Editing Koan (section)

==== Testing insight – or learning responses ====

===== {{transliteration|ja|Sassho}} – Checking questions =====
Teachers may probe students about their {{transliteration|ja|kōan}} practice using {{transliteration|ja|sassho}}, "checking questions" to validate their {{transliteration|ja|[[satori]]}} (understanding) or {{transliteration|ja|[[kenshō]]}} (seeing the nature).{{sfn|Hori|2006|pp=132–133}} For the {{transliteration|ja|mu-kōan}} and the clapping hand-{{transliteration|ja|kōan}}, there are between 20 and 100 checking questions, depending on the teaching lineage.{{sfn|Hori|2006|p=133}} The checking questions serve to deepen the insight or {{transliteration|ja|[[kyōgai]]}} of the student, but also to test his or her understanding.{{sfn|Hori|2006|p=133}}

===== Standardized answers =====
Those checking questions, and their answers, are part of a standardised set of questions and answers.{{sfn|Hoffmann|1975}}{{sfn|Stephenson|2005}}{{sfn|Samy|2016|p=104}} [[Ama Samy]] states that the "{{transliteration|ja|koan}}s and their standard answers are fixed."{{sfn|Samy|2016|p=105}}{{sfn|Samy|2014|p=178}} Isshu Muira Roshi also states, in ''The Zen Koan'': "In the Inzan and Takuju lines, the answers to the koans were more or less standardized for each line respectively."<ref group=web name=McMahon/> {{transliteration|ja|Missanroku}} and {{transliteration|ja|missanchō}}, "Records of secret instruction" have been preserved for various Rinzai lineages. They contain both the {{transliteration|ja|kōan}} curricula and the standardized answers.{{sfn|Bodiford|2006|p=98}}

In Sōtō-Zen they are called {{transliteration|ja|monsan}}, an abbreviation of {{transliteration|ja|monto hissan}}, "secret instructions of the lineage".{{sfn|Bodiford|2006|p=98}} The {{transliteration|ja|monsan}} follow a standard question-and-answer format. A series of questions is given, to be asked by the master. The answers are also given by the master, to be memorized by the student.{{sfn|Bodiford|2006|pp=102–106}}

According to critics, students are learning a "ritual performance",{{sfn|Stephenson|2005}} learning how to behave and respond in specific ways,{{sfn|Hoffmann|1975}}{{sfn|Stephenson|2005}}{{sfn|Samy|2016|p=104}} learning "clever repartees, ritualized language and gestures and be submissive to the master's diktat and arbitration."{{sfn|Samy|2016|p=104}}

In 1916 Tominaga Shūho, using the pseudonym "Hau Hōō", published a critique of the Rinzai {{transliteration|ja|kōan}} system, {{transliteration|ja|Gendai sōjizen no hyōron}}, which also contained a translation of a {{transliteration|ja|missanroku}}. The {{transliteration|ja|missanroku}} part has been translated by [[Yoel Hoffmann]] as ''"The Sound of the One Hand"'' (see {{harvtxt|Hoffmann|1975}}) and {{harvtxt|Bodiford|1993|p=264 note 29}}.

===== Jakugo – Capping phrases =====
In the Rinzai school, passing a koan and the checking questions has to be supplemented by ''[[jakugo]]'', "capping phrases", citations of Chinese poetry to demonstrate the insight.{{sfn|Hori|1999}}{{sfn|Hori|2003}} Students can use collections of those citations, instead of composing poetry themselves.{{sfn|Hori|1999}}{{sfn|Hori|2003}}