Chan Gong’an and the “Flexible Method”: A Study on Xuedou Chongxian’s Classic Eulogies and Its Influence on Poetics
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This essay makes a contribution to the study of Buddhist poetics. However, the current version of the article is very informative but not yet argumentative. I think the author needs to make the theoretical framework clearer through explaining the importance of the project and elaborating on what kinds of Zen ideas have undergirded Chongxian's poetics.
Since I am not an expert in literature studies, my comments will be mainly about how the author can improve the argumentation to show that Xuedou Chongxian "absorbed Zen ideas, methods and forms of expression and combine these with his own creation to form poetic viewpoints" (P.20).
The author has collected rich data about Chongxian's theory of flexible methods and its applications. However, there are several questions that remain to be answered:
first, why is this study important? The Song Dynasty is known for the rise of Chan but it is also the epoch of lyrics, not poetry. The author needs to make a stronger case for this study. It is crucial to examine Chongxian's theory of flexible method and is it because of his promotion of poetry? or is it because of general oversight of the development of poetics in Song? or is it because Chongxian's contribution to poetics has been downplayed in secondary scholarship?
second, the author needs to further elaborate on what the "Zen ideas, methods and forms of expression" that have influenced Chongxian. I think this is probably about the Chan approach to language and the Chan literary practice as part of contemplative training. On this front, the author will benefit from the secondary scholarship on Chan literary practice. I would recommend that the author reads the following:
Steven Heine & Dale Wright (eds.) Kōan: Texts and Contexts in Zen Buddhism.
Hori, Victor. Zen Sand. The Book of Capping Phrase in Zen Kōan Practice.
Steven Heine. Chan Rhetoric of Uncertainty in the Blue Cliff Record: Sharpening the Sword at the Dragon's Gate .
I do not have any comments on the English language. However, regarding the translation of Chinese texts, I noticed that the author does not translate some quotes in the main body of the article. If the author quotes a saying in Chinese, it is always crucial to provide the original.
besides, in Buddhist studies, we have a convention to cite texts from the Taisho canon. I am wondering if the author plans to adopt that citation style?
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Many thanks for giving me a chance to improve the overall quality of the manuscript. I have revised the manuscript according to your comments and suggestions. The detailed responses to your comments are appended below in red color.
This essay makes a contribution to the study of Buddhist poetics. However, the current version of the article is very informative but not yet argumentative. I think the author needs to make the theoretical framework clearer through explaining the importance of the project and elaborating on what kinds of Chan ideas have undergirded Chongxian's poetics.
Many thanks for your positive comments. I have revised the manuscript according to your comments and suggestions, and the detailed responses to your comments are listed below.
Point 1. Make the theoretical framework clearer through explaining the importance of the project and elaborating on what kinds of Chan ideas have undergirded Chongxian's poetics.
Response1: Thank you for your valuable advice.
I revised the paper’s title. The new one is “Chan Koans and ‘Flexible Method’:A Study on Xuedou Chongxian's Classic Eulogies and Its Influence on Poetics”. This title reinforces the main objective of the article, which is to examine the influence of Xuedu's Chan philosophy on the formation of the Flexible Method, through his eulogies.
A previous abstract is replaced by new with more clear viewpoints. In the Abstract section, I highlight the importance of Chan thought for the construction of the flexible method theory, a key theory in Song poetics（page1,line5-8）.
In the introductory section, I highlight Xuedu Chongxian, as an important descendant of the Yunmen Sect, inherited Guanxiu's concept of " integrate poems and Chan " in the creation of his eulogies to the past, "through analogy and association, he incorporated the Yunmen Sect's concept of "metaphysics" into poetic imagery and textual expression, so as to make the expression of the text full of a sense of spirit and imagination. Through analogy and association, he integrates Yunmen Sect's concept of "metaphysics" into the construction of poetic imagery and textual expression, making the textual expression full of a sense of spirituality and imagination; he inherits Shi Shiqian's concept of "mutual dependence", breaking down the boundaries between the physical and the physical, and integrating the style of harmony into his creations; and he inherits Zhimen Guangzuo's approach of "enlightenment", and allows the use of daily imagery and ordinary language into his poems, so that his works show very strong dissemination(page1-2,line 33-47).
