Koans and Riddles - Examples
A Selection from the Original Sources
Koan: Who are you?
Introduction
Koan riddles, Zen-Koans, Buddhist Koans, Zen-riddles are only different names for short Buddhist stories from medevial China.
The stories are about simple everyday events like tipping over a pot, climbing a tree, hurting somebody, cleaning a bowl, lighting a candle etc. Everybody knows what's happening.
Chinese and Japanese Master changed these stories into Koans, mysterious teachings of Buddhism, normal people can't understand.
In 18th century Japan Koans were seen as riddles whose answers were the everyday events, the Koans originally were derived from.
Koan riddles, Zen-Koans, Buddhist Koans, Zen-riddles are only different names for short Buddhist stories from medevial China.
The stories are about simple everyday events like tipping over a pot, climbing a tree, hurting somebody, cleaning a bowl, lighting a candle etc. Everybody knows what's happening.
Chinese and Japanese Master changed these stories into Koans, mysterious teachings of Buddhism, normal people can't understand.
In 18th century Japan Koans were seen as riddles whose answers were the everyday events, the Koans originally were derived from.
Eight Koan examples.
All Koans are presented in the same way. First the underlying event, "what had happened". Second, in bold letters, the text of the Koan. Third, a short comment and the source of the Koan. Just click one of the eight Koans below.
The crying boy..... Kitchen work.....A clever Buddha.....The Shortcut
.... At the Beach.....In the City.....Not that nice.....Flooding the Floor
In case yo want more Koans.....
You find the list of 48 Koans collected of Master Wumen Huikai at the right hand side further down the page. Just click on on one of them to see the Koans and it's answers! Strange aren't they?
Koan one: The crying boy
What had happened: A boy cries all day long, as children sometimes do.
Is this boy crying?
A Master cuts off a boy's finger.
The boy cries, cries and runs away.
The master calls him back and holds up his own finger.
The boy looks at it and is enlightened.
Comment: A horror story. The master excuses his violent behavior as necessary to bring the boy to enlightenment.
Source: Mumonkan, Case 3
Explore the simplistic believes of Buddhists about enlightenment!
Koan two: Kitchen work
What had happened: A young man washes a bowl. Not that unusual.
Teaching or washing?
Monk - Please teach me, master!
Master - Have you had your porridge yet?
Monk - Yes, master.
Master - Then wash your bowle.
Comment: No comment.
Source: Mumonkan, Case 7
Koan three: A Clever Buddha
What had happened: A boring philosophical debate.
Meditation or debate
A scholar wanted the Buddha to express the truth of Buddhism in just one word.
The Buddha turned to the wall to meditate.
Comment:The Buddhas doesn't care about Philosophy.
Source: Mumonkan, Case 32
The 48 Koans of Master Wumen HuiKai (jap. "Mumon")
Click on the title to see question and answer.
Click on the number to see the full Koan-page.
1 Joshu's Dog
2 Hyakujo's Fox
3 Gutei's Finger
4 Beardless Bodhidharma
5 Kyogen's Man in a Tree
6 Buddha Twirls a Flower
7 Joshu's Wash your Bowl
8 Keichu's Wheel
9 A Buddha before History
10 Seizei Alone and Poor
11 Joshu Examines two Hermits
12 Zuigan Calls Himself Master
13 Tokusan Holds His Bowl
14 Nansen Cuts the Cat in Two
15 Tozan's Three Blows
16 Bells and Robes
17 The Three Calls Of The Emperor's Teacher
18 Tozan's Three Pounds of Flax
19 Everyday Life Is The Path
20 The Enlightened Man
21 Dried Dung
22 Kashyapa's Preaching Sign
23 Do Not Think Good, Do Not Think Not-Good
24 Without Words, Without Silence
25 Kyozan Preaching in a Dream
26 Two Monks Roll Up The Blinds
27 It Is Not Mind, It Is Not Buddha, It Is Not Things
28 Blow Out The Candle
29 Not The Wind, Not The Flag
30 This Mind Is Buddha
31 Joshu Investigates an Old Woman
32 A Philosopher Asks Buddha
33 Baso's Not Mind, Not Buddha
34 Nansen's Knowledge is not The Way
35 Two Souls
36 Meeting A Master On The Road
37 The Oak Tree In The Garden
38 A Buffalo Passes Through The Window
39 Ummon's Trapped in Words.
40 Tipping Over A Water Jug
41 Bodhidharma Pacifies The Mind
42 The Girl Comes Out From Meditation
43 Shuzan's Short Staff
44 Basho's Staff
45 Who Is He?
46 Step Forward from fhe Top of the Pole
47 First Gate Of Tosotsu
47 Second Gate Of Tosotsu
47 Third Gate Of Tosotsu
48 Kembo's One Road To Nirvana
Click on the title to see question and answer.
