceding story and asked Jōshū about it. Engo: They must indeed share one mind and one intent. Only those on the same …→
- CASE 65The Outsider Asks Without Speech or SilenceCase An outsider asked the Buddha, “I do not ask about speech; I do not ask about no speech.” Engo: Even so, a person inside the house also has a lit…→
- CASE 66Gantō's Sword After Huang ChaoCase Gantō asked a monk, “Where have you come from?” Engo: Before opening his mouth, he has already admitted defeat and exposed the failure. Passing …→
- CASE 67Fu Dashi Lectures the Diamond SutraCase Emperor Wu of Liang invited Fu Dashi to lecture on the Diamond Sutra. Engo: Bodhidharma's brother has come! Traveling through fish markets and w…→
- CASE 68Kyōzan and Sanshō Exchange NamesCase Kyōzan asked Sanshō, “What is your name?” Engo: Name and actuality seize each other. Enticing a thief destroys the house. Sanshō said, “Huiji.”…→
- CASE 69Nansen Draws a Circle on the RoadCase Nansen, Guizong, and Mayoku went together to bow to Nan’yō Echū Zhong. When they reached the middle of the road, Engo: When three people travel …→
- CASE 70Hyakujō—Speak with Throat and Lips ClosedCase Isan, Gohō, and Ungan stood together attending Hyakujō. Engo: Ah, ha, ha! From beginning to end, confusion. You go toward western Qin; I go towa…→
- CASE 71Hyakujō Asks GohōCase Hyakujō again asked Gohō, “Close throat and lips together. How will you speak?” Engo: Ah, ha, ha! The arrow has passed beyond Silla. Gohō said,…→
- CASE 72Hyakujō Asks UnganCase Hyakujō also asked Ungan, “Close throat and lips together. How will you speak?” Engo: Emerging from a toad's cave—what are you saying? Ungan sa…→
- CASE 73Baso's “Zang's Head Is White; Hai's Head Is Black”Case A monk asked Master Ma, “Departing from the four propositions and cutting off the hundred negations, I ask the Master to point directly to the in…→
- CASE 74Kingyū Calls the Bodhisattvas to EatCase Whenever mealtime came, Reverend Kingyū personally carried the rice bucket, danced before the monks' hall, laughed loudly, “Ha! Ha!” and called, …→
- CASE 75Ukyū and the Monk Exchange the StaffCase A monk came from Reverend Dingzhou's assembly to Ukyū. Ukyū asked, “How does Dingzhou's Dharma way compare with this place?” Engo: There is reso…→
- CASE 76Tanka Asks, “Have You Eaten?”Case Tanka asked a monk, “Where have you come from?” Engo: Precisely—you cannot be entirely without a place you came from. Knowing that place is not …→
- CASE 77Unmon's Sesame CakeCase A monk asked Unmon, “What is a statement that transcends buddhas and goes beyond patriarchs?” Engo: Open! Sudden thunder on dry ground. Press hi…→
- CASE 78Sixteen Bodhisattvas Enter the BathCase Long ago there were sixteen bodhisattvas. Engo: Forming a crowd and making a company—what use is that? This troop of inept fellows. At the monk…→
- CASE 79Tōsu—All Sounds Are Buddha's VoiceCase A monk asked Tōsu, “Is every sound Buddha's voice?” Engo: He too knows how to stroke a tiger's whiskers. A thunderclap in the clear sky. He does…→
- CASE 80Jōshū's Ball on Swift WaterCase A monk asked Jōshū, “Does a newborn child possess the six consciousnesses?” Engo: A mechanism like lightning. Why speak of a newborn child? Jōs…→
- CASE 81Yakusan Shoots the Stag of StagsCase A monk asked Yakusan, “On a level field with shallow grass, stags and deer form a herd. How can one shoot the stag among stags?” Engo: He binds …→
- CASE 82Dairyū's Enduring Dharma BodyCase A monk asked Dairyū, “The form-body decays. What is the enduring Dharma body?” Engo: His words make two sections. Splitting them apart is fine t…→
