Definition of: Zen Buddhism

(zen)
A form of meditative Buddhism whose adherents believe in and work toward abrupt enlightenment; much emphasis is placed on the identity of nirvana and samsara, and on direct transmission of the enlightened state from master to pupil, with a minimum of words; scriptures and ritual forms are minimized, while continual meditation and practical physical labor are stressed. It originated in China when late northern Indian Buddhism came into contact with Taoism around A.D. 500, whence it acquired many Taoist features; it then spread to Japan, where it greatly influenced Japanese culture in all areas, especially in the age of the Samurai, whose feudal code, bushido, derived from Zen, as did judo and jiujitsu. [<Japanese zen meditation <Chinese chan <Skt. dhyana]