The way The "goal" Background Chinese texts Classical Post-classical Contemporary Zen in Japan Seon in Korea Thiền in Vietnam Western Zen Yuanwu Keqin (Chinese: 圓悟克勤; pinyin: Yuánwù Kèqín; Wade–Giles: Yuan-wu K'e-ch'in; Japanese: Engo Kokugon) (1063–1135) was a Han Chinese Chan monk who compiled the Blue Cliff Record.

His family was well educated in Confucianism, a sign of acquaintance with the Chinese civil service.

[6][1] The Blue Cliff Record gives clear instructions about the correct approach to kōan.

Yuanwu went as far as to annotate the poems line by line[7] to make clear the correct reading of Xuedou's appended verses,[6] which are complex, because of the rich use of symbolism and the allusions to Chinese secular literature and to Chan history.

[7] According to the Chán-tradition, the Blue Cliff Record gained such a popularity, that Dahui Zonggao burned all the copies he could lay hands on, and the wooden printing blocks.