📖 Meaning
A Buddhist term from the Chan (Zen) tradition referring to the approach of attaining enlightenment without relying on written scriptures or textual study. It emphasizes direct, intuitive transmission of understanding between master and disciple, where the dharma is passed heart to heart rather than through written words.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase originates from the Song dynasty text 'Wudeng Huiyuan' (Compendium of the Five Lamp Records), compiled by the monk Puji. In one passage, a master asks whether the ancient worthies transmitted the dharma from mind to mind, and Feng replies that they additionally did not establish written words or phrases. The concept reflects the core Chan Buddhist principle that ultimate truth cannot be captured in language, tracing back to the legendary moment when the Buddha silently held up a flower and Mahakasyapa understood through a smile alone.
💡 Example Usage
禅宗主张不立文字，直指人心，见性成佛。
The Chan school advocates not relying on written words, directly pointing to the human mind, and seeing one's own nature to attain Buddhahood.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 不立文字
- Pinyin: bù lì wén zì
- Literal Translation: not, establish, written, words
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4