Rhinoceros Fan BCR91)(BS25)

KOAN:

Once upon a time in China, the governor gave a rare fan carved of rhinoceros horn to a Zen master, who forgot about it. Then he remembered. One day, he called to his attendant, “Bring me the rhinoceros fan.” The attendant replied, “It is broken.” The master said, “In that case, bring me the rhinoceros.”

—Blue Cliff Record Case 91 & Book of Serenity Case 25 (PZI version)

See also: Yanguan’s Rhinoceros transl. by John Tarrant & Joan Sutherland