- CASE 83Unmon's Ancient Buddha and the Exposed PillarCase Unmon instructed the assembly: “An ancient buddha meets an exposed pillar. Which mechanism is this?” Engo: Three thousand miles away—no connecti…→
- CASE 84Vimalakīrti's Gate of NondualityCase Vimalakīrti asked Mañjuśrī, Engo: This fellow is exceedingly eager to make a commotion. Close your mouth! “What is a bodhisattva's entry into t…→
- CASE 85Tōhō's TigerCase A monk came to Hermit Tōhō and asked, “If a tiger suddenly appeared here, what then?” Engo: An adept playing with shadows. One or half of one in…→
- CASE 86Unmon—Everyone Has LightCase Unmon posed a saying: “Every person has light.” Engo: A black lacquer bucket. “When they look, they do not see it; all is dark and dim.” Engo:…→
- CASE 87Unmon's Medicine and DiseaseCase Unmon instructed the assembly: “Medicine and disease treat one another.” Engo: A single joined configuration cannot be obtained. “The whole ear…→
- CASE 88Gensha's Three Kinds of Sick PersonCase Gensha instructed the assembly: “Elders everywhere all say they receive beings and benefit living creatures. Engo: Each opens a shop according t…→
- CASE 89Dōgo's Whole Body Is Hands and EyesCase Ungan asked Dōgo, “What does Bodhisattva Great Compassion do with so many hands and eyes?” Engo: He should have given him the fodder of the orig…→
- CASE 90Chimon's Essence and Function of PrajñāCase A monk asked Chimon, “What is the essence of prajñā?” Engo: The whole body has no image or shadow; it sits cutting off everyone's tongue. What u…→
- CASE 91Enkan's Rhinoceros-Horn FanCase One day Enkan called his attendant: “Bring me the rhinoceros-horn fan.” Engo: No shortage of vines. How does this compare with the fine news? T…→
- CASE 92The World-Honored One Ascends the SeatCase One day the World-Honored One ascended the teaching seat. Engo: Guest and host both lost. This is not his first leakage. Mañjuśrī struck the ga…→
- CASE 93Taikō's DanceCase A monk asked Taikō, “Changqing said, ‘Celebratory praise on the occasion of the meal.’ What is the meaning?” Engo: Light again for this lacquer …→
- CASE 94The Śūraṅgama on SeeingCase The Śūraṅgama Sūtra says: “When I do not see, why do you not see the place where I do not see?” Engo: Fine news. What use is seeing? Old Śākyam…→
- CASE 95Changqing and Hofuku on the Tathāgata's SpeechCase Changqing once said, “I would sooner say an arhat has the three poisons— Engo: Scorched grain produces no sprout. “—than say the Tathāgata has …→
- CASE 96Jōshū's Three Turning WordsCase Jōshū instructed the assembly with three turning words. Engo: What is he saying? Three sections, each different. Engo explains: Jōshū afterward…→
- CASE 97The Diamond Sūtra on Being DespisedCase The Diamond Sūtra says: “If a person is despised by others— Engo: It releases one thread of road. What harm? “—that person's harmful karma fro…→
- CASE 98Tempyō's Two “Wrongs”Case When Reverend Tempyō was traveling, he visited Xiyuan. He often said, “Do not say anyone understands Buddha-Dharma—there is no one who can even r…→
- CASE 99Shukusō Asks About the Ten-Bodied TamerCase Emperor Shukusō asked Nan’yō Echū Zhong, “What is the Tamer in ten bodies?” Engo: An adept ruler, Son of Heaven of Great Tang. He ought to know …→
- CASE 100Haryō's Blown-Hair SwordCase A monk asked Haryō, “What is the blown-hair sword?” Engo: Cutting through danger! Haryō said, “Every coral branch props up the moon.” Engo: It…→