A Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition.

Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China in the 12th century and has had a profound cultural influence. The aim of Zen is to achieve sudden enlightenment (satori) through meditation in a seated posture (zazen), usually under the guidance of a teacher and often using paradoxical statements (koans) to transcend rational thought

‘Among practitioners of Zen Buddhism and vipassana meditation, women were authorized to teach relatively soon after men.’