I have a new idea for the smallest unit (which may become the most widely used unit given the potential microtransactions focus), where English speakers could use 'zen' and Chinese/Japanese could use 'chan' (ch'an). Or any person could use either. The thinking behind this is that massive convergence between the youthful westerners and the Asians coming over the next 2 decades, as Armstrong's models clearly say that Asia (Singapore and Shanghai) will the financial capital of the world by 2032 (replacing respectively London and New York). The prediction is the west will collapse economically and socially, and the wealth will be in Asia. We can see this trend in motion with Europe's migrancy crisis (and a sovereign debt volcano that is soon to blow taking down major European banks). And Asia starting to lead the pop culture with for example the Korean sensation PSY and his one-hit wonder Gangnam style which swept across the USA.


I think Asian culture is coming more into vogue/fad and a "new" curiosity for westerners (and anyone not Asian, including Latin Americans, Africans, and Middle Easterners). China practically took over Peru in the past decade as I am confident OROBTC will attest. Thus instead of rehashing old terms, we could be on the forefront. However, Zen has been overused amongst internet startups, so really the 'chan' (ch'an) is the innovative term. There are 1.3 billion Chinese and they are the growing more wealthy (the future). Also Asian like something humorous and silly/cute (see the Gangnam video linked above and get some insight into Asia humor and love of cute colors such as pinks and yellows). Heck maybe we should use 'gangnams' for the smallest unit (although have to be careful not to offend the Japanese or Chinese/Koreans who apparently do not like each other, yet clearly one should prioritize the Chinese over the Japanese).

Zen
noun
1.
Chinese Ch'an. Buddhism. a Mahayana movement, introduced into China in the 6th century a.d. and into Japan in the 12th century, that emphasizes enlightenment for the student by the most direct possible means, accepting formal studies and observances only when they form part of such means.

zen = enlightenment = (in Chinese) ch'an

Note:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics

Chan (ちゃん ?) is a diminutive suffix; it expresses that the speaker finds a person endearing. In general, chan is used for babies, young children, grandparents and teenagers. It may also be used towards cute animals, lovers, close friends, any youthful woman, or between friends.

http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/titles.html

Chan (ちゃん) is a form of san used to refer to children and female family members, close friends and lovers. The change from san to chan is typical of a kind of "baby talk" in Japanese where "sh" sounds are turned into "ch" sounds, such as chitchai for chiisai, "small".

Chan is also used for adults who are considered to be kawaii (cute or loveable). For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger gained the nickname Shuwa-chan (シュワちゃん).

Chan is sometimes applied to male children if the name does not fit with the kun suffix. For example, a boy called Tetsuya may be nicknamed Tetchan rather than Tekkun for reasons more to do with phonetics than anything else.

Although it is usually said that honorifics are not applied to oneself, some women refer to themselves in the third person using chan.