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koan

[ koh-ahn ]

noun

, Zen.
, plural ko·ans, ko·an.
  1. a nonsensical or paradoxical question to a student for which an answer is demanded, the stress of meditation on the question often being illuminating.


koan

/ ˈkəʊæn /

noun

  1. (in Zen Buddhism) a problem or riddle that admits no logical solution
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of koan1

1945–50; < Japanese kōan, earlier koũ-an < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese gōngàn public proposal
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Word History and Origins

Origin of koan1

from Japanese
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Example Sentences

A famous koan asks the novitiate to describe her face before she was born.

This is one of the meanings of the famous Zen koan, “If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him.”

This is a Zen koan of American political thought, a perfect yin and yang.

The question of how to combat 9/11 amnesia while moving forward can feel like a Zen koan.

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