Book of Serenity 65

194
Book of Serenity (Shoyoroku, Congrong Lu) #65
Shoushan's "Bride"

Personnel and Date

• SHOUSHAN Xingnian (Shuzan Shônen, 926-93, 15th gen), disciple of Fengxue Yanzhao
Date guess: ca. 980

Wansong's Introduction (Sato)

Tut, tut! Whoop, whoop!
Crump, crump! Grumble, grumble!
Puff, puff! Zing, zing!
Gong, gong! Huh, huh!!
Impossible to chew, difficult to come near.
Tell me, what is this all about?

Case (Wick)

A monk asked Shoushan, "What is Buddha?"
Shoushan replied, "A new bride rides a donkey. Her mother-in-law leads."

Hongzhi's Verse (Wick)

A new bride rides a donkey.
Her mother-in-law leads.
The manner of appearance is quite natural.
How laughable! The neighbor lady imitates the grimace:
facing the people, turning more ugly, she's not attractive.

Sturmer's Verse

The sleeper wakes up
the alarm clock.
(It's seventy-six minutes past six.)
As the sun begins to rise
all over the metropolis
traffic lights detach themselves
from their wires and poles
and migrate towards the ocean.

KOAN INDEX
Hotetsu's Verses on Koans