139:
38:
174:
1226:). Each of the first three stanzas comments on one of Huanglong's three questions and the fourth stanza is a summation. Wulaing writes that he penned the four verses to thank and commemorate Wumen's recent stay at Ruiyan (瑞巖)(Lucky Cliff) monastery where Wumen was the visiting head teacher for the training period.
1133:; the compiler's name, which literally means "No Gate", is the same as the title's first two characters. Wumen's preface indicates that the volume was published in 1228. Each koan is accompanied by a commentary and verse by Wumen. A classic edition includes a 49th case composed by Anwan (pen name for
1217:
An appendix believed to be written by Wumen titled "Zen
Caveats" or "Zen Warnings" consisting of twelve one-line aphorisms about Zen practice written in the style of Zen contrariness that points to not falling for either side of dualistic thinking. For example, Zen is known as the school of Buddhism
1240:
An appendix by Anwan dated the beginning of summer 1246, presented in the same format as one of the 48 main koans and consisting of (1) an untitled introduction, (2) a title, "Younger
Brother's 49th Standard Talk", (3) the body of the case, (4) a comment beginning with "Anwan says", and (5) a verse
1221:
An appendix titled "Huanglong's Three
Checkpoints" (黄龍三關) written by Wuliang Zongshou (無量宗壽) in the late spring of 1230 C.E. Huanglong Huinan (J. Oryo Enan), 1002–1069, was a Zen master who promulgated three questions as one-line koans: "Everyone exists by a particular cause of birth. What is your
1176:
The common theme of the koans of the Wumen Guan and of Wumen's comments is the inquiry and introspection of dualistic conceptualization. Each koan epitomizes one or more of the polarities of consciousness that act like an obstacle or wall to the insight. The student is challenged to transcend the
1210:
The 48 koans presented in four parts consisting of (1) a title composed of four characters, (2) the body of the koan beginning with the name of the protagonist of the case, (3) a comment beginning with the words "Wumen says" (無門曰), and a verse beginning with the words "The ode says"
1192:
As was customary in China at the time, an edition might have additions of text inserted by a subsequent owner or publisher. The best known version of the text is from the
Japanese wood block edition made from the 1246 manuscript edition that contains the following sections.
1144:) in 1246. Wuliang Zongshou also supplemented the volume with a verse of four stanzas composed in 1230 about the three checkpoints of Zen master Huanglong. These three checkpoints of Huanglong should not be confused with Doushuai's Three Checkpoints found in Case 47.
1206:
A table of contents with the title of each koan. However, the koans are unnumbered in both the table of contents and the body of the text and there are no page numbers in the text, so the table of contents is the list of the koan's titles in order of
1189:(Soaring Dragon) monastery in the summer of 1228. Wumen selected the 48 koans and commented on and added a verse for each koan. His teachings were transcribed and after the training period were compiled into the collection called the Wumen Guan.
1236:
An undated postscript by
Menggong (孟拱) consisting of a very brief story of a military ambassador who used his army as farmers to reclaim a wasteland and thus pacify the region. This appears to be a metaphor for the practice of
1258:
needles) and is sometimes translated as "Zen
Needles". As with the main koans, each caveat challenges the Zen student's attachment to dualistic concepts, here those especially related to Zen practice.
527:
1229:
A short untitled addendum by Wuan written on the republishing of the work in the summer of 1245 C.E. Wuan called his brief addition the 49th case. It referred to
557:
1222:
cause of birth?" "How is my hand like the hand of Buddha?" "How is my leg like the leg of a donkey?" Wulaing wrote four four-line stanzas (Sanskrit
493:
1200:
An untitled dedication by Wumen to the
Emperor and Empress. Works without such dedications were subject to Imperial censorship as being seditious.
1269:
To preserve the heart mind and to purify it by letting impurities settle to the bottom in quiescence is the perverted Zen of silent illumination.
1134:
513:
1218:
that does not stand on written words and one caveat says, "Neglecting the written records with unrestrained ideas is falling into a deep pit."
1233:'s famous Zen motto: "Not maintaining written words, but pointing directly to the human heart-mind to see one's own nature to become Buddha".
1360:
edited by Dr. T. Matthes Ciolek; includes links to
English-language commentaries on some of the koans, and a bibliography of print materials
1307:
You must work hard to live in the present and, to finish, all the more. I do not advise the unfortunate excess of continual suffering.
