canons

Canons is the plural of canon. A canon is a principle, rule, or text regarded as established and authoritative within a domain. Canons may refer to sets of laws, literary or religious texts, or accepted standards that define a field of study or practice.

In religion, a canon denotes the collection of sacred writings deemed authoritative scripture. Different faiths have different canons; Judaism recognizes the Hebrew Bible as part of the canon, while Christianity has varying Old and New Testament canons (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox). The process of determining inclusion is called canonization, and the resulting list is often accompanied by notes on theological compatibility. Some traditions separately classify additional books as deuterocanonical or apocryphal.

Canon law is the body of laws and legal procedures developed by a religious community. In the Catholic Church, canon law governs matters such as sacraments, church governance, and discipline. Other churches maintain analogous legal collections, with codes and regulations that guide ecclesiastical behavior and administration.

In music, a canon is a contrapuntal form in which a melody is imitated by one or more voices after a fixed delay. The simplest canons are rounds; more complex forms include strict canons and canons with various rhythmic or melodic alterations. Notable examples include Pachelbel’s Canon, as well as numerous medieval and Renaissance canons that explore imitation and synchronization.

In literature and culture, the term canon refers to works regarded as representative or authoritative within a tradition. The literary canon evolves over time and is the subject of debate about inclusion, diversity, and historical value. The concept of canon also extends to other arts and sciences where standard works are recognized.