The DOI matches its Crossref record; none of the 22 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.
Dharma-Hall Convocations2
Abstract
This section of the Linjilu (LJL) records formal convocations given by Master Linji in the Dharma Hall, where the master sits cross-legged on a high-backed chair and gives a discourse to standing monks facing him. Linji’s patron General Wang asks the Master to speak on Chan’s “personal-realization-of-the-meaning-beyond-words,” and the book commences. This part unveils a central theme of the LJL, the “true person who can’t be ranked,” who Linji famously declares is “a magnificent piece of dried shit.” Linji several times delivers the shout and the whack with the rattan stick. The Master exhorts his followers not to indulge in mental reflection and calculation—both understanding and not understanding are mistakes.
Overview
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
This chapter translates and annotates Dharma-Hall convocations from the *Linjilu*, centered on Linji’s non-verbal Chan teaching, the shout and the stick, and the “true person who can’t be ranked.” It presents Linji’s exchanges with monks and officials, including the famous declaration that the true person is “a magnificent piece of dried shit.”
Key findings
- The chapter records Linji’s formal Dharma Hall convocations, where he sits cross-legged and addresses standing monks; General Wang requests teaching on Chan’s “personal-realization-of-the-meaning-beyond-words.”
- A central theme is the “true person who can’t be ranked,” beyond the “red-meatball” mind, who “constantly exits and enters from the face-gates” of all people; when a monk dithers, Linji calls this true person “a magnificent piece of dried shit.”
- Linji repeatedly uses the shout and the whack: he says that at Huangbo’s place “three times I raised a question, and three times I got whacked,” and he teaches that “Understanding” and “not understanding”—the entire package—are a mistake.
- The key term *niyi* (“dither”) appears nine times in the *LJL*, showing the text’s strong preference for instantaneous reaction over premeditation.
Methods
- Translation of sections of the *Linjilu* (*LJL*) with extensive annotation, described in the book title as “in the light of ten Japanese Zen commentaries.”
- The excerpt covers pages 30–36 and sections 1.1–9.2, including Dharma-Hall convocations and notes citing commentators such as Kassan, Kōunshi, Dōchū, Dōku, Eishu, and others.
- The analysis is philological and commentarial: it glosses terms, cites Chinese Buddhist sources, Japanese Zen commentaries, and dictionaries to interpret Linji’s exchanges.
Limitations
- No limitations are stated in the paper.
- Evident from the text: this is a chapter excerpt (pages 30–36) with selected translated passages and notes, not the full book, so the complete translation method and apparatus cannot be evaluated.
- Evident from the text: interpretation relies heavily on Japanese Zen commentaries, which may shape translation choices; the text does not systematically discuss alternative readings.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
0 of 22 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Findingcitation§ Notes · p. 8
Fragments of LJL material preserved in the Zutangji (952) and the Zongjinglu (961) have 'body of the five skandhas' rather than 'red-meatball.'
“This is confirmed by fragments of LJL material preserved in the Zutangji (952) and the Zongjinglu (961), both of which have 'body of the five skandhas ' ( wuyin shentian 五陰身田 ) rather than 'red-meatball.'”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites Zutangji [952]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Zongjinglu [961]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation§ Notes · p. 7
Even in a Neo-Confucian context niyi and siliang are interchangeable; for example, the Classified Conversations of Zhu Xi (Zhuzi yulei), 59: 'Right now-at this very moment-is the venue of putting in effort. Why wait around to dither, mentally reflect, debate right and wrong, and do research into differences in principles?'
“Even in a Neo-Confucian context niyi and siliang are interchangeable; for example, the Classified Conversations of Zhu Xi ( Zhuzi yulei 朱子語類 ), 59: 'Right now -at this very moment-is the venue of putting in eort. Why wait around to dither, mentally reflect, debate right and wrong, and do research into dierences in principles?'”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Classified Conversations of Zhu Xi (Zhuzi yulei), 59
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Probably not a substantial claim. 27
- It may state two separate claims as one. 10
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Findingnone given§ Abstract · p. 1The Linjilu section records formal convocations given by Master Linji in the Dharma Hall, where the master sits cross-legged on a high-backed chair and gives a discourse to standing monks facing him.
“This section of the Linjilu (LJL) records formal convocations given by Master Linji in the Dharma Hall, where the master sits cross-legged on a high-backed chair and gives a discourse to standing monks facing him.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Findingnone given§ Abstract · p. 1Linji several times delivers the shout and the whack with the rattan stick.
“Linji several times delivers the shout and the whack with the rattan stick.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Findingnone given§ Abstract · p. 1The Master exhorts his followers not to indulge in mental reflection and calculation-both understanding and not understanding are mistakes.
“The Master exhorts his followers not to indulge in mental re ection and calculation-both understanding and not understanding are mistakes.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Findingnone given§ Notes · p. 7The key term niyi appears nine times in LJL and shows the text's strong preference for an instantaneous reaction time over premeditation of any sort.
