Encyclopedia Britannica Britannica logo logo BUTTON BUTTON Browse Browse BUTTON BUTTON Search Search Quizzes Quizzes On On This This Day Day Subscribe Subscribe BUTTON BUTTON Login Login Entertainment Entertainment Pop Pop Culture Culture Geography Geography Travel Travel Health Health Medicine Medicine Lifestyles Lifestyles Social Social Issues Issues Literature Literature Philosophy Philosophy Religion Religion Politics Politics Law Law Government Government Science Science Sports Sports Recreation Recreation Technology Technology Visual Visual Arts Arts World World History History Quizzes Quizzes Games Games Podcasts Podcasts On On This This Day Day Biographies Biographies Week Week In In Review Review Topic Topic Summaries Summaries Infographics Infographics Demystified Demystified Lists Lists WTFact WTFact Companions Companions Image Image Galleries Galleries Spotlight Spotlight The The Forum Forum Entertainment Entertainment Pop Pop Culture Culture Geography Geography Travel Travel Health Health Medicine Medicine Lifestyles Lifestyles Social Social Issues Issues Literature Literature Philosophy Philosophy Religion Religion Politics Politics Law Law Government Government Science Science Sports Sports Recreation Recreation Technology Technology Visual Visual Arts Arts World World History History Britannica Britannica Classics Classics Check Check out out these these retro retro videos videos from from Encyclopedia Encyclopedia Britannica Britannica s s archives archives Demystified Demystified Videos Videos In In Demystified Demystified Britannica Britannica has has all all the the answers answers to to your your burning burning questions questions WTFact WTFact Videos Videos In In WTFact WTFact Britannica Britannica shares shares some some of of the the most most bizarre bizarre facts facts we we can can find find This This Time Time in in History History In In these these videos videos find find out out what what happened happened this this month month or or any any month month in in history history Britannica Britannica Explains Explains In In these these videos videos Britannica Britannica explains explains a a variety variety of of topics topics and and answers answers frequently frequently asked asked questions questions Zen Zen BUTTON BUTTON Sections Sections Media Media Article Article BUTTON BUTTON Introduction Introduction Origins Origins and and nature nature Historical Historical development development China China Japan Japan Modern Modern developments developments Fast Fast Facts Facts BUTTON BUTTON Min Min Summary Summary Facts Facts Related Related Content Content Media Media BUTTON BUTTON Images Images Additional Additional Info Info BUTTON BUTTON Additional Additional Reading Reading More More Articles Articles On On This This Topic Topic Contributors Contributors Article Article History History BUTTON BUTTON Home Home Philosophy Philosophy Religion Religion Religious Religious Beliefs Beliefs Zen Zen Buddhism Buddhism Alternate Alternate titles titles Chan Chan Sŏn Sŏn Seon Seon Thien Thien Zen Zen Buddhism Buddhism BUTTON BUTTON Print Print print print Print Print Please Please select select which which sections sections you you would would like like to to print print Table Table Of Of Contents Contents Print Print BUTTON BUTTON Cite Cite verifiedCite verifiedCite While While every every effort effort has has been been made made to to follow follow citation citation style style rules rules there there may may be be some some discrepancies discrepancies Please Please refer refer to to the the appropriate appropriate style style manual manual or or other other sources sources if if you you have have any any questions questions Select Select Citation Citation Style Style MLA MLA BUTTON BUTTON Copy Copy Citation Citation BUTTON BUTTON Share Share Share Share Share Share to to social social media media Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter URL URL https https www www britannica britannica com com topic topic Zen Zen BUTTON BUTTON More More BUTTON BUTTON Give Give Feedback Feedback BUTTON BUTTON External External Websites Websites Feedback Feedback Corrections Corrections Updates Updates Omissions Omissions Let Let us us know know if if you you have have suggestions suggestions to to improve improve this this article article requires requires login login Feedback Feedback Type Type Select Select a a type type Required Required Your Your Feedback Feedback BUTTON BUTTON Submit Submit Feedback Feedback Thank Thank you you for for your your feedback feedback Our Our editors editors will will review review what what you you ve ve submitted submitted and and determine determine whether whether