Click on the number to see the full Koan-page.
1 Joshu's Dog
2 Hyakujo's Fox
3 Gutei's Finger
4 Beardless Bodhidharma
5 Kyogen's Man in a Tree
6 Buddha Twirls a Flower
7 Joshu's Wash your Bowl
8 Keichu's Wheel
9 A Buddha before History
10 Seizei Alone and Poor
11 Joshu Examines two Hermits
12 Zuigan Calls Himself Master
13 Tokusan Holds His Bowl
14 Nansen Cuts the Cat in Two
15 Tozan's Three Blows
16 Bells and Robes
17 The Three Calls Of The Emperor's Teacher
18 Tozan's Three Pounds of Flax
19 Everyday Life Is The Path
20 The Enlightened Man
21 Dried Dung
22 Kashyapa's Preaching Sign
23 Do Not Think Good, Do Not Think Not-Good
24 Without Words, Without Silence
25 Kyozan Preaching in a Dream
26 Two Monks Roll Up The Blinds
27 It Is Not Mind, It Is Not Buddha, It Is Not Things
28 Blow Out The Candle
29 Not The Wind, Not The Flag
30 This Mind Is Buddha
31 Joshu Investigates an Old Woman
32 A Philosopher Asks Buddha
33 Baso's Not Mind, Not Buddha
34 Nansen's Knowledge is not The Way
35 Two Souls
36 Meeting A Master On The Road
37 The Oak Tree In The Garden
38 A Buffalo Passes Through The Window
39 Ummon's Trapped in Words.
40 Tipping Over A Water Jug
41 Bodhidharma Pacifies The Mind
42 The Girl Comes Out From Meditation
43 Shuzan's Short Staff
44 Basho's Staff
45 Who Is He?
46 Step Forward from fhe Top of the Pole
47 First Gate Of Tosotsu
47 Second Gate Of Tosotsu
47 Third Gate Of Tosotsu
48 Kembo's One Road To Nirvana
Koan four: The Shortcut
What had happened: As an exercise, you walk up a mountain.
Walking is excercise
The Koan text:
How do you walk up a mountain road with 99 curves?
Comment:Who did all this curve counting?
Source:Miscellaneous Koans Vol 1, case 17
Koan five:
At the Beach
What had happened: A stone was thrown in the water.
The Koan text:
What's written on a stone 10000 meter deep in the ocean?
Comment:Too deep to read
Source: Miscellaneous Koans Vol.1, case 12
What had happened: A stone was thrown in the water.
Stone reading
The Koan text:
What's written on a stone 10000 meter deep in the ocean?
Comment:Too deep to read
Source: Miscellaneous Koans Vol.1, case 12
Koan six:
In the City
What had happened:You say hello to somebody you meet.
The Koan text:
When you meet a master in the street, what will you do?
Comment:The enlightened one!
Source:Mumonkan, Case 36
What had happened:You say hello to somebody you meet.
See you later
The Koan text:
When you meet a master in the street, what will you do?
Comment:The enlightened one!
Source:Mumonkan, Case 36
Koan seven:
Not that nice
What had happened:A candle is blown out.
The Koan text:
Master Tokusan - "It's dark outside."
Master Ryutan - gives him a candle and blows it out.
Comment:The enlightened one!
Source:Mumonkan, Case 28
What had happened:A candle is blown out.
Night time
The Koan text:
Master Tokusan - "It's dark outside."
Master Ryutan - gives him a candle and blows it out.
Comment:The enlightened one!
Source:Mumonkan, Case 28
Koan eight:
Flooding the Floor
What had happened:A big waterjug tips over.
The Koan text:
Hyakujo placed a water jug on the floor.
'Don't call it a water jug.' Hyakujo said.
Isan tips it over.
Comment: Do the obvious.
Source:Mumonkan, Case 40
Go to List of all Mumonkan CasesWhat had happened:A big waterjug tips over.
Jug is jug
The Koan text:
Hyakujo placed a water jug on the floor.
'Don't call it a water jug.' Hyakujo said.
Isan tips it over.
Comment: Do the obvious.
Source:Mumonkan, Case 40
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