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
Mumonkan / Wumenguan
48 cases
Gateless Barrier
Mumonkan / Wumenguan
The Gateless Gate
- CASE 1Jōshū's DogCase A monk asked Master Jōshū, “Does a dog have buddha-nature?” Jōshū said, “No.”[^1] Mumon's commentary Mumon said: To investigate Zen, you must …→
- CASE 2Hyakujō's Wild FoxCase Whenever the assembly came to Master Hyakujō for instruction, an old man was there, regularly following the assembly and listening to the teachin…→
- CASE 3Gutei Raises a FingerCase Whenever anyone challenged Master Gutei with a question, he only raised one finger. Later, a boy attendant was asked by a visitor, “What essenti…→
- CASE 4The Foreigner Has No BeardCase Wakuan said, “Why does the foreigner from the Western Regions have no beard?”[^1] Mumon's commentary Mumon said: Inquiry must be real inquiry; …→
- CASE 5Kyōgen Up a TreeCase Master Kyōgen said: “It is like someone up a tree, his teeth clamped on a branch. His hands grasp no branch; his feet touch no part of the tree.…→
- CASE 6The World-Honored One Holds Up a FlowerCase Once, at the assembly on Vulture Peak, the World-Honored One held up a flower and showed it to the gathering. Everyone remained silent. Only Vene…→
- CASE 7Jōshū: “Wash Your Bowl”Case A monk asked Jōshū, “I have only just entered the monastery. I beg you, Master, please instruct me.” Jōshū said, “Have you eaten your rice gruel…→
- CASE 8Keichū Makes a CartCase Master Yue'an asked a monk: “Keichū made a cart with a hundred spokes. Take away both ends and remove the axle—what matter does this make clear?…→
- CASE 9Great Penetrating Wisdom ExcellenceCase A monk asked Master Kōyō Rang: “The Buddha Great Penetrating Wisdom Excellence sat at the place of awakening for ten kalpas. The Buddha-Dharma d…→
- CASE 10Seizei, Alone and PoorCase A monk said to Master Sōzan: “I, Seizei, am alone and destitute. I beg you, Master, give me relief.” Sōzan said, “Ācārya Seizei!” Seizei answe…→
- CASE 11Jōshū Examines Two HermitsCase Jōshū went to a hermit's dwelling and asked, “Is it here? Is it here?” The hermit raised his fist. Jōshū said, “The water is shallow—not a plac…→
- CASE 12Zuigan Calls “Master!”Case Every day Master Zuigan Yan would call to himself, “Master!” He would answer himself, “Yes?” Then he would say, “Stay wide awake!” “Yes.” “La…→
- CASE 13Tokusan Carries His BowlsCase One day Tokusan, carrying his bowls, came down to the hall. Seppō asked, “Old fellow—the bell has not rung and the drum has not sounded. Where ar…→
- CASE 14Nansen Cuts the CatCase The monks of the east and west halls were fighting over a cat. Nansen held it up and said, “If you can say it, you will save it. If you cannot, I…→
- CASE 15Tōzan's Three BlowsCase When Tōzan came to study, Unmon asked where he had come from, where he spent the summer, and when he left. Tōzan answered, “Chadu,” “Baozi in Hun…→
- CASE 16The Bell and the Seven-Panel RobeCase Unmon said, “The world is so vast and wide. Why do you put on your seven-panel robe within the sound of the bell?”[^1] Wumen's commentary In stu…→
- CASE 17The Nan’yō Echū's Three CallsCase The Nan’yō Echū called his attendant three times, and the attendant answered three times. The Nan’yō Echū said, “I had thought I was failing you…→
- CASE 18Tōzan's Three Pounds of HempCase A monk asked Tōzan, “What is Buddha?” Tōzan said, “Three pounds of hemp.”[^1] Wumen's commentary Old Tōzan had studied a bit of clam Zen: the m…→
- CASE 19Ordinary Mind Is the WayCase Jōshū asked, “What is the Way?” Nansen said, “Ordinary mind is the Way.” “Can one direct oneself toward it?” “The moment you intend to move to…→
- CASE 20A Person of Great StrengthCase Songyuan said, “Why can't a person of great strength lift a foot?” He also said, “Opening the mouth does not depend on the tongue.” Mumon's comm…→
- CASE 21Unmon's Dried Shit-StickCase A monk asked Unmon, “What is Buddha?” Unmon said, “A dried shit-stick.”[^1] Wumen's commentary Unmon may be said to live in a household so poor…→
- CASE 22Kāśyapa's FlagpoleCase Ānanda asked Kāśyapa, “Besides the gold-brocade robe, what else did the World-Honored One transmit to you?” Kāśyapa called, “Ānanda!” Ānanda an…→
- CASE 23Do Not Think Good or EvilCase Senior Ming pursued the Daikan Enō to Dayu Ridge. Seeing him arrive, the patriarch threw the robe and bowl onto a rock and said, “This robe is a …→
