Quick answerWhat does the first case of the Gateless Gate say?
The opening case records a monk asking Zen master Zhaozhou whether a dog has Buddha-nature, and Zhaozhou answered "Wu" (no). This answer goes against the familiar teaching that all sentient beings have Buddha-nature, and that very contradiction is where the practitioner must work. Huikai comments that the word Wu must not be understood in the sense of nihilism, nor in the sense of existence and non-existence.
From the article “What Is a Koan: The Gateless Gate and the Blue Cliff Record in Zen”
Knowledge › Eastern › Feng shuiChinh Than is the ruling period direction, Linh Than the opposite palace. How to tell Chinh Thuy from Linh Thuy and locate Thanh Mon in each period.
Updated 25 Sept 2026Traditional systems
Knowledge › Eastern › Tam ThứcBat Mon in Ky Mon Don Giap covers the eight gates Huu, Sinh, Thuong, Do, Canh, Tu, Kinh and Khai, their trigram and element origins, and which favor a matter.
Updated 25 Sept 2026Traditional systems
Knowledge › Eastern › I ChingHexagram Thủy Trạch Tiết (No. 60) in Kinh Dịch pairs Khảm above with Đoài below. Its Quái từ favors moderate restraint, since harsh restraint cannot last.
Updated 26 Sept 2026Traditional systems
Knowledge › Eastern › Zi Wei Dou ShuCự Môn in Purple Star Astrology: its origin in speech and controversy, a sharp yet doubting nature, dignity meanings, and Life and Career palace readings.
Updated 29 Aug 2026Traditional systems
Knowledge › Eastern › Feng shuiExplore feng shui principles for the main door: position, direction, colors, objects, and remedies to attract vital energy and prosperity to your home.
Updated 9 Jul 2026Traditional systems
Knowledge › Vietnam › BuddhismWhat is a koan, and why did the Gateless Gate and the Blue Cliff Record become the two key Chan collections? Origins, structure and how to read them.
Updated 12 Oct 2026Culture and belief