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A kōan, literally transcribed as public case, is typically an unfathomable expression used as a teaching mechanism, resulting from discourses between Zen masters and their students and used throughout history as educational devices in some schools of Ch'an (J. Zen). Kōans are viewed not only as expressions of an enlightened mind, but also as instruments through which an enlightenment can be realized for those who study them. It has been said that koans force individuals into intellectual deadlocks which cannot be overcome by more conjecture or logical reasoning. There are many kōan collections known to exist, with some of the better known of these being the Mumonkan, the Hekiganroku, parts of the Shōbōgenzō,

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