Every koan is about awakening….
That’s why we have to have tasted “awakening” to work with them.
The theory is that by studying how generations of old masters acted, in the koans, we gradually deepen our own awakening, until something happens that allows us to join them in their ongoing awakening.
What this something is, is sometimes called “great death,” which leads to a “rebirth.” It’s a different thing from kensho: kensho opens a door, offers a glimpse, but a glimpse is not enough to bring lasting peace of mind.