Point2. Why is this study important? The Song Dynasty is known for the rise of Chan but it is also the epoch of lyrics, not poetry. The author needs to make a stronger case for this study. It is crucial to examine Chongxian's theory of flexible method and is it because of his promotion of poetry? or is it because of general oversight of the development of poetics in Song? or is it because Chongxian's contribution to poetics has been downplayed in secondary scholarship?
Response2: Thank you for your constructive advice.
In the introductory section, I offer two explanations: firstly Song poetry has an important research value as it has a position alongside Tang poetry as the twin peaks in the history of Chinese poetics. Secondly, the contribution of Xuedu Chongxian has been neglected in the formation of important Song poetic theories. With this case, we also hope that researchers will pay attention to the influence and value of Buddhist texts in the theoretical construction of Song poetry(page1,line26-32).
Point3. The author needs to further elaborate on what the "Chan ideas, methods and forms of expression" that have influenced Chongxian. I think this is probably about the Chan approach to language and the Chan literary practice as part of contemplative training. On this front, the author will benefit from the secondary scholarship on Chan literary practice. I would recommend that the author reads the following:
Steven Heine & Dale Wright (eds.) Kōan: Texts and Contexts in Chan Buddhism.
Hori, Victor. Chan Sand. The Book of Capping Phrase in Chan Kōan Practice.
Steven Heine. Chan Rhetoric of Uncertainty in the Blue Cliff Record: Sharpening the Sword at the Dragon's Gate .
Response3: Thank you for your valuable advice. References are much appreciated.
Through reading the literature and further sorting out the object of study, I have made it clear that Xuedou Chongxian got these concepts: Analogical thinking, Interpenetration, and Enlightenment and Transmission from the forms of textual expression, ways of thinking, and ways of education of previous Chan masters, such as Guanxiu, Shi Xiqian, and Zhimen Guangzuo, and applied them to his own creative practice to form his own poetic thought. In section 3.1/3.2/3.3 of the article, I have elaborated on how these concepts influence Xuedou Chongxian's theoretical construction of poetics in conjunction with the references. Detailed revisions can be found in the highlight section of these paragraphs (page9, line425-440; page10-11, line509-535; page12, line605-610; page21, line1034/1040-1041/1058).
Point4. Regarding the translation of Chinese texts, I noticed that the author does not translate some quotes in the main body of the article. If the author quotes a saying in Chinese, it is always crucial to provide the original.
Response4: Thank you for your helpful advice.
The original version of the Chinese citation has been supplemented. All additions have been highlighted in the paper.(page2,line49;page3,line122-124;page6,line276/line290/line305/line315-316;page7,line338-340;p8,line363-364/line372-373;page10,line467-468;page12,line615-616/line622;page14,line716-723;page15,line739-740/line780-781;page16,line782/785/791-792/799-800/805-806/813-814/815/819/824-825/833-834;page17,line835/847-848;page18,line 899-900/937)
Point5. In Buddhist studies, we have a convention to cite texts from the Taisho canon. I am wondering if the author plans to adopt that citation style?
Response5: Thank you for your valuable advice.
The source of the relevant cited document has been amended to read Taisho canon（page21,line1022-1024,line1043-1046/1051-1056/1060/1063-1065/1072-1073/）.
In addition, I have touched up the grammar and spelling throughout the text as you suggested. Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The author of this paper has produced evidence of considerable scholarship. The examples from the eulogies are interesting, but at the same time overwhelming to me as a reader. If the purpose was to illustrate shifts in poetic for to a more flexible and connotative language, then I believe that these points could have been made more effectively be focus and thorough analysis of two or three eulogies.
I became unclear as to what were quotes and what was analysis - and more importantly, whose analysis. Were these quotations, or the author's commentary? The citations in Chinese added to my confusion.
In a reshaping of this work, as will surely happen, I urge the author to 'slow down' to organise thoughts into often shorter sentences. Routine sentences spanning 4 lines makes for dense reading.
