Chan zong, Chán zōng, Chǎn zǒng: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Chan zong means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Chinese Buddhism
禪宗 [chan zong]—The Chan, meditative or intuitional, sect usually said to have been established in China by Bodhidharma, v. 達 [da], the twenty-eighth patriarch, who brought the tradition of the Buddha-mind from India. Cf. 楞 [leng] 13 Laṅkāvatāra sūtra. This sect, believing in direct enlightenment, disregarded ritual and sūtras and depended upon the inner light and personal influence for the propagation of its tenets, founding itself on the esoteric tradition supposed to have been imparted to Kāśyapa by the Buddha, who indicated his meaning by plucking a flower without further explanation. Kāśyapa smiled in apprehension and is supposed to have passed on this mystic method to the patriarchs. The successor of Bodhidharma was 慧可 [hui ke] Huike, and he was succeeded by 僧璨 [seng can] Sengcan; 道信 [dao xin] Daoxin; 弘忍 [hong ren] Hongren; 慧能 [hui neng] Huineng, and 神秀 [shen xiu] Shenxiu, the sect dividing under the two latter into the southern and northern schools: the southern school became prominent, producing 南嶽 [nan yue] Nanyue and 靑原 [qing yuan] Qingyuan, the former succeeded by 馬祖 [ma zu] Mazu, the latter by 石頭 [shi tou] Shitou. From Mazu's school arose the five later schools, v. 禪門 [chan men].
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
禪宗 [chan zong]—Zen Buddhism (禅宗 [chan zong]) — [School] Named thus because it takes Dhyana (禅那 [chan na]) as its primary practice. Dhyana (禅那 [chan na]) is also translated as "contemplation practice" (思惟修 [si wei xiu]) or "quiet contemplation" (静虑 [jing lu]), referring to the method of quieting thoughts and worries to contemplate truth. It was originally one of the Three Studies and Six Perfections (三学六度 [san xue liu du]). The First Patriarch, Bodhidharma (达磨 [da mo]), an Indian (天竺 [tian zhu]) person, came to China (支那 [zhi na]) during the Liang and Wei (梁魏 [liang wei]) Dynasties to transmit the Buddha Mind School (佛心宗 [fu xin zong]). His method involved only silent sitting and meditation to realize the Buddha mind, consolidating effort. Its outward form was akin to Dhyana (禅那 [chan na]), hence it was called Zen Buddhism (禅宗 [chan zong]). What is referred to as Zen Buddhism (禅宗 [chan zong]) is not merely the Dhyana (禅那 [chan na]) component of the Three Studies and Six Perfections (三学六度 [san xue liu du]). This led to the emergence of terms like Tathagata Zen (如来禅 [ru lai chan]) and Patriarchal Zen (祖师禅 [zu shi chan]). According to the scriptures and treatises, the Dhyana (禅那 [chan na]) included within the Six Perfections (六度 [liu du]) is called Tathagata Zen (如来禅 [ru lai chan]), while the mind-seal (心印 [xin yin]) transmitted by Bodhidharma (达磨 [da mo]) is called Patriarchal Zen (祖师禅 [zu shi chan]). Therefore, from the original meaning of this school, it would be more appropriate to call it the Buddha Mind School (佛心宗 [fu xin zong]) rather than Zen Buddhism (禅宗 [chan zong]). Shakyamuni Buddha (释尊 [shi zun]) picked up a flower (拈华 [nian hua]) at the Vulture Peak (灵山 [ling shan]) assembly, and Mahakasyapa (迦叶 [jia ye]) smiled, becoming the First Patriarch. Twenty-eight generations later, the lineage reached Bodhidharma (达磨 [da mo]), who became the First Patriarch in the Eastern Land (东土 [dong tu]) (China). He faced the wall for nine years (面壁九年 [mian bi jiu nian]) at Shaolin Temple (少林寺 [shao lin si]), transmitting the wordless mind-seal (心印 [xin yin]) through wordlessness. Huike (慧可 [hui ke]) received his mind-seal (心印 [xin yin]) and became the Second Patriarch. Sengcan (僧璨 [seng can]) was the Third Patriarch. Daoxin (道信 [dao xin]) was the Fourth Patriarch. Hongren (弘忍 [hong ren]) was the Fifth Patriarch. Below Hongren (弘忍 [hong ren]), there were two great masters, Huineng (慧能 [hui neng]) and Shenxiu (神秀 [shen xiu]). Huineng's (慧能 [hui neng]) Zen spread in the southern regions, hence it was called the Southern School (南宗 [nan zong]). Shenxiu's (神秀 [shen xiu]) teachings flourished in the northern regions, hence it was called the Northern School (北宗 [bei zong]). The Northern School (北宗 [bei zong]) retained traces of Tathagata Zen (如来禅 [ru lai chan]), while the Southern School (南宗 [nan zong]) truly grasped the essence of Patriarchal Zen (祖师禅 [zu shi chan]). Under the Sixth Patriarch Huineng (慧能 [hui neng]), two lineages emerged: Nanyue (南岳 [nan yue]) and Qingyuan (青原 [qing yuan]). Nanyue's (南岳 [nan yue]) lineage was passed to Mazu (马祖 [ma zu]), and Qingyuan's (青原 [qing yuan]) to Shitou (石头 [shi tou]). The lineage under Mazu (马祖 [ma zu]) flourished uniquely, further developing and dividing into the Five Houses (五家 [wu jia]): Weiyang (沩仰 [wei yang]), Caodong (曹洞 [cao dong]), Linji (临济 [lin ji]), Yunmen (云门 [yun men]), and Fayan (法眼 [fa yan]). By the Song Dynasty (宋朝 [song chao]), two additional branches, Yangqi (杨岐 [yang qi]) and Huanglong (黄龙 [huang long]), were appended under Linji (临济 [lin ji]). Altogether, these are known as the Five Houses and Seven Schools (五家七宗 [wu jia qi zong]). The term Zen Buddhism (禅宗 [chan zong]), according to records, originated during the Li Tang (李唐 [li tang]) Dynasty.
禪宗—【流派】以禪那為示，故名。禪那或譯思惟修，或譯靜慮，為思惟真理靜息念慮之法，原為三學六度之一。初祖達磨天竺人，梁魏之世，來支那傳佛心宗，其法唯靜坐默念，發明佛心，凝工夫而已，其外相一等於禪那，故稱為禪宗。所謂禪宗者，非三學六度之一分禪，於是而如來禪，祖師禪之稱起。以經論所說，六度所攝之禪為如來禪，達磨所傳之心印為祖師禪。故由彼宗之本義言之，則與其謂為禪宗。毋寧目為佛心宗為適當。釋尊在靈山會上拈華，迦葉破顏微笑，為第一祖。二十八傳，至達磨。為東土初祖。在少林寺面壁九年，是教無言之心印於無言也。慧可得其心印為二祖。僧璨為三祖。道信為四祖。弘忍為五祖。弘忍之下，有慧能神秀二大師，慧能之禪，行於南地，故稱南宗，神秀之化，盛於北地，故稱北宗。而北宗不免如來禪之迹，南宗的得祖師禪之神髓。六祖慧能之下，生南嶽青原兩系。南嶽傳於馬祖，青原傳於石頭。馬祖之下獨盛，轉傳而分溈仰曹洞臨濟雲門法眼之五家。至宋朝，臨濟之下又附楊岐黃龍之二流。總是五家七宗。案禪宗之稱，始於李唐。
