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Koan Collections
The Gateless Gate (Mumonkan) : a translation of 31 koans from this koan collection. Unfortunately, doesn't say who did the translation, but it makes a ready reference.
Mumonkan (The Gateless Gate): a complete translation of the 48 cases translated by Eiichi Shimomissé. Another translation, by Katsui Sekida, complete with Japanese characters is available here.
Ishii Shūdō &
Albert Welter look at the formation and history of The Wu-men kuan (J. Mumonkan)
The Formation, Propagation, and Characteristics of a Classic Zen Kōan Text is an excellent essay for those interested in the history of this text.
Shoyo Roku (The Book of Serenity) This is the other great classic koan collection, along with the Mumonkan. One hundred cases, some of which show up in the Mumonkan as well, were reassembled (after being lost) by Wansong. This version does not contain anything other than the cases themselves nor does it acknowledge who the translator was. However, it can still serve a function. Thomas Cleary's translation (The Book of Serenity, Lindisfarne Press) is still the standard complete version in English.
Shaseki-shu : (Collection of Stone and Sand), written late in the thirteenth century by the Japanese Zen teacher Muju (the "non-dweller"), and from anecdotes of Zen monks taken from various books published in Japan around the turn of the 20th century. Over 100 translations here.
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: by Paul Reps and Nygen Sensaki an online version of the stories under the title 101 Zen Stories. Does not include excerpts of the Mumonkan or the 10 Bulls, both of which are in the original book. The stories are not really koans in the classical sense although some can be used as koans to aid awakening. The stories come from the Collection of Stone and Sand (see above)
Zen Koans by Ven. Gyomay Kubose : 21 koans culled from various sources
Zen Koan Study Page : this is Matthew Ciolek's Virtual Library zen koan page. It includes a reference list of koan commentaries, a variety of definitions and a bibliography of koan studies. Some of the commentaries have links to the appropriate site. This site is worth the time it takes to explore.
Koan Commentaries & Studies
John F. Fisher: An Analysis Of The Koans In The Mu Mon Kwan Fisher looks at the Mumonkan and breaks the koans down into catagories, finding that although the koans differ, the message is the same: "...the way to satori is not through dependence upon words, even if they be words of the Buddha or past Masters; however, one should not reject words, for, imperfect as they are, they are the only means we have of attaining enlightenment. They should use the words and ideas contained in the koans to reach satori, but they should never confuse the two. "
Victor Sogen Hori has written a book of capping phrases (jakugo) for koans. The introduction to the book , which discusses extensively the history of koans and jakugo, is available for free download here. Also, here you will find some personal background about how the book came about. Highly recommended.
Hajime Nakamura: The Non-Logical Character of Zen Nakamura sees koans as "paradoxes which transcend the opposites" where "human existence is implicitly expressed". Are koans really paradoxes?
Barry Stephenson: The Koan as Ritual Performance "Study of the Zen kōan tradition has been dominated by psychological and textual methods and theories. But kōans not only constitute a literary genre, they are part of the liturgical order of Zen Buddhism. In this article I argue that psychological and textual approaches offer a limited understanding of the ritual and performative contexts of kōan practice and, drawing on ritual and performance theory, develop an alternative approach to the kōan tradition."
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