萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 1.124

1.124

Case: One day, the Eastern and Western Halls at Nanquan were disputing over a cat. (When people are level they do not speak; when water is level it does not flow.) Nanquan saw this, held up the cat, and said, "If you can speak, I will not cut it." (Who dares face the blade?) The assembly had no answer. (Waiting until rain drenches the head.) Nanquan cut the cat into two pieces. (Drawing the sword without sheathing it.) Later, Nanquan raised the previous story to ask Zhaozhou. (Coming again, it is not worth half a coin.) Zhou then took off his straw sandals, put them on his head, and went out. (Fitting to give him one blade cut into two pieces.) Nanquan said, "Had you been there, you would have saved the cat." (His mind crooked, he does not realize his mouth is thirsty.)