This study consists of an annotated translation of the Record of Tung-shan and a comparative analysis of the pedagogic styles of this text and the Record of Lin-chi. The first chapter contains a discussion of earlier Ch'an studies, many of which have tended to focus on philosophical content. It is asserted in this study that the function of the discourse records in the late T'ang and early Sung was primarily to convey a sense of the various masters' styles rather than to provide conundrums or interpretations of Buddhist doctrine.
Chapter II traces the evolution of the Ch'an anecdote and the four collection formats in which it appears, the "lineage histories," "lamp records," "kung-an anthologies," and "discourse records." The history of this literature reveals that its role has rarely been to convey doctrine.
Chapter III describes a method of analysing the discourse records that is designed to reveal pedagogic style. This method relies extensively on the sociolinguistic technique of discourse analysis which allows the isolation of important stylistic variables in dialogue, e.g., prestige of participants, setting, purpose of the exchange.
The discourse records of Tung-shan and Lin-chi are analysed and compared in the fourth chapter. These two records reveal distinctly different styles. In general, Tung-shan relies more on mental dexterity and verbal wit, while Lin-chi exhibits a greater tendency for fast-paced, disruptive exchanges.
