Case 1: The Emperor Asks Bodhidharma

Case 1: The Emperor Asks Bodhidharma

Later the Emperor asked Master Baozhi about this exchange." © Drawing by Artist Dave Needham
Later the Emperor asked Master Baozhi about this exchange.
© Dave Needham, 2019
  • Title in Sullivan (2021): The Emperor Asks Bodhidharma
  • Title in Cleary and Cleary (1992): The Highest Meaning of the Holy Truths
  • Title in Sekida (2005): Emperor Wu Asks Bodhidharma
  • Named characters (in Pinyin):
    • Bodhidharma (n.d.)
    • Liang Wudi (or “Emperor Wu of Liang”) (464-549)
    • Zhi Gong (or “Baozhi” or “Master Zhi”) (418-524)
  • Named characters (in Wade-Giles):
    • Bodhidharma
    • Emperor Wu of Liang
    • Master Chih
  • Named characters (in Japanese):
    • Daruma
    • Ryō Butei
    • Master Shi.
  • Other koan collections:
    • The Book of Equanimity, Case #2
    • Seonmun yeomsong seolhwa, Case #98.
  • Historical commentaries:
    • Hakuin Ekaku and Tenkei Denson (contained in Secrets of the Blue Cliff Record, Thomas Clearly, 2002)
  • Modern commentaries:
    • Gyomay Kubose (contained in Zen Koanspage 12, 1973)
    • Seung Sahn Sunim (contained in The Compass of Zen, page 263, 1997)
    • Gerry Shishin Wick (contained in The Book of Equanimity, 2005)
  • Scholarly commentaries:
    • Andrew Ferguson (pdf)
    • Mark Strange (contained in Asia Major, 2018 3d vol. 31.1:119 pdf)
    • Kusumoto Bunyū (contained in Zengo Nyūmon, Zengo 8 and Zengo 31,1982)