koan
UK[ˈkəʊ.æn]US[ˈkoʊ.ɑːn]
n
A paradoxical anecdote, question, or statement used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment.
Etymology
The word 'koan' is a direct borrowing from Japanese, where it is written 公案. This Japanese term itself originates from the Chinese 'gōng'àn', a compound from the Middle Chinese period. The literal meaning of the Chinese components is 'public' (gōng) and 'case' or 'legal precedent' (àn). In its original Chinese context, it referred to a public document or a legal case that set a precedent. Zen Buddhism adopted this term metaphorically, likening these spiritual puzzles to public cases or precedents that a student must resolve to advance in understanding. Thus, the journey from a secular legal term to a core concept in meditative practice illustrates the metaphorical repurposing of language within a specific religious and philosophical tradition.
Analysis
This is a loanword from Japanese. It is not productively segmented using English morphemes.
Examples
The master presented the new student with a classic koan: "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"
Pondering the koan for weeks, she finally experienced a sudden flash of insight.
His book explores the use of koans as tools for breaking conventional patterns of thought.