The Recorded Sayings of Chan Master Fenyang Wude

The eminent Song Dynasty Chan Master Fenyang Shanzhao (947-1024 CE) had the distinction of an entry in the canonical Jingde Chuandeng Lu (Records of the Transmission of the Lamp) whilst still alive. Here the master's sayings encounters with monks and poetry speak extensively for themselves as recorded by his Dharma-heir Shishuang Chuyuan (986-1039 CE). Contained in these first two of three fascicles are some of the earliest gong'an (koans) from the Chan School as well as the first mention of the famous Five Ranks teachings from the Caodong lineage.