Several towering commentaries on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment shaped Chinese Chan’s understanding of its terse dialogues and sudden-wisdom flair. Here’s a quick tour of the classics:

1. Daoyi Zongmi’s “Exegesis on Perfect Enlightenment” (Yuanjue Shuoming)
   • Bridged Chan’s iconoclastic stance with Huayan and Tiantai thought, weaving doctrinal threads into a seamless tapestry.
   • Reads like a masterclass in harmonizing sudden insight with gradual cultivation—still referenced by scholars today.

2. Yongming Yanshou’s “Collected Commentary on Perfect Enlightenment” (Yuanjue Jijie)
   • A Song-era luminary who distilled the sutra’s essence into bite-sized reflections, peppered with poetic flair.
   • Struck a chord in later practice manuals, influencing meditation lineages that prize both kōan work and silent illumination.

3. Dayang Jingxuan’s “Commentary on Perfect Enlightenment” (Yuanjue Jing Shu)
   • Renowned for crystal-clear prose, this work unpacks each exchange between Buddha and disciple as if mapping out an A-to-Z guide on awakening.
   • Its step-by-step annotations still serve as a favorite roadmap for monks encountering the text’s more enigmatic passages.

4. Xuedou Zhijun’s “Song of Enlightenment”
   • Though technically a poem, it’s often paired with Perfect Enlightenment in Chan circles to capture the sutra’s spirit in lyrical snapshots.
   • A reminder that sometimes an image or verse can leap beyond analytical commentary straight to the heart.

5. Dahui Zonggao’s marginalia
   • While famous for kanhua (critical phrase) practice, Dahui left behind nimble notes highlighting pivotal lines in the sutra, urging direct pointing to mind.
   • Those scribbles still inspire modern retreat leaders to cut through chatter and land squarely on lived experience.

In today’s world—where meditation apps and TED Talks promise instant clarity—these venerable commentaries stand as proof that lasting insight often springs from patient reading, spirited debate, and the occasional poetic flash. No stone left unturned, they continue to guide seekers toward their own doorstep of Perfect Enlightenment.