- CASE 24Apart from Words and SilenceCase A monk asked Fuketsu, “Speech and silence both implicate separation and subtlety. How can one pass through without transgressing either?” Fukets…→
- CASE 25Kyōzan Preaches from the Third SeatCase Kyōzan dreamed that he went to Maitreya's dwelling and was assigned the third seat. A venerable struck the gavel and announced, “Today the third …→
- CASE 26Two Monks Roll Up the BlindCase Before the meal, two monks came to interview Great Hōgen of Qingliang. Hōgen pointed at the blind. Both monks went and rolled it up. Hōgen said,…→
- CASE 27Not Mind, Not Buddha, Not a ThingCase A monk asked Nansen, “Is there a Dharma you have never spoken to anyone?” Nansen said, “There is.” The monk asked, “What is the Dharma you have…→
- CASE 28Long Heard of RyūtanCase Tokusan questioned Ryūtan late into the night. Ryūtan said, “It is late. Why don't you go down?” Tokusan lifted the blind to leave, saw the darkn…→
- CASE 29Not Wind, Not FlagCase As the wind raised a temple flag, two monks argued. One said, “The flag is moving.” The other said, “The wind is moving.” They went back and fort…→
- CASE 30This Mind Is BuddhaCase Daibai asked Baso, “What is Buddha?” Baso said, “This very mind is Buddha.” Wumen's commentary If you can receive this directly, you wear Buddh…→
- CASE 31Jōshū Examines the Old WomanCase 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,…→
- CASE 32An Outsider Questions the BuddhaCase An outsider asked the World-Honored One, “I do not ask with words. I do not ask without words.” The World-Honored One remained seated. The outs…→
- CASE 33Not Mind, Not BuddhaCase A monk asked Baso, “What is Buddha?” Baso said, “Not mind, not Buddha.” Wumen's commentary If you see here, the work of inquiry and study is fi…→
- CASE 34Wisdom Is Not the WayCase Nansen said, “Mind is not Buddha. Wisdom is not the Way.” Wumen's commentary Nansen may be called an old man who does not know shame. The moment…→
- CASE 35Seijo's Soul Leaves Her BodyCase Wuzu asked a monk, “Seijo's soul left her body. Which one was the real Seijo?”[^1] Wumen's commentary If you realize the real one here, you will…→
- CASE 36Meeting One Who Has Attained the WayCase Wuzu said, “When you meet on the road someone who has attained the Way, do not meet him with speech or silence. Tell me: how will you meet him?” …→
- CASE 37The Cypress in the CourtyardCase A monk asked Jōshū, “What is the meaning of the ancestral teacher's coming from the west?” Jōshū said, “The cypress in the courtyard.”[^1] Wume…→
- CASE 38The Buffalo Passes Through the WindowCase Wuzu said, “It is like a water buffalo passing through a latticed window. Its head, horns, and four hooves have all passed through. Why can't its…→
- CASE 39Unmon's Verbal FallCase A monk asked Unmon, “Radiant light shines silently over worlds countless as river sands—” Before he finished, Unmon said abruptly, “Isn't that a …→
- CASE 40Kicking Over the Water PitcherCase 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 …→
- CASE 41Bodhidharma Pacifies the MindCase Bodhidharma sat facing a wall. The Second Patriarch stood in the snow, cut off his arm, and said, “My mind is not at peace. Master, please pacify…→
- CASE 42The Woman Emerges from SamādhiCase Once Mañjuśrī came to the place where the buddhas had assembled. Each had returned to his own dwelling; only a woman remained, seated near Śākyam…→
- CASE 43Shuzan's Bamboo SlatCase Shuzan held up a bamboo slat before the assembly and said, “If you call this a bamboo slat, you collide with it. If you do not call it a bamboo s…→
- CASE 44Bashō's StaffCase Bashō said to the assembly, “If you have a staff, I give you a staff. If you have no staff, I take your staff away.” Wumen's commentary It suppo…→
- CASE 45Who Is He?Case Master-ancestor Hōgen of Dongshan said, “Śākyamuni and Maitreya are still his servants. Tell me: who is he?”[^1] Wumen's commentary If you see h…→
- CASE 46Step Forward from the PoleCase Sekisō said, “How do you step forward from the top of a hundred-foot pole?” An elder of old also said, “One who sits atop a hundred-foot pole ma…→
- CASE 47Tosotsu's Three BarriersCase Tosotsu Yue set up three barriers for students: “You push aside the grass and investigate the mystery solely to see your nature. Right now, Vene…→
- CASE 48Kempō's One RoadCase A monk asked Kempō, “The Blessed Ones of the ten directions follow one road, the gate of nirvana. I do not know—where is that road?” Kempō raise…→