This study introduces a distinction between two styles of Chan Buddhism. The first is described as early, or proto-Chan, while the second represents the classic Chan portrayed in traditional histories of the school.The present study focuses on the person of Dazhu Huihai, an obscure Tang Dynasty Chan Buddhist. Huihai is thought to be a student of Mazu Daoyi, seen by Chan tradition as the founder of the classical Chan style. Huihai has traditionally been associated with two works: A Discussion of the Essential Gate of Entering the Way through Immediate Enlightenment, and The Record of Questions Asked by Disciples from Everywhere, which have been published collectively under the title The Essential Gate of Immediate Enlightenment. The first is an excellent example of early Chan, while the second text exemplifies the religious and literary style of classical Chan. In terms of providing a locus for the discussion of the two styles of Chan, Huihai's two texts hold a special place in Chan intellectual history.The study shows how Huihai's two texts reflect the two kinds of Chan brought together in the figure of Huihai. I sought to: (1) present an accurate, annotated translation of the two texts, (2) provide a clear account of the historical, literary, and ideological character of the two texts, and (3) use that account to exemplify the characteristics of, and differences between, early and classical styles of Chan.The first chapter introduces Huihai, and the distinction between early and classical Chan. The second chapter discusses the provenance and history of the two Huihai texts. Chapter Three focuses on the literary differences of genre, linguistic style, and type of sources used in the two works. Chapters Four and Five compare how the two texts treat specific themes. In this respect, the approach taken in the last two chapters differs from that in the previous chapters, in that, the organization and presentation of the material in these chapters is not so clearly focused on the historical argument of the first three chapters.