[liú pài] yǐ chán nà wèi shì, gù míng. chán nà huò yì sī wéi xiū, huò yì jìng lǜ, wèi sī wéi zhēn lǐ jìng xī niàn lǜ zhī fǎ, yuán wèi sān xué liù dù zhī yī. chū zǔ dá mó tiān zhú rén, liáng wèi zhī shì, lái zhī nà chuán fú xīn zōng, qí fǎ wéi jìng zuò mò niàn, fā míng fú xīn, níng gōng fū ér yǐ, qí wài xiāng yī děng yú chán nà, gù chēng wèi chán zōng. suǒ wèi chán zōng zhě, fēi sān xué liù dù zhī yī fēn chán, yú shì ér rú lái chán, zǔ shī chán zhī chēng qǐ. yǐ jīng lùn suǒ shuō, liù dù suǒ shè zhī chán wèi rú lái chán, dá mó suǒ chuán zhī xīn yìn wèi zǔ shī chán. gù yóu bǐ zōng zhī běn yì yán zhī, zé yǔ qí wèi wèi chán zōng. wú níng mù wèi fú xīn zōng wèi shì dāng. shì zūn zài líng shān huì shàng niān huá, jiā yè pò yán wēi xiào, wèi dì yī zǔ. èr shí bā chuán, zhì dá mó. wèi dōng tǔ chū zǔ. zài shǎo lín sì miàn bì jiǔ nián, shì jiào wú yán zhī xīn yìn yú wú yán yě. huì kě dé qí xīn yìn wèi èr zǔ. sēng càn wèi sān zǔ. dào xìn wèi sì zǔ. hóng rěn wèi wǔ zǔ. hóng rěn zhī xià, yǒu huì néng shén xiù èr dà shī, huì néng zhī chán, xíng yú nán de, gù chēng nán zōng, shén xiù zhī huà, shèng yú běi de, gù chēng běi zōng. ér běi zōng bù miǎn rú lái chán zhī jī, nán zōng de dé zǔ shī chán zhī shén suǐ. liù zǔ huì néng zhī xià, shēng nán yuè qīng yuán liǎng xì. nán yuè chuán yú mǎ zǔ, qīng yuán chuán yú shí tóu. mǎ zǔ zhī xià dú shèng, zhuǎn chuán ér fēn wéi yǎng cáo dòng lín jì yún mén fǎ yǎn zhī wǔ jiā. zhì sòng cháo, lín jì zhī xià yòu fù yáng qí huáng lóng zhī èr liú. zǒng shì wǔ jiā qī zōng. àn chán zōng zhī chēng, shǐ yú lǐ táng.
[liu pai] yi chan na wei shi, gu ming. chan na huo yi si wei xiu, huo yi jing lu, wei si wei zhen li jing xi nian lu zhi fa, yuan wei san xue liu du zhi yi. chu zu da mo tian zhu ren, liang wei zhi shi, lai zhi na chuan fu xin zong, qi fa wei jing zuo mo nian, fa ming fu xin, ning gong fu er yi, qi wai xiang yi deng yu chan na, gu cheng wei chan zong. suo wei chan zong zhe, fei san xue liu du zhi yi fen chan, yu shi er ru lai chan, zu shi chan zhi cheng qi. yi jing lun suo shuo, liu du suo she zhi chan wei ru lai chan, da mo suo chuan zhi xin yin wei zu shi chan. gu you bi zong zhi ben yi yan zhi, ze yu qi wei wei chan zong. wu ning mu wei fu xin zong wei shi dang. shi zun zai ling shan hui shang nian hua, jia ye po yan wei xiao, wei di yi zu. er shi ba chuan, zhi da mo. wei dong tu chu zu. zai shao lin si mian bi jiu nian, shi jiao wu yan zhi xin yin yu wu yan ye. hui ke de qi xin yin wei er zu. seng can wei san zu. dao xin wei si zu. hong ren wei wu zu. hong ren zhi xia, you hui neng shen xiu er da shi, hui neng zhi chan, xing yu nan de, gu cheng nan zong, shen xiu zhi hua, sheng yu bei de, gu cheng bei zong. er bei zong bu mian ru lai chan zhi ji, nan zong de de zu shi chan zhi shen sui. liu zu hui neng zhi xia, sheng nan yue qing yuan liang xi. nan yue chuan yu ma zu, qing yuan chuan yu shi tou. ma zu zhi xia du sheng, zhuan chuan er fen wei yang cao dong lin ji yun men fa yan zhi wu jia. zhi song chao, lin ji zhi xia you fu yang qi huang long zhi er liu. zong shi wu jia qi zong. an chan zong zhi cheng, shi yu li tang.
禪宗 t = 禅宗 s = chán zōng p refers to [proper noun] “Chan School of Buddhism; Zen”; Domain: Buddhism 佛教 [fu jiao] , Subdomain: China , Concept: School 宗 [zong]; Notes: One of the Eight Schools of Chinese Buddhism 八大宗派 [ba da zong pai] (BL 'chan zong', p. 179; FE '禪宗 [chan zong]'; SH '禪宗 [chan zong]', p. 460; Wikipedia '禅宗 [chan zong]') .
