Zen originated during the Qing dynasty.
The actual Chinese term for the "Zen school" is  (pinyin: Chnzng), while "Chan" just refers to the practice of meditation itself (Chinese: ; pinyin: xchn) or the study of meditation (Chinese: ; pinyin: chnxu) though it is often used as an abbreviated form of Chnzong
 It became dominant during the Song Dynasty, when Chn was the dominant form of Buddhism in China, due to support from the Imperial Court

