Canon - Misplaced Pages

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Canon from Greek kanon "rule" (perhaps originally from kanna "reed", cognate to cane) is used in various meanings. The pertaining adjective is canonical.

Uses of "canon" related to the primary meaning above include:

In Christian theological or ecclesiastical contexts:
- Canon law, all legislation adopted by an ecumenical council, most notably found in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Communion of churches
  - Canon law (Catholic Church), the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church specifically
  - A specific body of such laws on a given subject, e.g. penitential canons
- Canon (hymnography), a type of Eastern Orthodox hymn.
- the canon of saints, see Canonization.
- Canon (priest), a Christian priest who belongs to one of certain chapters, from Latin canonicus.
- Canon of the Mass, the name in the Roman Missal for the prayer of consecration in the mass
- another term for the altar cards containing certain eucharistic prayers

In Muslim theological and secular context:
- Qanun

In literature:
- Canon, a fixed collection of texts, such as:
  - Biblical canon
  - Western canon
  - Greek canon
  - the Hindu canon of Shruti texts
  - Tripitaka, the Buddhist canon
  - the Taoist canon
  - the Confucian canon of Chinese classic texts
  - Canon (fiction), a body of works that are considered to be "genuine" or "official" within a certain fictional universe.
In musicology:
- Canon (music), a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations; e.g. Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major

Other uses of "canon", with entirely separate origins include:

qanún, a stringed instrument also spelled as canon
Canon Inc., a Japanese corporation that specialises in imaging and optical products, named after Kuan Yin
Canons was a country estate outside of London, named after the Duke of Chandos, where the current Canons Park is located
cannon - the large tubular firearm (obsolete spelling, ultimately also cognate to cane)

See also