Zen is a school of MahÄyÄna Buddhism, referred to in Chinese as ChĆ”n. ChĆ”n is itself derived from the Sanskrit DhyÄna, which means "meditation" (see etymology below).
Zen emphasizes experiential wisdomāparticularly as realized in the form of meditation known as zazenāin the attainment of awakening, often simply called the path of enlightenment. As such, it de-emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and the study of religious texts in favor of direct, experiential realization through meditation and dharma practice.
The establishment of Zen is traditionally credited to the South Indian Pallava prince-turned-monk Bodhidharma, who is recorded as having come to China to teach a "special transmission outside scriptures" which "did not stand upon words". The emergence of Zen as a distinct school of Buddhism was first documented in China in the 7th century CE. It is thought to have developed as an amalgam of various currents in MahÄyÄna Buddhist thoughtāamong them the YogÄcÄra and Madhyamaka philosophies and the PrajƱÄpÄramitÄ literatureāand of local traditions in China, particularly Taoism and HuĆ”yĆ”n Buddhism. From China, Zen subsequently spread southwards to Vietnam and eastwards to Korea and Japan.
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