Nichinichi kore kōnichi explained

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". It may also be written as Japanese: 日々是好日, Japanese: 雲門日日是好日, Japanese: 雲門日々是好日, Japanese: 雲門好日, and Japanese: 雲門十五日.^{[6] [7] [8]}

Readings

As a Zen word in Japanese, the correct way to read the phrase is .^[9] It can also be read as and ;^[10] there are also examples of it being read as .

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

Notes and References

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