Recorded Sayings of the Five Schools (Selected Passages) (五家語錄（選錄）)

About 五家語錄（選錄）

Tang · by 慧然集　明 郭凝之重訂

58,096 · about 194 min

The Recorded Sayings of the Five Houses (Selected Passages) was compiled by Huiran of the Tang dynasty and later revised by Guo Ningzhi in the Ming dynasty. This work gathers the recorded teachings of the patriarchs from the five schools of Chan Buddhism—the Guiyang, Linji, Caodong, Yunmen, and Fayan lineages. It documents their sharp dialogues and the essence of their Chan methods, revealing the intellectual currents of Chan as it branched out and spread from the late Tang through the early Song dynasties. The content includes koans, dharma combats, and instructional talks, vividly reflecting the distinctive styles and liberating wisdom of each school. As a key Chan text, it systematically preserves the core teachings of the five houses and serves as crucial literature for studying the history and philosophical evolution of Chinese Chan Buddhism, exerting a profound influence on the development of Chan thought in later generations.