102:
1371:
at the
Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association (CBeta), in traditional Chinese characters, as recorded in the Buddhist canon.
74:
1343:
1069:
1197:
An untitled introduction by Xi Xiang (習巷), publisher of the 1228 edition, written in the self-deprecating style of Zen humor.
55:
81:
537:
88:
1250:
The Wumen Guan has an appendix titled "Zen
Caveats" (禪箴) with one-line aphorisms dealing with Zen practice The word
988:
552:
121:
17:
70:
1380:
1185:
The text was originally prepared by Wumen as a record of his teaching during a monastic training period held at
542:
508:
59:
1404:
1266:
Moving freely vertically and horizontally without obstruction is the way of outsiders and the nightmare army.
488:
1254:(箴) means "caveat", "warning", or "admonition", but it also has the meaning of "needle" or "probe" (as in
453:
339:
1214:
An untitled afterword by Wumen that ends with the words "The end of the volume the Gateless Checkpoint."
532:
1062:
903:
1241:
beginning with "The ode says", followed by Anwan's signature with the place and date of the writing.
1129:; 1183–1260) during the Song dynasty. The title has a double meaning and can also be understood as
1016:
665:
262:
225:
1383:
by John F. Fisher, Northwestern University, Numen, Vol. 25, Fasc. 1. (Apr., 1978), pp. 65–76.
1352:
1288:
A person who perceives thoughts as they immediately arise is fiddling with spectral consciousness.
1011:
95:
1177:
polarity that the koan represents and demonstrate or show that transcendence to the Zen teacher.
983:
893:
888:
48:
956:
615:
575:
433:
252:
908:
600:
1055:
630:
1386:
1377:
a complete translation of the 1246 CE manuscript including fore and after appended sections.
898:
1357:
382:
605:
8:
1409:
973:
620:
1325:
1139:
1041:
978:
402:
1368:
1298:
To advance results in ignoring truth; to retreat results in contradicting the lineage.
1166:
1149:
1096:
1088:
783:
739:
660:
503:
483:
935:
829:
300:
1363:
1347:
1263:
Following the rules and protecting the regulations is binding oneself without rope.
1031:
764:
1272:
Neglecting the written records with unrestrained ideas is falling into a deep pit.
1318:
925:
670:
595:
377:
138:
349:
993:
930:
788:
754:
709:
547:
471:
438:
334:
1285:
A view of Buddha and a view of Dharma are the two enclosing mountains of iron.
1398:
1170:
1162:
769:
759:
744:
734:
729:
704:
640:
610:
585:
443:
372:
257:
193:
1374:
458:
1154:
1122:
920:
844:
749:
655:
201:
149:
1165:
practice. Five of the koans in the work concern the sayings and doings of
1255:
1230:
699:
635:
625:
590:
498:
428:
317:
209:
876:
724:
580:
423:
387:
322:
295:
305:
945:
940:
861:
812:
645:
290:
217:
448:
267:
37:
950:
344:
277:
849:
834:
650:
1364:
The Gateless Gate at sacred-texts.com, including Chinese original
1292:
1282:
Thinking good and thinking evil are the halls of heaven and hell.
1026:
719:
714:
418:
397:
392:
247:
173:
1276:
1203:
An untitled foreword by Wumen followed by a verse on the title.
1036:
1021:
871:
839:
807:
407:
272:
1301:
Neither to advance nor to retreat is being a breathing corpse.
1275:
To be awake and not ignorant is to wear chains and shoulder a
1121:
compiled in the early 13th century by the Chinese Zen master
866:
824:
802:
367:
1118:
413:
1114:
1110:
188:
163:
62:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1295:is the stratagem of living in the house of ghosts.
1396:
1353:The (complete) Gateless Gate at Awakening 101
1063:
1291:However, being on a high plateau practicing
1381:An Analysis Of The Koans In The Mu Mon Kwan
1375:The Gateless Checkpoint of the Zen Lineage
1070:
1056:
1344:The (incomplete) Gateless Gate at ibiblio
1180:
122:Learn how and when to remove this message
1390:(1998) – translated by Eiichi Shimomissé
14:
1397:
1369:The Gateless Gate in original Chinese
60:adding citations to reliable sources
31:
24:
25:
1421:
1337:
989:Zen organisation and institutions
553:Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall
27:Compilation of Zen Buddhist koans
528:Two Entrances and Four Practices
172:
137:
36:
1161:is a central work much used in
47:needs additional citations for
1245:
543:Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment
13:
1:
1332:
301:Hakuin's Four ways of knowing
1304:Just say, how will you walk?
