← Back to Chinese Words
禅
Chán
Literal: Meditation/Zen
TCM & PhilosophyMeaning
The Chinese origin of Zen Buddhism. Chan emphasizes direct experience over intellectual understanding, meditation over scripture, and sudden enlightenment. It influenced tea culture, martial arts, calligraphy, and garden design throughout East Asia.
Usage Example
“He approaches his calligraphy with a chan mindset — empty and present.”