Nichinichi kore kōnichi

Nichinichi kore kōnichi (Japanese: 日々是好日) is a Japanese Zen Buddhist proverb. It is thought to be Yunmen Wenyan's answer in the sixth case of the kōan collection Blue Cliff Record.^[1][2][3][4] It has been presented by some Zen masters (notably, Kōdō Sawaki and his disciple Taisen Deshimaru).^[5] It was a favorite saying of the avant-garde composer John Cage, featured in Song Books (1970) as "Solo for Voice 64".^{[citation needed]} It may also be written as 日々是好日, 雲門日日是好日, 雲門日々是好日, 雲門好日, and 雲門十五日.^[6][7][8]

"Every day is a good day"

Readings

As a Zen word in Japanese, the correct way to read the phrase is Nichinichi kore kōnichi.^{[9][verification needed]} It can also be read as Nichinichi kore kōjitsu and Hibi kore kōjitsu;^[10] there are also examples of it being read as Hibi kore kōnichi.^{[citation needed]}

Nichinichi kore kōnichi literally translates to "every day is a good day",^[11][12] or "try to spend every day meaningfully".^[13]

References

1. Katsuki Sekida, "Two Zen Classics: Mumonkan, Hekiganroku." Weatherhill, 1977. ISBN 0-8348-0130-2.
2. Thomas Cleary and J.C. Cleary, "Blue Cliff Record". Shambala, Boston/London, 2005. ISBN 0-87773-622-7. Originally published in 1977.
3. Urs App, "Master Yunmen". Kodansha, 1994. ISBN 1-56836-004-5
4. 総合仏教大辞典編集委員会（編） (January 1988). 総合仏教大辞典 (in Japanese). 法蔵館. p. 98.
5. Taisen Deshimaru (1 October 1981). La Pratique du Zen (in French). ISBN 978-2226012876.
6. 広瀬大輔. "禅語を味わう 日々是好日" (in Japanese). 小林山達磨寺. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
7. "心の杖 2004年9月 日々是好日" (in Japanese). 金寳山瑞龍寺. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
8. 総合仏教大辞典編集委員会（編） (January 1988). 総合仏教大辞典 (in Japanese). 法蔵館. p. 98.
9. 中村元ほか（編） (October 2002). 岩波仏教辞典 (in Japanese) (第二版 ed.). 岩波書店. p. 789.
10. Kōjien 6th Edition
11. "Nichi nichi kore ko jitsu – every day is a good day". September 28, 2007.
12. "Everyday is a good day (nichinichi kore koujitsu)". Takase Studios.
13. "Chagake With Zen Idiom "Nichi-Nichi Kore Kojitsu" - Japanese Tea Mart Rikyu". www.rikyucha.com.