公こう案あん

noun

koan; Zen meditation question

A paradoxical question or statement used in Zen practice to provoke enlightenment. The term is specific to Buddhism.

• 禅ぜん僧そうは公こう案あんを解とくために座ざ禅ぜんを組くむ。

  A Zen monk sits in meditation to solve a koan.

• 「隻せき手しゅの声こえ」は有ゆう名めいな公こう案あんの一ひとつだ。

  "The sound of one hand clapping" is one of the famous koans.