It’s also called The Circle of Enlightenment and The Infinity Circle. The Ensō Circle is a sacred symbol in Zen Buddhism and is very frequently seen in Japanese calligraphy, even though it’s not an actual calligraphy character. There are many Zen symbols we can mention but the most popular ones are probably these 9 symbols: 1. Many of the symbols we view as “Zen symbols” today come from Zen Buddhism with many others also featuring in Taoism, Confucianism, and even Islam. In this type of Buddhism, Zen encompasses a wide range of religious practices, traditions, and beliefs. Zen is also featured in Buddhism – in fact, there’s a whole separate type of Zen Buddhism, which is a mixture of Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. the order of the Universe which the Taoists try to follow as they live their life.Īs Taoism is the oldest Chinese religion, it’s viewed as the first to adopt Zen. In Taoism, for example, Zen is often used as a synonym of Tao, or The Way, i.e. This is pretty much how most East Asian religious view Zen. Regardless of which of the three terms we use, Zen is associated with peace, mindfulness, awareness, insight, and the nature of the human mind. That term itself is a Chinese translation of the Sanskrit word dhyāna which means meditation – this is viewed as the original meaning of Zen. The term “Zen” is actually not Chinese – it’s derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese term chán, an abbreviation of chánnà. The concept of Zen can be found in various religions, philosophies, and cultures throughout East Asia. What exactly is Zen, and what are the most popular Zen symbols? Zen – a Type of Buddhism, Taoism, or Something Else? Popular across the world, Zen is also often somewhat misunderstood. Zen symbolism is at the core of most of the ancient Chinese religions and is alive and well to this day. Zen – a Type of Buddhism, Taoism, or Something Else?.

Zen den sign