“The key term niyi 擬議 ('dither') appears nine times in LJL and shows the text's strong preference for an instantaneous reaction time over premeditation of any sort.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Findingnone given§ Abstract · p. 1Linji's patron General Wang asks the Master to speak on Chan's 'personal-realization-of-the-meaning-beyond-words,' and the book commences.
“Linji's patron General Wang asks the Master to speak on Chan's 'personal-realization-of-themeaning-beyond-words,' and the book commences.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Findingnone given§ Notes · p. 9zhang/zhuzhang 杖/拄杖 ('staff') and bang 棒 ('stick') appear numerous times in the LJL and seem to be used interchangeably as synonyms.
“zhang/zhuzhang 杖 / 拄杖 ('sta') and bang 棒 ('stick') appear numerous times in the LJL and seem to be used interchangeably as synonyms.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Findingcitation§ Notes · p. 10Modern translations have not granted this sort of buddhological weight to yumo 與麽 in the LJL, but the Zen commentators do seem aware of it.
“Modern translations have not granted this sort of buddhological weight to yumo 與麽 in the LJL, but the Zen commentators do seem aware of it:”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites Kassan, 460
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Dōchū, 1275
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Kōunshi, 1122
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Findingcitation§ Notes · p. 9The phrase 'chuanti zuoyong' occurs in 13.22, 13.26, and 13.43 of the LJL.
“Anonymous is quoting LJL itself; this phrase occurs in 13 .22, 13 .26, and 13 .43.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.
Interpretationnone given§ Abstract · p. 1This part unveils a central theme of the LJL, the 'true person who can't be ranked,' who Linji famously declares is 'a magnificent piece of dried shit.'
“This part unveils a central theme of the LJL, the 'true person who can't be ranked,' who Linji famously declares is 'a magnig7Fcent piece of dried shit.'”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Premisecitation§ Notes · p. 5The term shugo (military constable) was an official title in the Kamakura-Muromachi period bakufu (military government) for a combination military commander and civil governor of a provincial jurisdiction.
“The term shugo (military constable) was an oicial title in the Kamakura-Muromachi period bakufu (military government) for a combination military commander and civil governor of a provincial jurisdiction.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites Kassan, 447
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Hucker, A Dictionary of Oicial Titles in Imperial China (1985; repr., Beijing: Beijing daxue chubanshe, 2008), 217 (no. 2047)
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Interpretationcitation§ Notes · p. 7For Dahui niyi clearly is a synonym of 'mental reflection' or 'mental activities' (siliang = manasi-kāra).
“For Dahui niyi clearly is a synonym of 'mental reflection' or 'mental activities' ( siliang 思量 = manasi-ka ̄ ra ).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Dahui Pujue chanshi yulu
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Premisecitation§ Notes · p. 7The thunder simile is also found in non-Chan sources.
“The thunder simile is also found in non-Chan sources.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Premisecitation§ Notes · p. 6The term jiyong is a contraction of daji dayong, which Zengo glosses as 'an all-out manifestation of the capability of one's whole personality.'
“(The term jiyong 機用 is a contraction of daji dayong 大機大用 , which Zengo, 292, glosses as: 'an all-out manifestation of the capability of one's whole personality.' [ 全人格 の 力量 の 全面的 な 顕現 ])”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Zengo, 292
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Premisecitation§ Notes · p. 6For Chan, the locus classicus of the dichotomy between zong and jiao is Zongmi's Chan Prolegomenon.
“For Chan, the locus classicus of the dichotomy between zong 宗 (= xin 心 ['mind'] = personal-realization-of-the-meaning-beyond-words = Chan) and jiao 教 ('the canonical teachings') is Zongmi's Chan Prolegomenon .”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Zongmi's Chan Prolegomenon
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Premisecitation§ Notes · p. 5Hucker gives fuzhu as an unofficial reference to a Commandery Governor or to a Prefect.
“Hucker, A Dictionary of Oicial Titles in Imperial China (1985; repr., Beijing: Beijing daxue chubanshe, 2008), 217 (no. 2047), gives fuzhu as an unoicial reference to a Commandery Governor or to a Prefect.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Hucker, A Dictionary of Oicial Titles in Imperial China (1985; repr., Beijing: Beijing daxue chubanshe, 2008), 217 (no. 2047)
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Premisenone given§ Notes · p. 6The Chanlin baoxun was completed by the Eastern Wu monk Jingshan during the period 1174-1189.
“The Chanlin baoxun 禪林寶訓 was completed by the Eastern Wu monk Jingshan 淨善 during the period 1174-1189”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Interpretationcitation§ Notes · p. 8By extension, 'red-meatball' indicates the human body as a whole.
“By extension, 'red-meatball' indicates the human body as a whole.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites Zutangji [952]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Zongjinglu [961]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Hekiganroku Funi shō
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Premisecitation§ Notes · p. 7The full line of the last portion appears in a couplet in Huiyan Zhizhao's Chan compendium An Eye [Guide] for Humans and Devas, T2006.48.313a21 (Rentian yanmu, 1188): 'The cold pines for miles roar in the cool and refreshing wind; a single stream of flowing water-its sound is unending.'
