Xuedou's 100 Odes to Old Cases

This is an excellent book on a topic otherwise not covered elsewhere in English language scholarship. Heine is one of-if not-the most prolific writer in English over the past two decades or more on the topic of so-called Japanese Zen (Chinese Chan and Korean Sŏn) and especially literature, which makes this a welcome addition to his oeuvre. Here, by translating Xuedou's 100 Odes, readers gain access to-as Heine points out-one of the most important collections of Chinese Chan texts, which fills a considerable gap in scholarship on the topic of Chan/Sŏn/Zen literature in translation. * George A. Keyworth, Associate Professor of History, University of Saskatchewan *
Heine's book is a major contribution to our understanding of Chan and of Chinese literary achievements...This important book is abundantly endowed with what Chinese poetry critics call shenyun -marvelous resonance! * Dale Wright, Journal of Buddhist Ethics *
Xuedou's 100 Odes to Old Cases: A Translation with Commentary, it is an autonomous text that deserves careful study. * Lion's Roar *
With a full translation and an insightful commentary, Steven Heine's Xuedou's 100 Odes to Old Cases provides superb access to a seminal Chan Buddhist text that gave rise to a literary and religious tradition unparalleled anywhere in the world...This important book is abundantly endowed with what Chinese poetry critics call shenyun-marvelous resonance! * Dale Wright, Journal of Buddhist Ethics *
[Heine's] book's introduction includes two masterly written chapters on the main protagonist and his work, as well as on the text itself. Chán studies scholarship at its best. * Religious Studies Review *