to to revise revise the the article article Join Join Britannica Britannica s s Publishing Publishing Partner Partner Program Program and and our our community community of of experts experts to to gain gain a a global global audience audience for for your your work work External External Websites Websites The The Met Met Zen Zen Buddhism Buddhism Age Age of of the the Sage Sage Transmitting Transmitting the the Wisdoms Wisdoms of of the the Ages Ages Zen Zen Buddhism Buddhism Learn Learn Religions Religions Zen Zen A A Brief Brief Introduction Introduction to to Zen Zen Buddhism Buddhism Britannica Britannica Websites Websites Articles Articles from from Britannica Britannica Encyclopedias Encyclopedias for for elementary elementary and and high high school school students students Zen Zen Student Student Encyclopedia Encyclopedia Ages Ages and and up up By By William William M M Bodiford Bodiford View View Edit Edit History History Fast Fast Facts Facts Min Min Summary Summary Soto Soto BUTTON BUTTON Soto Soto BUTTON BUTTON BUTTON BUTTON See See all all media media Areas Areas Of Of Involvement Involvement Buddhism Buddhism BUTTON BUTTON Show Show more more Related Related People People Nishida Nishida Kitarō Kitarō Sesshū Sesshū Bodhidharma Bodhidharma Hakuin Hakuin Bunsei Bunsei BUTTON BUTTON Show Show more more See See all all related related content content Zen Zen Chinese Chinese Chan Chan Korean Korean Sŏn Sŏn also also spelled spelled Seon Seon Vietnamese Vietnamese Thien Thien important important school school of of East East Asian Asian Buddhism Buddhism that that constitutes constitutes the the mainstream mainstream monastic monastic form form of of Mahayana Mahayana Buddhism Buddhism in in China China Korea Korea and and Vietnam Vietnam and and accounts accounts for for approximately approximately percent percent of of the the Buddhist Buddhist temples temples in in Japan Japan The The word word derives derives from from the the Sanskrit Sanskrit dhyana dhyana meaning meaning meditation meditation Central Central to to Zen Zen teaching teaching is is the the belief belief that that awakening awakening can can be be achieved achieved by by anyone anyone but but requires requires instruction instruction in in the the proper proper forms forms of of spiritual spiritual cultivation cultivation by by a a master master In In modern modern times times Zen Zen has has been been identified identified especially especially with with the the secular secular arts arts of of medieval medieval Japan Japan such such as as the the tea tea ceremony ceremony ink ink painting painting and and gardening gardening and and with with any any spontaneous spontaneous expression expression of of artistic artistic or or spiritual spiritual vitality vitality regardless regardless of of context context In In popular popular usage usage the the modern modern non non Buddhist Buddhist connotations connotations of of the the word word Zen Zen have have become become so so prominent prominent that that in in many many cases cases the the term term is is used used as as a a label label for for phenomena phenomena that that lack lack any any relationship relationship to to Zen Zen or or are are even even antithetical antithetical to to its its teachings teachings and and practices practices Origins Origins and and nature nature Compiled Compiled by by the the Chinese Chinese Buddhist Buddhist monk monk Daoyun Daoyun in in Records Records of of the the Transmission Transmission of of the the Lamp Lamp Chingde Chingde chongdeng chongdeng lu lu offers offers an an authoritative authoritative introduction introduction to to the the origins origins and and nature nature of of Zen Zen Buddhism Buddhism The The work work describes describes the the Zen Zen school school as as consisting consisting of of the the authentic authentic Buddhism Buddhism practiced practiced by by monks monks and and nuns nuns who who belong belong to to a a large large religious religious family family with with five five main main branches branches each each branch branch of of which which demonstrates demonstrates its its legitimacy legitimacy by by performing performing Confucian Confucian style style ancestor ancestor rites rites for for its its spiritual spiritual ancestors ancestors or or patriarchs patriarchs The The genealogical genealogical tree tree of of this this spiritual spiritual lineage lineage begins begins with with the the seven seven buddhas buddhas consisting consisting of of six six mythological mythological Buddhas Buddhas of of previous previous eons eons as as well well as as Siddhartha Siddhartha Gautama Gautama or or Shakyamuni Shakyamuni the the