760:Yunmen Wenyan (Ummon Bun'en)
7:
1358:About the Wu-Men Kuan koans
1346:(archived from the original
1311:
1103:), sometimes translated as
340:Doctrinal background of Zen
10:
1426:
1153:and the oral tradition of
740:Dongshan Liangjie (Tozan)
1109:, is a collection of 48
666:Ordinary Mind Zen School
558:Transmission of the Lamp
263:Turning the light around
226:Zen in the United States
984:Zen ranks and hierarchy
957:Category: Zen Buddhists
291:Ten Ox-Herding Pictures
1181:Structure and contents
616:Plum Village Tradition
576:East Mountain Teaching
538:The Awakening of Faith
434:Prostration (Buddhism)
253:Original enlightenment
71:"The Gateless Barrier"
770:Dahui Zonggao (Tahui)
750:Linji Yixuan (Rinzai)
745:Xuefeng Yicun (Seppo)
730:Shitou Xiqian (Kisen)
631:Kwan Um School of Zen
514:Mahaparinirvana Sutra
484:Prajñaparamita sutras
478:Indian Mahayana texts
1405:Zen koan collections
1084:The Gateless Barrier
383:Bodhisattva Precepts
56:improve this article
974:Dharma transmission
621:Order of Interbeing
601:Five Houses of Chán
345:Representation-only
296:Five ranks of Tozan
1326:Book of Equanimity
1042:Pure Land Buddhism
979:Zen lineage charts
403:Walking meditation
1388:The Gateless Gate
1159:The Gateless Gate
1150:Blue Cliff Record
1125:(無門慧開; Japanese:
1106:The Gateless Gate
1080:
1079:
784:Zhongfeng Mingben
725:Mazu Daoyi (Baso)
661:White Plum Asanga
504:Vimalakirti Sutra
494:Śrīmālādevī Sūtra
489:Lankavatara Sutra
318:Bodhisattva ideal
132:
131:
124:
106:
18:The Gateless Gate
16:(Redirected from
1417:
1143:
1072:
1065:
1058:
883:Thiền in Vietnam
765:Yongming Yanshou
509:Avatamsaka Sutra
278:Sudden awakening
176:
166:
158:
154:
148:
141:
134:
133:
127:
120:
116:
113:
107:
105:
64:
40:
32:
21:
1425:
1424:
1420:
1419:
1418:
1416:
1415:
1414:
1395:
1394:
1340:
1335:
1319:101 Zen Stories
1314:
1248:
1183:
1169:; four concern
1147:Along with the
1137:
1131:Wumen's Barrier
1076:
1047:
1046:
1007:
1006:Related schools
999:
998:
969:
961:
960:
926:Hakuun Yasutani
904:Thích Nhất Hạnh
689:
684:
676:
675:
671:Zen Peacemakers
596:Hongzhou school
571:
563:
562:
533:Śūraṅgama Sūtra
474:
464:
463:
459:Zen calligraphy
378:Bodhisattva vow
373:Six Perfections
363:
355:
354:
286:
244:
239:
231:
230:
184:
164:
156:
150:
146:
128:
117:
111:
108:
65:
63:
53:
41:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1423:
1413:
1412:
1407:
1393:
1392:
1384:
1378:
1372:
1366:
1361:
1355:
1350:
1349:on 2020-12-27)
1339:
1338:External links
1336:
1334:
1331:
1330:
1329:
1322:
1313:
1310:
1309:
1308:
1305:
1302:
1299:
1296:
1289:
1286:
1283:
1280:
1273:
1270:
1267:
1264:
1247:
1244:
1243:
1242:
1238:
1234:
1227:
1219:
1215:
1212:
1208:
1204:
1201:
1198:
1182:
1179:
1078:
1077:
1075:
1074:
1067:
1060:
1052:
1049:
1048:
1045:
1044:
1039:
1034:
1029:
1024:
1019:
1014:
1008:
1005:
1004:
1001:
1000:
997:
996:
994:Zen Narratives
991:
986:
981:
976:
970:
967:
966:
963:
962:
954:
953:
948:
943:
938:
936:Shunryū Suzuki
933:
931:Taizan Maezumi
928:
923:
912:
911:
909:Thích Thiên-Ân
906:
901:
