ChanZen

ChanZen is a contemporary term used to describe a cross-cultural approach to East Asian Buddhism that blends elements of Chan (Chinese Zen) and Zen (Japanese Zen). The label is encountered in scholarly writing, Buddhist publications, and lay practice communities to signal dialogue between the two lineages, which share historical roots in the Chan schools that emerged in China and later influenced Japanese Zen.

Practices associated with ChanZen typically include silent seated meditation (zazen in the Japanese tradition or zuochan in Chinese usage), walking meditation (kinhin), and study of koans or gong'an where appropriate. The approach also emphasizes mindfulness and ethical living in everyday activities, with an emphasis on direct experiential insight and a teacher-student transmission of insight rather than blind ritual.

Historically, ChanZen is not a single historic school but a modern descriptor for people and groups that intentionally bring together Chan and Zen materials, chants, and meditation styles. In contemporary settings, it can function as a practical framework for meditation communities seeking to bridge Chinese and Japanese Buddhist influences, as well as a topic of study for scholars exploring cross-cultural transmission in East Asian Buddhism.

Critics of the term warn that it can obscure distinct historical developments and diverse doctrinal emphases within Chan and Zen. Proponents argue that ChanZen offers a flexible, inclusive pathway for practitioners navigating global Buddhist communities.

See also: Chan Buddhism; Zen; Gong’an/Koan; Zazen.