While initially excited by this book, within a few chapters I found it disappointing. First, while the books a whole is organized in a logical way, each chapter is a desultory journey over mounds of unrelated information--some that can be supported by scholarship and some that amounts to no more than folk tales. Second, this books suffers from the same problem a lot of books translated or written around the same time fall prey to: ecumenism. The introduction by Merton is a tip-off that more of the same is to come. Personally, I don't like translations or books on Zen that "Westernize" Chinese philosophy, and I think that Wu does this far too much. Thankfully, this trend seems to have reversed itself (see, e.g., Burton Watson's translations of the writings of Lin Chi)

This book deals with the heyday of Zen Buddhism, Tang dynasty. The purpose of this book is introducing the Westerners to the Zen Buddhism. In other word, this is a Zen primer. Zen master Suzuki¡¯s ¡®An Introduction to Zen Buddhism¡¯ is widely read for this purpose. But this book is somewhat different from Suzuki¡¯s. Just like Suzuki¡¯s book, this book follow the standard format of Zen primer. Listing koans (about the koan, see my review on Suzuki¡¯s book) chronically with the related anecdotes. But unlike Suzuki¡¯s, Wu takes the stance of interpreter not of storyteller. Storytelling is the classic way to introducing Zen Buddhism (for the reason, see my review on Suzuki¡¯s). But in that way, beginners can¡¯t grasp even the basic of Zen Buddhism. So Wu approaches somewhat differently. He begins with why Zen should take place in China, not in India. He points out the influence of Taoism. Taoism has, in fact, affinity to Buddhism and it¡¯s the mindset the Chinese understood foreign thought, Buddhism. So Wu argue that we can¡¯t figure out Zen without understanding basic principles of Taoism. Suzuki¡¯s book, for example, represents and explains the principles of Zen from the tradition of Buddhism. But unfortunately it seems not that good way to figure out Zen. Like other thoughts, Zen could be best understood against the historical backdrop. And it¡¯s the way this book employs and the beauty of this book: each principle of Zen is explained against Taoism and historical backdrop. Thought could be fully understood when the behind motives are grasped, I think. Yep, such works are not hard to see in Buddhology. But this book is written in the plain English to be steadfast to the intention of Zen primer.

Wu provides a perspective of Zen which is as illuminating as Suzuki's. The additional commentary by Merton is also helpful as both he and Wu are Christians. Their Christian background provides a common jump-off point for many of us of Christian beginnings into the non-dogmatic world of Zen. At the same time our Christianity is deepened with the unmeasurable Buddha mind.

Wu additionally provides a meaningful translation of the Tao te Ching.