“The full line of the last portion appears in a couplet in Huiyan Zhizhao's 晦巖智昭 Chan compendium An Eye [Guide] for Humans and Devas , T2006.48.313a21 ( Rentian yanmu 人天眼目 , 1188): 'The cold pines for miles roar in the cool and refreshing wind; a single stream of flowing water-its sound is unending.'”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Huiyan Zhizhao's Chan compendium An Eye [Guide] for Humans and Devas, T2006.48.313a21 (Rentian yanmu, 1188)
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Premisenone given§ Notes · p. 7'That one person' refers to that one person of no-dependence, that one person who has no characteristics or form, and so forth.
“'That one person' refers to that one person of no-dependence, that one person who has no characteristics or form, and so forth.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Premisenone given§ Notes · p. 6Wan'an is Wan'an Daoyan/Donglin Daoyan (1094-1164).
“Wan'an is Wan'an Daoyan 萬 [ 卍 ] 庵道顏 /Donglin Daoyan 東林道顏 (1094-1164).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Premisecitation§ Notes · p. 7na yi qu ('that one tune') is analogous to the term na yi ren ('that one person'), which is frequently used by Kōunshi, Eishu, and Dōchū.
“na yi qu 那一曲 ('that one tune') is analogous to the term na yi ren 那一人 ('that one person'), which is frequently used by Ko ̄ unshi, Eishu, and Do ̄ chu ̄ .”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites Kōunshi
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Eishu
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Dōchū
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Premisecitation§ Notes · p. 8The Hekiganroku Funi shō glosses the 'red-meatball' of the LJL with Zongmi's four types of mind as quoted in Yanshou's Zongjinglu.
“The Hekiganroku Funi sho ̄ 碧巖錄不二鈔 of the Five-Mountains Zen figure Kiyo ̄ Ho ̄ shu ̄ ( 岐陽方秀 ; 1361-1424), a commentary on the Blue Cli Record (case no. 32 of the Blue Cli Record is based on section 31 of the LJL), glosses the 'red- meatball' of the LJL with Zongmi's four types of mind as quoted in Yanshou's Zongjinglu (T2016.48.434c7-17).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites Hekiganroku Funi shō
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Zongjinglu
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Interpretationnone given§ Notes · p. 10'Deep pit' makes the line sound pejorative.
“'Deep pit' makes the line sound pejorative.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
Interpretationnone given§ Notes · p. 10The vernacular yumo 與麽 ('in that way') = ru 如 / zhenru 真如 / ruru 如如 = tathatā ('thusness'); yumo lai 與麽來 ('comes in that way') = Sanskrit tathāgata ('thus come or gone,' an epithet of a buddha).
“The vernacular yumo 與麽 ('in that way') = ru 如 / zhenru 真如 / ruru 如如 = tathata ̄ ('thusness'); yumo lai 與麽來 ('comes in that way') = Sanskrit tatha ̄ gata ('thus come or gone,' an epithet of a buddha).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Interpretationnone given§ Notes · p. 11In other words, these are two extremes to be rejected.
“In other words, these are two extremes to be rejected.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Interpretationnone given§ Notes · p. 11Because the seal is applied to a finished document, an imperfect imprint cannot be redone.
“Because the seal is applied to a finished document, an imperfect imprint cannot be redone.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Premisecitation§ Notes · p. 8Zongmi's Chan Prolegomenon describes four types of mind: hṛdaya (meatball mind), yuanlü xin (pondering-of-objective-supports mind), citta (mind that accumulates and produces), and hṛdaya (real mind/true mind).
“Zongmi's Chan Prolegomenon (T2015.48.401c17402a7) describes the four types of mind as follows:”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites T2015.48.401c17402a7
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
The paper relies on this without support.
The former (zhang/zhuzhang) appears in Chinese Buddhist literature as a translation equivalent of Sanskrit daṇḍa, a staff or scepter as a symbol of authority and punishment.
“The former appears in Chinese Buddhist literature as a translation equivalent of Sanskrit daṇḍa , a sta or scepter as a symbol of authority and punishment.”
Citations
Metadata
- Authors
- Broughton, J. L., & Watanabe, E. Y.
- Venue
- The Record of Linji
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Published
- 2012-12-07
- Pages
- 30-36
- OpenAlex
- W2497512419
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Oxford University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Indian and Buddhist Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Chinese history and philosophy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Keywords
- Linji Yixuan, Zen Buddhism, Wang Xizhi, Chinese Buddhist literature
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
A language model drew the claims from the paper on 2026-10-21, under version 3 of the claim definition (model deepseek-v4.1-flash, prompt extract-v3).
A second model labelled each claim on 2026-10-21 (model jev-1.13-20260917, definition revision gold-guideline-v0.2).
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
