Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 64 – Zen Master Joshu Puts His Sandals on His Head

The Case

Zen Master Nansen told the previous story [Case 63] to Joshu and asked his opinion. Joshu then took off his sandals and, putting them on his head, went away. Nansen said, "If you had been there, the cat would have been saved."

Verse

He asked Joshu to complete the koan. It was their leisure time in Ch' ang-an. The sandals on the head-who has guessed? Returning home, they were at rest.