Famous Zen Koans
Koan↕ | Collection↕ | Attributed Master↕ | Era↕ | Theme↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mu | Gateless Gate, Case 1 | Zhaozhou (Joshu) | Tang Dynasty, 9th c. | Buddha-nature |
Sound of one hand | Hakuin's koans | Hakuin Ekaku | Edo Japan, 18th c. | Non-duality |
Original face | Platform Sutra | Huineng | Tang Dynasty, 7th c. | True self |
Wash your bowl | Gateless Gate, Case 7 | Zhaozhou | Tang Dynasty, 9th c. | Everyday mind |
Cypress tree in the garden | Gateless Gate, Case 37 | Zhaozhou | Tang Dynasty, 9th c. | Direct pointing |
Nansen kills the cat | Blue Cliff Record, Case 63 | Nansen Fugan | Tang Dynasty, 9th c. | Attachment |
Does a dog have Buddha-nature | Book of Serenity, Case 18 | Zhaozhou | Tang Dynasty, 9th c. | Yes and no |
Tozan's sixty blows | Blue Cliff Record, Case 12 | Tozan Ryokai | Tang Dynasty, 9th c. | Responsibility |
Ummon's dried shit stick | Gateless Gate, Case 21 | Ummon Bun'en | Tang Dynasty, 10th c. | Shock |
Kyogen's man up a tree | Gateless Gate, Case 5 | Kyogen Chikan | Tang Dynasty, 9th c. | Impossible bind |
Buffalo through the window | Gateless Gate, Case 38 | Goso Hoen | Song Dynasty, 11th c. | Stuck |
Not the wind, not the flag | Gateless Gate, Case 29 | Huineng | Tang Dynasty, 7th c. | Mind only |
Gutei's finger | Gateless Gate, Case 3 | Gutei | Tang Dynasty, 9th c. | One gesture |
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