禅

• 読み: ぜん
• ローマ字: zen
• 漢字の分解: 禅 (zen) — Zen, meditation, contemplation
• 発音: /zeɴ/

意味

Zen; a school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasising meditation and direct insight.

A noun referring to the Zen tradition of Buddhism, which stresses zazen (seated meditation) and the pursuit of enlightenment through direct experience rather than scripture. Major Japanese Zen schools include 臨済宗 (Rinzai) and 曹洞宗 (Soutou). Common compounds: 禅寺 (zendera, Zen temple), 座禅 (zazen, seated meditation), 禅問答 (zen mondou, Zen dialogue/riddle). The word has entered English as 'Zen.'

例文

1. 京都の禅寺で座禅を体験した。
2. 禅の考え方は海外でも人気がある。
3. 毎朝十分間の禅を心がけている。

使い方ガイド

場面: religion, philosophy, mindfulness

トーン: contemplative

起源と歴史

From Sanskrit dhyāna (meditation), transliterated into Chinese as 禪那 (chánna), shortened to 禪/禅. The character combines 示 (altar/spiritual) and 単 (simple), reflecting the simplicity central to Zen practice.

文化的背景

時代: Medieval

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal