Koans are enigmatic spiritual formulas used for religious training in the Zen Buddhist tradition. Arguing that our understanding of the koan tradition has been extremely limited, contributors to this collection examine previously unrecognized factors in the formation of this tradition, and highlight the rich complexity and diversity of koan practice and literature. Those with a serious interest in the history of Zen Buddhism will find the essays collected here an invaluable resource ... appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate libraries.