禅 宗(ぜんしゅう)

ぜんしゅう

noun

Zen Buddhism; Zen sect

academic

1. Zen Buddhism, Zen sect

A major school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes meditation (zazen) and direct insight into one's true nature rather than doctrinal study. Introduced to Japan from China in the Kamakura period, it profoundly influenced Japanese arts, architecture, and aesthetics.

禅宗(ぜんしゅう)の寺(てら)を訪(たず)ねた。

I visited a Zen temple.

禅宗(ぜんしゅう)は鎌倉(かまくら)時代(じだい)に中国(ちゅうごく)から日本(にほん)に伝(つた)わった。

Zen Buddhism was transmitted from China to Japan in the Kamakura period.

禅宗(ぜんしゅう)の教(おし)えは武士(ぶし)の間(あいだ)で広(ひろ)まり、日本(にほん)の文化(ぶんか)や美意識(びいしき)に大(おお)きな影響(えいきょう)を与(あた)えた。

Zen teachings spread among the warrior class and had a great influence on Japanese culture and aesthetics.

Usage

Refers collectively to the Zen schools of Buddhism in Japan. The major Zen sects are 臨済宗(りんざいしゅう) (Rinzai), 曹洞宗(そうとうしゅう) (Soto), and 黄檗宗(おうばくしゅう) (Obaku). Zen Buddhism had a profound influence on Japanese culture, including 枯山水(かれさんすい) (dry landscape gardens), 茶道(さどう) (tea ceremony), and 水墨画(すいぼくが) (ink wash painting).

Key concepts

座禅(ざぜん): seated meditation, the central practice of Zen
悟(さと)り: enlightenment, the goal of Zen practice
公案(こうあん): Zen riddle or paradox used in meditation

Common collocations

禅宗(ぜんしゅう)の寺院(じいん): Zen temple
禅宗(ぜんしゅう)の僧侶(そうりょ): Zen monk
禅宗(ぜんしゅう)の教(おし)え: Zen teachings

general

Added 2026.2.28 8:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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