Chinese Ch'an. Buddhism. a Mahayana movement, introduced into China in the 6th century a.d. and into Japan in the 12th century, that emphasizes enlightenment for the student by the most direct possible means, accepting formal studies and observances only when they form part of such means.Compare koan, mondo1.
the discipline and practice of this sect.
Origin of Zen
< Japanese < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinesechán, transliteration of Palijhāna < Sanskritdhyāna
a Japanese school, of 12th-century Chinese origin, teaching that contemplation of one's essential nature to the exclusion of all else is the only way of achieving pure enlightenment
(modifier)of or relating to this schoolZen Buddhism
Derived FormsZenic, adjectiveZenist, noun
Word Origin for Zen
from Japanese, from Chinese ch'an religious meditation, from Pali jhāna, from Sanskrit dhyāna
school of Mahayana Buddhism, 1727, from Japanese, from Chinese ch'an, ultimately from Sanskrit dhyana "thought, meditation," from PIE root *dhya "to see, contemplate."
An approach to religion, arising from Buddhism, that seeks religious enlightenment by meditation in which there is no consciousness of self.
Note
Deliberately irrational statements are sometimes used in Zen to jar persons into realizing the limits of the common uses of the intellect. One well-known example is, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”
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