Chan (, of ), from Sanskrit dhyana, meaning "meditation" or "meditative state") is a school of Mahayana Buddhism developed in China from the 6th century CE onwards, becoming dominant during the Tang and Song dynasties. After the Yuan, Chan more or less fused with Pure Land Buddhism.

Zen (, Middle Chinese: ) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty as Chán. It was strongly influenced by Taoism, and developed as a distinguished Chinese style of Buddhism. From China, Chán spread south to Vietnam, northeast to Korea and east to Japan, where it became known as Japanese Zen.

Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism notable for its emphasis on practice and experiential wisdom.