899:Thích Thanh Từ
896:
894:Trần Nhân Tông
891:
889:Trần Thái Tông
880:
879:
874:
869:
864:
853:
852:
847:
842:
837:
832:
827:
816:
815:
810:
805:
792:
791:
789:Hanshan Deqing
786:
777:Post-classical
773:
772:
767:
762:
757:
752:
747:
742:
737:
732:
727:
722:
717:
712:
707:
702:
685:
682:
681:
678:
677:
674:
673:
668:
663:
658:
653:
648:
643:
638:
633:
628:
623:
618:
613:
608:
603:
598:
593:
588:
583:
578:
572:
569:
568:
565:
564:
561:
560:
555:
550:
548:Platform Sutra
545:
540:
535:
530:
517:
516:
511:
506:
501:
496:
491:
486:
475:
470:
469:
466:
465:
462:
461:
456:
451:
446:
441:
439:Buddhist chant
436:
431:
426:
421:
416:
411:
405:
400:
395:
390:
385:
380:
375:
370:
364:
361:
360:
357:
356:
353:
352:
347:
342:
337:
335:Zen and Sutras
326:
325:
320:
309:
308:
303:
298:
293:
281:
280:
275:
270:
265:
260:
255:
250:
240:
237:
236:
233:
232:
229:
228:
223:
215:
207:
199:
191:
185:
182:
181:
178:
177:
169:
168:
160:
159:
143:
142:
130:
129:
44:
42:
35:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1422:
1411:
1408:
1406:
1403:
1402:
1400:
1391:
1389:
1385:
1382:
1379:
1376:
1373:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1348:
1345:
1342:
1341:
1328:
1327:
1323:
1321:
1320:
1316:
1315:
1306:
1303:
1300:
1297:
1294:
1290:
1287:
1284:
1281:
1278:
1274:
1271:
1268:
1265:
1262:
1261:
1260:
1257:
1253:
1239:
1235:
1232:
1228:
1225:
1220:
1216:
1213:
1209:
1205:
1202:
1199:
1196:
1195:
1194:
1190:
1188:
1178:
1174:
1172:
1168:
1164:
1163:Rinzai School
1160:
1156:
1152:
1151:
1145:
1141:
1136:
1135:Zheng Qingzhi
1132:
1128:
1124:
1120:
1116:
1112:
1108:
1107:
1102:
1098:
1094:
1090:
1086:
1085:
1073:
1068:
1066:
1061:
1059:
1054:
1053:
1051:
1050:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1035:
1033:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1020:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1009:
1003:
1002:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
971:
965:
964:
959:
958:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
918:
917:
916:
910:
907:
905:
902:
900:
897:
895:
892:
890:
887:
886:
885:
884:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
859:
858:
857:
856:Seon in Korea
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
822:
821:
820:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
800:
799:
798:
797:
790:
787:
785:
782:
781:
780:
779:
778:
771:
768:
766:
763:
761:
758:
756:
753:
751:
748:
746:
743:
741:
738:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
721:
718:
716:
715:Huineng (Enō)
713:
711:
708:
706:
703:
701:
698:
697:
696:
695:
694:
688:
687:Chán in China
680:
679:
672:
669:
667:
664:
662:
659:
657:
654:
652:
649:
647:
644:
642:
641:Rinzai school
639:
637:
634:
632:
629:
627:
624:
622:
619:
617:
614:
612:
609:
607:
604:
602:
599:
597:
594:
592:
589:
587:
586:Oxhead school
584:
582:
579:
577:
574:
573:
567:
566:
559:
556:
554:
551:
549:
546:
544:
541:
539:
536:
534:
531:
529:
526:
525:
524:
523:
522:
521:Chinese texts
515:
512:
510:
507:
505:
502:
500:
497:
495:
492:
490:
