a paradoxical anecdote or riddle without a solution, used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and provoke enlightenment (佛教禅宗的)公案(悖论性轶事或不解之谜,用以论证逻辑推理的不充分并启迪迷悟)
语源
Japanese, literally matter for public thought', from Chinese gōngàn 'official business'