The inscription "本智撰 周理辑 内题曹溪一滴卷七 前有明 吴应宾塔铭及王舜鼎梦禅语" refers to Benzhi (本智), likely a monk or scholar from a later period (possibly Ming or Qing dynasty given the context of later commentators), and Zhou Li (周理), who compiled his work. While the specific dynasty for Benzhi is not explicitly stated, the "Cao Xi Yi Di" (曹溪一滴), meaning "A Drop from Cao Creek," suggests a connection to the Chan (Zen) Buddhist lineage, specifically the lineage associated with the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, whose famous teaching site was at Cao Creek. The compilation's title and the inclusion of