Zen in the chivalrous art of the shooting to the arc is one little book written by Eugen Herrigel (1884 - 1955), a German professor of philosophy which was interested particularly in the Mysticisme. From 1924 to 1929 he taught philosophy in Japan, and studied there the Kyudo (the Japanese art of the Tir to the arc) under the direction of the Master Awa Kenzo, who taught the kyudo in a way considered by some as a mystical religion, called Daishadokyo. Daishadokyo was an approach of the kyudo which insisted on the spiritual aspect, which differentiated it from the current practice of the time. In 1936, Herrigel wrote a test of 20 pages on its experiment, and in 1948 extended it in the form of one little book, translates into English in 1953 and Japanese in 1955.

Eugen Herrigel tells that he wants to study the Zen, discipline which the Western approach did not make it possible to include/understand at this time. It then finds the kyudo like support with this study, and in fact, the subject of the book is Zen through the kyudo, which is evoked without extending on the details. The practitioners of kyudo find in this book of disconcerting common points with the evolution and the step of their clean kyudo.

Independently of knowknowing about the book is or not a faithful portrait of the Bouddhisme Zen or shooting with the Japanese arc (kyudo), it is very well written and was a best-seller during more than 50 years. Many ideas of the books became basic principles of the zen Buddhism seen by the Westerners, for example the idea that a follower must study simple tasks during years near a Master, before being authorized to carry out more substantial tasks. The idea, can be erroneous, of synonymy between Zen and kyudo a certain interest in Japan, and particularly in the east attracted, with schools devoted to the “  shooting with the arc zen  ”.

The book contains precise ideas on the training and the engine control, which are useful lessons for any sport or physical-activity. For example, a central idea of the book is that through years of practice, an physical-activity becomes without effort, mentally and physically, as the body carries out complex and difficult movements without control conscious of the spirit.

Herrigel as follows describes Zen in the shooting with the arc: “  The archer ceases being conscious of itself as anybody applied to reach the heart of the target which faces him. This state of unconsciousness is obtained only when, completely vacuum and removed from self, it becomes one with the improvement of its technique, although there is inside something of a completely different order which can be reached by no progressive study of art…   ”.

The title “  Zen in the Art off Archery  ” is as brilliant as the book: more than 200 pounds have similar titles, including the very popular Traité Zen and maintenance of the motor cycles , of Robert Pirsig (1974). The common topic is that to achieve an ordinary task, like repairing its motor bike, can have a spiritual dimension.

Partial source

Biography

• Eugen Herrigel "Zen in the chivalrous art of the shooting to the arc" , library of the initiate, Dervy edition, Paris 1993

• "The Way of ZEN. with the editions G.P. Maisonneuve"