the tradition "can be viewed as the products of an internal dynamic within Chan that began in the T'ang and climaxed in the Sung." By the beginning of the Song era, Chan masters were known to use these stories in their sermons, as well as to comment on them and to use them to challenge their students.

Schlütter also writes:

Originally, such a story was only considered a when it was commented upon by another Chan master, i.e. when it was used as a "case" study for enlightenment.

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