Chan compendium "The anthology of the patriarchal hall" about Han Yu

The article analyzes the parables (koans) of Chan compendium “The Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall” describing the relationship between the Confucian official of the Tang era Han Yu and the Chan master Dadian. It is shown that the relationship between Han Yu and Dadian in the interpretation of Chan compendium is a story of the spiritual development of the Confucian official, his becoming the follower of Buddhism - for Chan Buddhists this story is primarily a means to educate monks. At the same time, despite the fact that the data of Chan compendium are not all authentic and are not a Chan interpretation of events, the koans provide additional material on the personal perception of Buddhist religion in the Tang society. It is concluded that in the Tang era Buddhism extended over broad population, since anyone regardless his class affiliation could become the follower of Buddhism.