Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature
In the ancient city of Hangzhou, where the West Lake shimmers like a mirror and the hills are cloaked in a veil of mist, autumn arrives with a double blessing: the ripening of chestnuts and the blooming of osmanthus flowers. The air fills with a fragrance so intoxicating that locals have found a way…
Chan Master Chongxian (980–1052), also known as Xuedou Chongxian, was a prominent Chinese Chan (Zen) master of the Song Dynasty. He is best known for his “Collection of Gathas on the Blue Cliff Record” (Biyan Lu), a classic Chan text that became one of the most influential works in Zen literature.