Zhaozhou and the Hermits (GG11)

KOAN:

Zhaozhou visited a hermit and asked, “Anybody in?” “Anybody in?”
And the hermit held up a fist. And Zhaozhou said, “Freely you give and freely you take life. How wonderful!”
He made a deep bow and left. Then he went to a hermit and said, “Anybody in? Anybody in?”
And the hermit held up a fist. And Zhaozhou said, “Oh, the water here is too shallow for a big ship to anchor in,” and he left.

—Gateless Gate Case 11