Canon

For the word "Cannon", see Cannon (disambiguation).

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

"Canon" also has many other uses; most given here are derived from the primary meaning above, but some are unrelated.

Business

• Canon Inc., a Japanese corporation that specializes in imaging and optical products including consumer photographic cameras. (See the article for the origins of the name).

Literature

In literature, canon refers to a fixed collection of texts, such as:

• Western 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.

Film

Film canon is the limited number of masterpieces by which all other films are judged.

Music

• Canon (music), a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations; e.g. Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major.
• Kanun (Instrument), a stringed instrument also spelled as canon.

Religion

Christian theological or ecclesiastical contexts

• Biblical canon - a list published by a religious authority of those books of the Bible that are considered inspired by God.
• Taoist canon
• 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.

Other religions

• Qanun
• the Hindu canon of Shruti texts
• Tripitaka, the Buddhist canon

Other uses

• 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 canon, ultimately also cognate to cane).

See also

• Canonization
• Cannon (disambiguation)