Author(s)

Zhang Yinan ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-Ro, Buk-Gu, Gwangju 61186, Korea

Corresponding Author

Zhang Yinan

ABSTRACT

"Non-reliance on words and letters, a teaching transmitted outside the scriptures," is a cornerstone of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. This paper examines the evolution and contemporary relevance of this concept, tracing its cognitive implications from ancient illiterate societies to the modern information age. We explore the genealogical roots of "non-reliance on words" in Prajna philosophy, analyze its core tenets within Chan Buddhism, and elucidate its cognitive rationality, emphasizing intuitive understanding beyond linguistic constraints. The paper further investigates the historical practice and adaptation of "non-reliance on words" in ancient China, particularly in addressing knowledge dissemination challenges. Reflecting on the modern information overload and the limitations of "closed language," we draw insights from philosophy of language and explore multimodal communication as a path to transcend “logocentrism.” Finally, we consider the implications of "non-reliance on words" for artificial intelligence, examining pattern recognition in deep learning, multimodal AI for emotion understanding, and envisioning future human-computer collaboration based on non-verbal cognition. This study demonstrates that "non-reliance on words" is not merely a Zen practice but a profound cognitive insight with enduring value for enhancing human cognition, improving information dissemination, and shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

KEYWORDS

Non-reliance on Words, Chan Buddhism, Non-verbal Thinking, Intuitive Understanding, Multimodal Cognition, Artificial Intelligence

CITE THIS PAPER

Zhang Yinan, "Non-Reliance on Words" in Ancient and Modern Contexts: Cognitive Evolution from Illiteracy to the Information Age. Lecture Notes on Language and Literature (2025) Vol. 8: 66-75. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/langl.2025.080110.

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