Finally, I am not convinced that this journal is the best location for what is in the first instance a discussion on literary method. If the focus was, say, how the flexible method broadened understanding of the Dharma, that might provide broader appeal.
as per above
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Many thanks for giving me a chance to improve the overall quality of the manuscript. I have revised the manuscript according to your comments and suggestions. The detailed responses to your comments are appended below in red color.
Point 1. The author of this paper has produced evidence of considerable scholarship. The examples from the eulogies are interesting, but at the same time overwhelming to me as a reader. If the purpose was to illustrate shifts in poetic for to a more flexible and connotative language, then I believe that these points could have been made more effectively be focus and thorough analysis of two or three eulogies.
Response1: Thank you for your valuable advice.
In the second part of this paper, Connotation of Chongxian's "Flexible Method" Theory, I reduce the number of texts and focus my analysis on the 41st, 39th and 7th eulogies. All revisions are visible in section 2.1/2.2/2.3(page3-5, line121-286).
Point2. I became unclear as to what were quotes and what was analysis - and more importantly, whose analysis. Were these quotations, or the author's commentary? The citations in Chinese added to my confusion.
Response2: Thank you for your helpful advice.
The original version of the Chinese citation has been supplemented. All additions have been highlighted in the paper(page2,line49;page3,line122-124;page6,line276/line290/line305/line315-316;page7,line338-340;p8,line363-364/line372-373;page10,line467-468;page12,line615-616/line622;page14,line716-723;page15,line739-740/line780-781;page16,line782/785/791-792/799-800/805-806/813-814/815/819/824-825/833-834;page17,line835/847-848;page18,line 899-900/937). I'm sure this will help separate the quotes from the analysis of the paper.
In section 3.1/3.2/3.3 of the article, I have made it clear that Xuedou Chongxian got these concepts: Analogical thinking, Interpenetration, and Enlightenment and Transmission from the forms of textual expression, ways of thinking, and ways of education of previous Chan masters, such as Guanxiu, Shi Xiqian, and Zhimen Guangzuo, and applied them to his own creative practice to form his own poetic thought. I hope that these added analyses will make the ideas that need to be expressed in the paper clearer(page9,line425-440;page10-11,line509-535;page12,line605-610;page21,line1034/1040-1041/1058).
Point3. I urge the author to 'slow down' to organise thoughts into often shorter sentences. Routine sentences spanning 4 lines makes for dense reading.
Response3: Thank you for your constructive advice.
Based on your suggestion, we have revised it in the text. We checked the sentences and paragraphs of the article for shorter and clearer expressions. For example, significant changes were made to line 101-119 in Section II, line 448-464, 480-488, 519-538, and 730-739 in Section III.
Point4. I am not convinced that this journal is the best location for what is in the first instance a discussion on literary method. If the focus was, say, how the flexible method broadened understanding of the Dharma, that might provide broader appeal.
Response: Thank you for your valuable advice.
This is a paper on the special topic Buddhist Culture in the Greater Hangzhou Region (Jiangnan) and Its Dispersion throughout East Asia. The research areas of this theme include literature (including poetry) and literary culture; therefore, this essay examines the influence of the creative practices of Chan poets and monks on the conceptual construction of poetry in the Song dynasty.
I revised the article title. The new one is “Chan Koans and ‘Flexible Method’: A Study on Xuedou Chongxian's Classic Eulogies and Its Influence on Poetics”. This title reinforces the main objective of the article, which is to examine the influence of Xuedu's Chan philosophy on the formation of the Flexible Method, through his eulogies.
In the conclusion section, I have added a paragraph of discussion: in the process of studying the construction of the theoretical system of Song Dynasty poetics, we cannot ignore the importance of Chan thought, and the significance displayed by the creative practice of the poet-monks cannot be overlooked. It is expected that this supplement will further strengthen the connection between Chan and poetics(page20,line985-995).
In addition, I have touched up the grammar and spelling throughout the text as you suggested. Please see attached proof of touch-ups.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
I commend the author's careful attention to the feedback provided and their additions that have made a readable, informative and thought-provoking article.
Author Response
Many thanks for your comments. You have given me very important help to improve the quality of this article.
Thanks again!