487:
485:
482:
481:
480:
479:
473:
472:Zen scripture
468:
467:
460:
457:
455:
452:
450:
447:
445:
444:Dharma combat
442:
440:
437:
435:
432:
430:
427:
425:
422:
420:
417:
415:
412:
409:
406:
404:
401:
399:
396:
394:
391:
389:
386:
384:
381:
379:
376:
374:
371:
369:
366:
365:
359:
358:
351:
348:
346:
343:
341:
338:
336:
333:
332:
331:
330:
324:
321:
319:
316:
315:
314:
313:
307:
304:
302:
299:
297:
294:
292:
289:
288:
287:
285:
279:
276:
274:
271:
269:
266:
264:
261:
259:
258:Buddha-nature
256:
254:
251:
249:
246:
245:
243:
242:The "essence"
235:
234:
227:
224:
222:
221:
216:
214:
213:
208:
206:
205:
200:
198:
197:
192:
190:
187:
186:
183:Main articles
180:
179:
175:
171:
170:
167:
162:
161:
155:
153:
145:
144:
140:
136:
135:
126:
123:
115:
104:
101:
97:
94:
90:
87:
83:
80:
76:
73: –
72:
68:
67:Find sources:
61:
57:
51:
50:
45:This article
43:
39:
34:
33:
30:
19:
1387:
1324:
1317:
1251:
1249:
1223:
1191:
1186:
1184:
1175:
1158:
1155:Hakuin Ekaku
1148:
1146:
1130:
1126:
1123:Wumen Huikai
1105:
1104:
1100:
1092:
1083:
1082:
1081:
955:
921:D. T. Suzuki
914:
913:
882:
881:
855:
854:
845:Hakuin Ekaku
819:Zen in Japan
818:
817:
796:Contemporary
795:
794:
793:
776:
775:
774:
692:
691:
690:
686:
656:Sanbo Kyodan
651:Ōbaku school
606:Tibetan Chan
520:
519:
518:
477:
476:
328:
327:
311:
310:
283:
282:
241:
219:
211:
203:
195:
165:Zen Buddhism
151:
118:
109:
99:
92:
85:
78:
66:
54:Please help
49:verification
46:
29:
1256:acupuncture
1246:Zen Caveats
1231:Bodhidharma
1207:appearance.
1138: [
968:Institution
915:Western Zen
700:Bodhidharma
646:Sōtō school
636:Taego Order
626:Jogye Order
591:Heze school
499:Lotus Sutra
306:One Vehicle
218:Vietnamese
1410:1228 works
1399:Categories
1333:References
1127:Mumon Ekai
877:Seongcheol
581:Sanjiejiao
570:Traditions
454:Zen poetry
424:Samu (Zen)
388:Shikantaza
329:Background
323:Buddhahood
312:The "goal"
112:March 2011
82:newspapers
1187:Longxiang
1093:Wúménguān
946:Seungsahn
941:Hsuan Hua
862:Taego Bou
813:Sheng-yen
693:Classical
362:Practices
350:Emptiness
238:Teachings
202:Japanese
1312:See also
1167:Zhaozhou
1101:Mumonkan
1097:Japanese
1089:Mandarin
951:Sokei-an
611:Trúc Lâm
194:Chinese
152:a series
1293:samadhi
1032:Shingon
1027:Tiantai
735:Huangbo
720:Shenhui
710:Shenxiu
705:Hongren
683:Persons
419:Hua Tou
398:Dhāraṇī
393:Sesshin
284:The way
248:No-mind
210:Korean
147:Part of
96:scholar
1277:cangue
1224:gathas
1099:: 無門関
1091:: 無門關
1037:Tendai
1022:Huayan
1017:Wéishí
1012:Sānlùn
872:Daewon
840:Bankei
830:Bassui
808:Xu Yun
755:Zongmi
449:Kyōgai
429:Ōryōki
408:Nianfo
273:Satori
268:Kenshō
98:
91:
84:
77:
69:
1211:(頌曰).
1171:Ummon
1142:]
1119:koans
867:Jinul
850:Dōgen
835:Ikkyū
825:Eisai
803:Taixu
368:Zazen
220:Thiền
103:JSTOR
89:books
1252:zhēn
1237:Zen.
1111:Chan
414:Koan
410:Chan
212:Seon
196:Chan
75:news
1115:Zen
204:Zen
189:Zen
58:by
1401::
1173:.
1157:,
1140:zh
1117:)
1095:;
157:on
1279:.
1113:(
1087:(
1071:e
1064:t
1057:v
125:)
119:(
114:)
110:(
100:·
93:·
86:·
79:·
52:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.