historical historical Buddha Buddha of of the the current current age age The The spiritual spiritual awakening awakening and and wisdom wisdom realized realized by by these these buddhas buddhas then then was was transmitted transmitted from from master master to to disciple disciple across across generations generations of of semi semi historical historical or or mythological mythological Buddhist Buddhist teachers teachers in in India India concluding concluding with with Bodhidharma Bodhidharma the the monk monk who who supposedly supposedly introduced introduced true true Buddhism Buddhism to to China China in in the the th th century century This This true true Buddhism Buddhism held held that that its its practitioners practitioners could could achieve achieve a a sudden sudden awakening awakening to to spiritual spiritual truth truth which which they they could could not not accomplish accomplish by by a a mere mere reading reading of of Buddhist Buddhist scriptures scriptures As As Bodhidharma Bodhidharma asserted asserted in in a a verse verse attributed attributed to to him him A A special special transmission transmission outside outside the the scriptures scriptures not not relying relying on on words words or or letters letters pointing pointing directly directly to to the the human human mind mind seeing seeing true true nature nature is is becoming becoming a a Buddha Buddha From From the the time time of of Bodhidharma Bodhidharma to to the the present present each each generation generation of of the the Zen Zen lineage lineage claimed claimed to to have have attained attained the the same same spiritual spiritual awakening awakening as as its its predecessors predecessors thereby thereby preserving preserving the the Buddha Buddha s s lamp lamp of of wisdom wisdom This This genealogical genealogical ethos ethos confers confers religious religious authority authority on on present present day day Zen Zen teachers teachers as as the the legitimate legitimate heirs heirs and and living living representatives representatives of of all all previous previous Buddhas Buddhas and and patriarchs patriarchs It It also also provides provides the the context context of of belief belief for for various various Zen Zen rituals rituals such such as as funeral funeral services services performed performed by by Zen Zen priests priests and and ancestral ancestral memorial memorial rites rites for for the the families families of of laypeople laypeople who who patronize patronize the the temples temples The The Zen Zen ethos ethos that that people people in in each each new new generation generation can can and and must must attain attain spiritual spiritual awakening awakening does does not not imply imply any any rejection rejection of of the the usual usual forms forms of of Buddhist Buddhist spiritual spiritual cultivation cultivation such such as as the the study study of of scriptures scriptures the the performance performance of of good good deeds deeds and and the the practice practice of of rites rites and and ceremonies ceremonies image image worship worship and and ritualized ritualized forms forms of of meditation meditation Zen Zen teachers teachers typically typically assert assert rather rather that that all all of of these these practices practices must must be be performed performed correctly correctly as as authentic authentic expressions expressions of of awakening awakening as as exemplified exemplified by by previous previous generations generations of of Zen Zen teachers teachers For For this this reason reason the the Records Records of of the the Transmission Transmission of of the the Lamp Lamp attributes attributes the the development development of of the the standard standard format format and and liturgy liturgy of of the the Chinese Chinese Buddhist Buddhist monastic monastic institution institution to to early early Zen Zen patriarchs patriarchs even even though though there there is is no no historical historical evidence evidence to to support support this this claim claim Beginning Beginning at at the the time time of of the the Song Song dynasty dynasty Chinese Chinese monks monks composed composed strict strict regulations regulations to to govern govern behaviour behaviour at at all all publicly publicly recognized recognized Buddhist Buddhist monasteries monasteries Known Known as as rules rules of of purity purity Chinese Chinese qinggui qinggui Japanese Japanese shingi shingi these these rules rules were were frequently frequently seen seen as as unique unique expressions expressions of of Chinese Chinese Zen Zen In In fact fact however however the the monks monks largely largely