The present study aims to provide a modern re-interpretation, based on the concept and construct of Jung''s individuation, of the literature on Chán''s interpretation of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures over the years. In fact, this is not the first time that Jung''s individuation concept was applied to the modern interpretation of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures. However, the unique feature of the present study is that Jung''s individuation concept was focused on the “Symbolic Death & Rebirth” and the common etaphor of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures for enlightenment is interpreted from the perspective of “Great Death & Great Rebirth”. This is an attempt to associate the traditional experience of Chán cultivation with on temporary life and death studies. The study results are presented in five levels: (1) a description of the study theme and study background; (2) an explanation of the literature over the years on the meaning of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures with regards to Chán cultivation; (3) an understanding of the Chán cultivation experiences of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures based on Jung''s individuation concept; (4) a reinterpretation of the Chán cultivation experiences of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures based on the oncept of the “Great Death & Great Rebirth”; and (5) a conclusion based on multiple reflective erspectives of the association between Chán cultivation experiences and the meaning of life and death studies. This study discovered that interpreting the Chán cultivation experience in the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures through the symbolic concepts of death and rebirth might help readers to understand the transcendent characteristics of threshold experience a practitioner has to face at every step, and then to better understand the meaning of individuation process resulted from Chán cultivation. The ormation of this understanding is what lacks in these previous interpretations of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures, and thus in the major contribution of this study. As a preliminary attempt of using the “Great Death & Great Rebirth” interpretation, the present study hopes to contribute a different study erspective regarding the exploration of religious experiences and multitude in-depth psychological studies on life and death.