Chinese Buddhism (漢傳佛教, hanchuan fojiao) is the form of Buddhism that developed in China, blending Mahayana teachings with Daoist and Confucian thought. Its texts are mainly in Classical Chinese, based on translations from Sanskrit. Major schools include Chan (Zen), Pure Land, Tiantai, and Huayan. Chinese Buddhism has greatly influenced East Asian religion and culture.
Languages of India and abroad
Chinese-English dictionary
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
禪宗 [chán zōng] [chan zong]—
1. A school of Chinese Buddhism. It emphasizes meditation (禪觀 [chan guan]) and de-emphasizes doctrine (教理 [jiao li]), claiming a special transmission outside the scriptures (教外別傳 [jiao wai bie chuan]). Bodhidharma (菩提達摩 [pu ti da mo]) is regarded as the first patriarch, followed by Huike (慧可 [hui ke]), Sengcan (僧璨 [seng can]), Daoxin (道信 [dao xin]), and Hongren (弘忍 [hong ren]). After Hongren, it split into the Southern School of Huineng (慧能 [hui neng]) and the Northern School of Shenxiu (神秀 [shen xiu]). The Northern School emphasized gradual cultivation (漸修 [jian xiu]), while the Southern School advocated sudden enlightenment (頓悟 [dun wu]). After Hongren's death, Shenxiu of the Northern School greatly propagated the school's style in Chang'an (長安 [zhang an]) and Luoyang (洛陽 [luo yang]). After the mid-Tang dynasty, the Southern School became the orthodox lineage of Zen Buddhism and formed the five houses: Caodong (曹洞 [cao dong]), Yunmen (雲門 [yun men]), Fayan (法眼 [fa yan]), Weiyang (溈仰 [wei yang]), and Linji (臨濟 [lin ji]). However, after the Song dynasty, only the Caodong and Linji lineages remained. It is also known as the "Buddha-mind School" (佛心宗 [fu xin zong]).
2. The essence of Zen practice. 〈Preface to Resolving Doubts on the Correct Principles of Sudden Enlightenment of the Mahayana〉 (〈頓悟大乘正理決 [dun wu da cheng zheng li jue]．敘 [xu]〉): "Illuminating the precept pearl in the field of emotions, penetrating the Zen school in the waters of samadhi."
禪宗：1.中國佛教宗派。特重禪觀，不重教理，自稱教外別傳。以菩提達摩為初祖，下傳慧可、僧璨、道信、弘忍，弘忍之後分成南宗慧能，北宗神秀二派。北宗強調漸修，南宗主頓悟。弘忍圓寂後，北宗神秀大闡宗風於長安、洛陽。中唐以後，南宗成為禪宗的正統，並形成曹洞、雲門、法眼、溈仰、臨濟五家。但宋朝以後則僅存曹洞、臨濟二脈。也稱為「佛心宗」。
2.禪法的精髓。〈頓悟大乘正理決．敘〉：「朗戒珠於情田，洞禪宗於定水。」
chán zōng:1. zhōng guó fú jiào zōng pài. tè zhòng chán guān, bù zhòng jiào lǐ, zì chēng jiào wài bié chuán. yǐ pú tí dá mó wèi chū zǔ, xià chuán huì kě,, sēng càn,, dào xìn,, hóng rěn, hóng rěn zhī hòu fēn chéng nán zōng huì néng, běi zōng shén xiù èr pài. běi zōng qiáng diào jiàn xiū, nán zōng zhǔ dùn wù. hóng rěn yuán jì hòu, běi zōng shén xiù dà chǎn zōng fēng yú zhǎng ān,, luò yáng. zhōng táng yǐ hòu, nán zōng chéng wèi chán zōng de zhèng tǒng, bìng xíng chéng cáo dòng,, yún mén,, fǎ yǎn,, wéi yǎng,, lín jì wǔ jiā. dàn sòng cháo yǐ hòu zé jǐn cún cáo dòng,, lín jì èr mài. yě chēng wèi “fú xīn zōng” .