codified codified traditional traditional Buddhist Buddhist priestly priestly norms norms of of behaviour behaviour and and at at least least in in China China the the rules rules were were applied applied to to residents residents of of all all authorized authorized monasteries monasteries whether whether affiliated affiliated with with the the Zen Zen school school or or not not Zen Zen monks monks and and nuns nuns typically typically study study Buddhist Buddhist scriptures scriptures Chinese Chinese classics classics poetics poetics and and Zen Zen literature literature Special Special emphasis emphasis traditionally traditionally has has been been placed placed on on the the study study of of public public cases cases Chinese Chinese gongan gongan Japanese Japanese kōan kōan or or accounts accounts of of episodes episodes in in which which Zen Zen patriarchs patriarchs reportedly reportedly attained attained awakening awakening or or expressed expressed their their awakening awakening in in novel novel and and iconoclastic iconoclastic ways ways using using enigmatic enigmatic language language or or gestures gestures Included Included in in the the Records Records of of the the Transmission Transmission of of the the Lamp Lamp and and in in other other hagiographic hagiographic compendia compendia the the public public cases cases are are likened likened to to legal legal precedents precedents that that are are designed designed to to guide guide the the followers followers of of Zen Zen Historical Historical development development China China Although Although Zen Zen Buddhism Buddhism in in China China is is traditionally traditionally dated dated to to the the th th century century it it actually actually first first came came to to prominence prominence in in the the early early th th century century when when Wuhou Wuhou who who seized seized power power from from the the ruling ruling Tang Tang dynasty dynasty to to become become empress empress of of the the short short lived lived Zhou Zhou dynasty dynasty patronized patronized Zen Zen teachers teachers as as her her court court priests priests After After Empress Empress Wuhou Wuhou died died and and the the Tang Tang dynasty dynasty was was restored restored to to power power rival rival sects sects of of Zen Zen appeared appeared whose whose members members claimed claimed to to be be more more legitimate legitimate and and more more orthodox orthodox than than the the Zen Zen teachers teachers who who had had been been associated associated with with the the discredited discredited empress empress These These sectarian sectarian rivalries rivalries continued continued until until the the Song Song dynasty dynasty when when a a more more inclusive inclusive form form of of Zen Zen became became associated associated with with almost almost all all of of the the official official state state sponsored sponsored Buddhist Buddhist monasteries monasteries As As the the official official form form of of Chinese Chinese Buddhism Buddhism the the Song Song dynasty dynasty version version of of Zen Zen subsequently subsequently spread spread to to Korea Korea Japan Japan and and Vietnam Vietnam Wuhou Wuhou BUTTON BUTTON Wuhou Wuhou Wuhou Wuhou The The British British Library Library Robana Robana Picture Picture Library Library age age fotostock fotostock During During the the reign reign of of the the Song Song Zen Zen mythology mythology Zen Zen literature literature and and Zen Zen forms forms of of Buddhist Buddhist spiritual spiritual cultivation cultivation underwent underwent important important growth growth Since Since that that time time Zen Zen teachings teachings have have skillfully skillfully combined combined the the seemingly seemingly opposing opposing elements elements of of mythology mythology and and history history iconoclasm iconoclasm and and pious pious worship worship freedom freedom and and strict strict monastic monastic discipline discipline and and sudden sudden awakening awakening Sanskrit Sanskrit bodhi bodhi Chinese Chinese wu wu Japanese Japanese satori satori and and long long master master disciple disciple apprenticeships apprenticeships During During the the Song Song dynasty dynasty the the study study of of public public cases cases became became very very sophisticated sophisticated as as Zen Zen monks monks arranged arranged them them into into various various categories categories wrote wrote verse verse commentaries commentaries on on them them and and advocated advocated new new techniques techniques for for meditating meditating on on their their key key words words Commentaries Commentaries such such as as The The Blue