Zafu
/ˈzɑː.fuː/noun
A round, usually firm cushion used for seated meditation, especially in Zen practice.
Did you know?Zafu comes from Japanese 坐蒲, combining 坐, “to sit,” with 蒲, “rush” or “cattail,” recalling cushions traditionally stuffed with plant fibers.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Middle Chinese
坐蒲 (dzáˁpʰu)
“A sitting cushion or mat made with rushes”
Early Japanese
Japanese
坐蒲 (zafu)
“A cushion for sitting, adopted in Buddhist practice”
Medieval Japan
Japanese
ざふ (zafu)
“A round meditation seat or cushion”
Zen Buddhist tradition
Japanese
座蒲 (zafu)
“A cushion used for seated meditation”
20th Century
English
zafu
“A Japanese meditation cushion, especially one used in Zen”
Modern English
English
zafu
“A firm round cushion used for meditation”