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The next day, the crowd assembled at the South Gate, but when Fuke arrived he said, “No. Today is not the right day. Tomorrow, Fuke will cross over at the West Gate. Be there.”

On the third day the crowd of onlookers was greatly reduced. When Fuke dragged his coffin up he looked at the people standing in the road, looked at the sky, and then said, “No. Today is not exactly right. Tomorrow, Fuke will cross over at the East Gate. Be there.”

On the following day no one appeared to witness Fuke’s passing. He looked around him, stared at the sky, and said, “Today is the perfect day to cross over.” He placed his coffin outside the East Gate and sat on it. When a farmer passed on his way to market Fuke said, “Sir, would you please nail me into my coffin and then go tell Master Rinzai that Fuke has crossed over.”

The farmer did as Fuke asked. Rinzai, on hearing the news, rushed with his retinue to the East Gate, but upon opening Fuke’s coffin they found it empty except for one sandal. As they stared into the open coffin the faint ringing of Fuke’s bell was heard in the sky. Today, one of the major pieces in the shakuhachi repertoire of the Komuso Zen sect is called “A Bell Ringing in the Empty Sky.”