Blue Cliff Cliff Record Record c c Chinese Chinese Biyan Biyan lu lu Japanese Japanese Heikigan Heikigan roku roku and and The The Gateless Gateless Barrier Barrier Chinese Chinese Wumen Wumen guan guan Japanese Japanese Mumon Mumon kan kan remain remain basic basic textbooks textbooks for for Zen Zen students students to to the the present present day day The The public public case case literature literature validates validates the the sense sense of of liberation liberation and and freedom freedom felt felt by by those those experiencing experiencing spiritual spiritual awakening awakening while while at at the the same same time time placing placing the the expression expression of of those those impulses impulses under under the the supervision supervision of of well well disciplined disciplined senior senior monks monks For For this this reason reason Zen Zen texts texts frequently frequently assert assert that that genuine genuine awakening awakening cannot cannot be be acquired acquired through through individual individual study study alone alone but but must must be be realized realized through through the the guidance guidance of of an an authentic authentic Zen Zen teacher teacher Japan Japan During During Japan Japan s s medieval medieval period period roughly roughly the the th th through through th th centuries centuries Zen Zen monks monks played played a a major major role role in in introducing introducing the the arts arts and and literature literature of of Song Song dynasty dynasty China China to to Japanese Japanese leaders leaders The The Five Five Mountain Mountain Japanese Japanese Gozan Gozan Zen Zen temples temples which which were were sponsored sponsored by by the the Japanese Japanese imperial imperial family family and and military military rulers rulers housed housed many many monks monks who who had had visited visited China China and and had had mastered mastered the the latest latest trends trends of of Chinese Chinese learning learning Monks Monks from from these these temples temples were were selected selected to to lead lead trade trade missions missions to to China China to to administer administer governmental governmental estates estates and and to to teach teach neo neo Confucianism Confucianism a a form form of of Confucianism Confucianism developed developed under under the the Song Song dynasty dynasty that that combined combined cultivation cultivation of of the the self self with with concerns concerns for for social social ethics ethics and and metaphysics metaphysics In In this this way way wealthy wealthy Zen Zen monasteries monasteries especially especially those those located located in in the the Japanese Japanese capital capital city city of of Kyōto Kyōto became became centres centres for for the the importation importation and and dissemination dissemination of of Chinese Chinese techniques techniques of of printing printing painting painting calligraphy calligraphy poetics poetics ceramics ceramics and and garden garden design design the the so so called called Zen Zen arts arts or or in in China China Song Song dynasty dynasty arts arts Apart Apart from from the the elite elite Five Five Mountain Mountain institutions institutions Japanese Japanese Zen Zen monks monks and and nuns nuns founded founded many many monasteries monasteries and and temples temples in in the the rural rural countryside countryside Unlike Unlike their their urban urban counterparts counterparts monks monks and and nuns nuns in in rural rural Zen Zen monasteries monasteries devoted devoted more more energy energy to to religious religious matters matters than than to to Chinese Chinese arts arts and and learning learning Their Their daily daily lives lives focused focused on on worship worship ceremonies ceremonies ritual ritual periods periods of of sitting sitting Zen Zen Japanese Japanese zazen zazen meditation meditation the the study study of of public public cases cases and and the the performance performance of of religious religious services services for for lower lower status status merchants merchants warriors warriors and and peasants peasants Rural Rural Zen Zen monks monks helped helped to to popularize popularize many many Buddhist Buddhist rituals rituals now now common common in in Japan Japan such such as as prayer prayer rites rites for for worldly worldly benefits benefits conferment conferment of of precept precept lineages lineages on on lay lay people people funerals funerals ancestral ancestral memorials memorials and and exorcisms exorcisms After After the the political political upheavals upheavals of of the the th th and and th th centuries centuries when when much