2. chán fǎ de jīng suǐ.〈dùn wù dà chéng zhèng lǐ jué． xù〉: “lǎng jiè zhū yú qíng tián, dòng chán zōng yú dìng shuǐ.”
chan zong:1. zhong guo fu jiao zong pai. te zhong chan guan, bu zhong jiao li, zi cheng jiao wai bie chuan. yi pu ti da mo wei chu zu, xia chuan hui ke,, seng can,, dao xin,, hong ren, hong ren zhi hou fen cheng nan zong hui neng, bei zong shen xiu er pai. bei zong qiang diao jian xiu, nan zong zhu dun wu. hong ren yuan ji hou, bei zong shen xiu da chan zong feng yu zhang an,, luo yang. zhong tang yi hou, nan zong cheng wei chan zong de zheng tong, bing xing cheng cao dong,, yun men,, fa yan,, wei yang,, lin ji wu jia. dan song chao yi hou ze jin cun cao dong,, lin ji er mai. ye cheng wei "fu xin zong" .
2. chan fa de jing sui.
禪宗 t = 禅宗 s = chán zōng p refers to “Zen Buddhism”.
闡總 t = 阐总 s = chǎn zǒng p refers to [verb] “to explain and summarize”; Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文 [wen yan wen]; Notes: (GHDC '阐总 [chan zong]') .
1) 禪宗 [chán zōng] refers to: (1) “meditation school”; Alternatively: (1) “Chan zong” [Chinese school name]; Alternatively: (1) “Zen shū” [Japanese school name]; Alternatively: (1) “Seon jong” [Korean school name].
禪宗 is further associated with the following language/terms:
[Vietnamese] thiền tông.
[Korean] 선종 / Seonjong.
[Japanese] ゼンシュウ / Zenshū.
2) 禅宗 [chán zōng] refers to: “Chan school”.
Chinese language.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Zong, Wan, Chan, Can, Songa.
Starts with: Chan zong ci dian chan lin xiang qi jian, Chan zong er shi si liu, Chan zong jue yi ji, Chan zong lian deng lu, Chan zong qi zu, Chan zong san zu, Chan zong song gu, Chan zong wu men guan, Chan zong yong jia ji, Chan zong yong jia ji ke zhu shuo yi, Chan zong yu ren jian fu jiao xue shu yan tao hui, Chan zong za du hai.
Full-text (+209): Chan zong yong jia ji, Chan zong ci dian chan lin xiang qi jian, Chan jia, Da mo zong, Chan lu, Xin zong, Chan zong er shi si liu, Chan zong wu men guan, Jiu zong, Chan zong san zu, Liu zu, Chan zong song gu, Chan zong jue yi ji, Chan zong yong jia ji ke zhu shuo yi, Chan zong lian deng lu, Chan zong yu ren jian fu jiao xue shu yan tao hui, Cong liu zu tan jing tan chan zong jiao xue de te zhi, Cong jiao xue shou dao tan dao chan zong de te se, Cong liu zu tan jing tan dao chan zong jiao xue de te zhi, Jiang zong.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Chan zong, Chán zōng, Chǎn zǒng, Chánzōng, Chanzong, Chǎnzǒng, 禅宗, 禪宗, 闡總; (plurals include: Chan zongs, Chán zōngs, Chǎn zǒngs, Chánzōngs, Chanzongs, Chǎnzǒngs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Lineages as Network < [Volume 14, Issue 2 (2023)]
Vernacular Language and the Wu Dialect in the Formation of a Chan Koine and... < [Volume 14, Issue 9 (2023)]
Regional Buddhist Communities in Tang China and Their Social Networks < [Volume 14, Issue 3 (2023)]
Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies
‘Introduction’ to the Forthcoming Histories of Chan (Zen) < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 5.2 (2022)]
The Relationship Between the Tangut Art and Textual Heritage: Some Observations < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 1.2 (2018)]
Against Epigraphy: Once More a Visit to Zen and History < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 3.2 (2020)]
Buddha-nature (as Depicted in the Lankavatara-sutra) (by Nguyen Dac Sy)
Glossary Of Chinese Characters
2.1. The Thought of Buddha-nature in Chan < [Chapter 6 - Further Development of the Thought of Buddha-nature in China]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)