In Zen Buddhism from China, Korea, and Japan, "Koans" refer to aphorisms or episodes whose statements initially appear opaque because they are contradictory or do not convey an immediate meaning: "Two clapping hands make a sound. But what is the sound of one hand clapping?" These riddles aim to lead to intuitive insights beyond what can be expressed through contemplation and meditation. They seek to guide individuals beyond the limits of their concepts, opinions, and perspectives. The new work by our author Volker Zotz brings together Koans from classical collections of East Asia and also includes suitable modern masters. The Koans are not translated literally but are paraphrased in a way that makes them readable without annotations or further explanations.