much of of the the city city of of Kyōto Kyōto was was destroyed destroyed in in a a widespread widespread civil civil war war monks monks from from rural rural Zen Zen lineages lineages came came to to dominate dominate all all Zen Zen institutions institutions in in Japan Japan including including the the urban urban ones ones that that formerly formerly enjoyed enjoyed Five Five Mountain Mountain status status After After the the Tokugawa Tokugawa rulers rulers of of the the Edo Edo period period restored restored peace peace Zen Zen monasteries monasteries and and all all other other religious religious institutions institutions in in Japan Japan cooperated cooperated in in the the government government s s efforts efforts to to regulate regulate society society In In this this new new political political environment environment Zen Zen monks monks and and other other religious religious leaders leaders taught taught a a form form of of conventional conventional morality morality Japanese Japanese tsūzoku tsūzoku dōtoku dōtoku that that owed owed more more to to Confucian Confucian than than to to Buddhist Buddhist traditions traditions indeed indeed Buddhist Buddhist teachings teachings were were used used to to justify justify the the strict strict social social hierarchy hierarchy enforced enforced by by the the government government Many Many Confucian Confucian teachers teachers in in turn turn adapted adapted Zen Zen Buddhist Buddhist meditation meditation techniques techniques to to quiet quiet sitting sitting Japanese Japanese seiza seiza a a Confucian Confucian contemplative contemplative practice practice As As a a result result of of these these developments developments the the social social and and religious religious distinctions distinctions between between Zen Zen practice practice and and Confucianism Confucianism became became blurred blurred When When the the Ming Ming dynasty dynasty in in China China began began to to collapse collapse many many Chinese Chinese Zen Zen monks monks sought sought refuge refuge in in Japan Japan Their Their arrival arrival caused caused Japanese Japanese Zen Zen monks monks to to question question whether whether their their Japanese Japanese teachers teachers or or the the new new Chinese Chinese arrivals arrivals had had more more faithfully faithfully maintained maintained the the traditions traditions of of the the ancient ancient buddhas buddhas and and patriarchs patriarchs The The resultant resultant search search for for authentic authentic Zen Zen roots roots prompted prompted the the development development of of sectarianism sectarianism not not just just between between Japanese Japanese and and Chinese Chinese Zen Zen leaders leaders but but also also within within the the existing existing Japanese Japanese Zen Zen community community Eventually Eventually sectarian sectarian rivalry rivalry led led to to the the emergence emergence of of three three separate separate Japanese Japanese Zen Zen lineages lineages Ōbaku Ōbaku Chinese Chinese Huanbo Huanbo Rinzai Rinzai Chinese Chinese Linji Linji and and Sōtō Sōtō Chinese Chinese Caodong Caodong Ignoring Ignoring their their similarities similarities each each lineage lineage exaggerated exaggerated its its distinctive distinctive features features Thus Thus both both Rinzai Rinzai and and Sōtō Sōtō emphasized emphasized their their adherence adherence to to certain certain Song Song dynasty dynasty practices practices in in contrast contrast to to the the Ōbaku Ōbaku monasteries monasteries which which favoured favoured Ming Ming traditions traditions especially especially in in such such areas areas as as ritual ritual language language musical musical instruments instruments clothing clothing and and temple temple architecture architecture People People affiliated affiliated with with Sōtō Sōtō by by far far the the largest largest of of the the Japanese Japanese Zen Zen lineages lineages stressed stressed the the accomplishments accomplishments of of their their patriarch patriarch Dōgen Dōgen whose whose chief chief work work Shōbōgenzō Shōbōgenzō Treasury Treasury of of the the True True Dharma Dharma Eye Eye is is widely widely regarded regarded as as one one of of the the great great classics classics of of Japanese Japanese Buddhism Buddhism Rinzai Rinzai BUTTON BUTTON Rinzai Rinzai Myōshin Myōshin a a chief chief temple temple of of the the Rinzai Rinzai sect sect of of Zen Zen Buddhism Buddhism in in Kyōto Kyōto Japan Japan Frank Frank Gualtieri Gualtieri BUTTON BUTTON Load Load Next Next Page Page IFRAME IFRAME www www googletagmanager googletagmanager com com ns ns html html id id GTM GTM W W NC