Biyan lu

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Biyan lu. (J. Hekiganroku; K. Pyŏgam nok 碧巖録). In Chinese, “Emerald Grotto Record” or, as it is popularly known in the West, the “Blue Cliff Record”.[1] The Biyan lu is one of the two most famous and widely used collections of Chan cases (gong'an), along with the Wumen guan (“The Gateless Checkpoint”).[1]

The Digital Dictionary of Buddhism states:

A collection of one hundred gong'an, originally compiled by the 4th-generation Yunmen monk Xuedou Chongxian (980–1052) and later commented on by the 11-12th century monk Yuanwu Keqin (1063–1135). Considered as an outstanding representative of Chan literary quality, this text became a central object of study for later kanhua 看話 practitioners, especially prized in the Linji school of Chan.[2]

Title variations

The title of the text is also written as Biyan ji (碧巖集) and Biyan lu (碧岩錄).[2]

This text is also known by its full title of:

  • Foguo Yuanwu chanshi biyan lu (佛果圓悟禪師碧巖錄; “Emerald Grotto Record of Chan Master Foguo Yuanwu”).[1][2]

Translations

Commentaries

There are numerous commentaries on this work.[2]

Notes

Sources