Zen in the Art of Archery
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- Create Date：2021-11-11 09:53:48
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Eugen Herrigel
- ISBN：0375705090
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Summary
The path to achieving Zen （a balance between the body and the mind） is brilliantly explained by Professor Eugen Herrigel in this timeless account。
This book is the result of the author’s six year quest to learn archery in the hands of Japanese Zen masters。 It is an honest account of one man’s journey to complete abandonment of ‘the self’ and the Western principles that we use to define ourselves。 Professor Herrigel imparts knowledge from his experiences and guides the reader through physical and spiritual lessons in a clear and insightful way。
Mastering archery is not the key to achieving Zen， and this is not a practical guide to archery。 It is more a guide to Zen principles and learning and perfect for practitioners and non-practitioners alike。
This book is the result of the author’s six year quest to learn archery in the hands of Japanese Zen masters。 It is an honest account of one man’s journey to complete abandonment of ‘the self’ and the Western principles that we use to define ourselves。 Professor Herrigel imparts knowledge from his experiences and guides the reader through physical and spiritual lessons in a clear and insightful way。
Mastering archery is not the key to achieving Zen， and this is not a practical guide to archery。 It is more a guide to Zen principles and learning and perfect for practitioners and non-practitioners alike。
Reviews
Jonathan Grant
，
A brief primer on using archery to practice Zen。 Kind of missing archery right now。 Also still want to read Alan Watt's Zen book。 A brief primer on using archery to practice Zen。 Kind of missing archery right now。 Also still want to read Alan Watt's Zen book。 。。。more
Ees
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a little quaint
Nathaniel
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Not a preachy book， but a great introduction to Zen and a superficial look at how to achieve Zen。 Good for those just dipping their toe in the well of meditation。 If you have integrated sitting meditation into your life as a regular practice， this may provide some alternative views to sitting meditation which can potentially take you to the next level。
James Churchill
，
A short and fascinating read which， above all else， has let me see archery from a different perspective。 There's definitely some good things to take away from this book， but also a lot I'm not entirely sure of （the target doesn't matter， really？？？？）。 Nevertheless， I enjoyed it and if it makes me a better archer （somehow） then the price will have been worth it。 A short and fascinating read which， above all else， has let me see archery from a different perspective。 There's definitely some good things to take away from this book， but also a lot I'm not entirely sure of （the target doesn't matter， really？？？？）。 Nevertheless， I enjoyed it and if it makes me a better archer （somehow） then the price will have been worth it。 。。。more
Dr Purushothaman
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The book title itself is very attractive and meaningful。 After reading the book， I could understand the deeper meaning of Zen Philosophy and how the Zen methods awaken the human mind。 While reading the book with great enthusiasm， I was taken to another level of consciousness， leading to a new meaning in life。 I would like to recommend this book to anybody who wants to know the meaning， values and virtues of life and the methods of getting freedom from mental & emotional sufferings & feelings。 I The book title itself is very attractive and meaningful。 After reading the book， I could understand the deeper meaning of Zen Philosophy and how the Zen methods awaken the human mind。 While reading the book with great enthusiasm， I was taken to another level of consciousness， leading to a new meaning in life。 I would like to recommend this book to anybody who wants to know the meaning， values and virtues of life and the methods of getting freedom from mental & emotional sufferings & feelings。 I think that this book is a great guide and a master to know about Zen 。。。more
Nemanja Kalanovic
，
Great book about importance of Zen to the western world。The only thing I didn't like is putting swordsmenship part in the book。 The first one I read in one breath， but after it I took few days to finish the book。 It's weird， but overall it's a great book。 Great book about importance of Zen to the western world。The only thing I didn't like is putting swordsmenship part in the book。 The first one I read in one breath， but after it I took few days to finish the book。 It's weird， but overall it's a great book。 。。。more
Ioannidesz Evjeniosz
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Συγκλονιστικό！！！！！！！！！！！！
Hansel
，
Teaching Zen is better indirect through practicing arts。
Josiah Hague
，
Excellent little book that can be read in an afternoon or two， it does a very good job of explaining some of the basic experiences of zen。
Amelia
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Inspiring。
Ryan
，
A quick read with a high ratio of food for thought。 A theme that has emerged for me recently in various pieces of art， philosophy， and theology is that the fear of death is a great limiter。 Seeking out honor and virtue， or their various rhyming counterparts including alignment with It， is where the good life lies。
Logan Streondj
，
A beautiful book on perseverance and spiritual growth through the intuitive grasp of archery allowing God to work through one rather than to be the agent oneself。Very beautiful brought some tears to my eyes。
Manuel Molina Castañer
，
Excelente narracion de unas vivencias de un occidental， con inquietudes misticas， en el mundo oriental。
Arthur Krause
，
Überraschend gutes Buch！ Spannend und man kann etwas Für sein eigenes Leben lernen
Michalis Manassakis
，
I finised this booked and then i started this book again th next day。 I will read this book again and again and again。Favourite quote ''the point where the skill becomes spiritual''。 I finised this booked and then i started this book again th next day。 I will read this book again and again and again。Favourite quote ''the point where the skill becomes spiritual''。 。。。more
Ndrunella
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Un piccolo promemoria per scoprire come un lungo apprendistato， di un occidentale presso un maestro d'arco giapponese， possa permettere di cogliere quell'elemento che è capace di regalare la pace e il distacco da sé。 Un piccolo promemoria per scoprire come un lungo apprendistato， di un occidentale presso un maestro d'arco giapponese， possa permettere di cogliere quell'elemento che è capace di regalare la pace e il distacco da sé。 。。。more
Brave Ocelot
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Molto bello e riflessivo
Michael
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Interesting， short book on the study of Zen from a European perspective。 Worth the quick read！
John Traphagan
，
It's an interesting book if you want to explore Herrigel's ideas about mysticism， but it is largely useless when it comes to exploring Zen。 Herrigel had little knowledge of Japanese and seems to have imposed his ideas about mysticism on Zen and archery。 The book shows little understanding of either。 There are also concerns about his use of the book as a means to rise in the Nazi Party， as has been discussed by Yamada Shoji in his excellent book Shots in the Dark。 ZAA is an interesting read， but It's an interesting book if you want to explore Herrigel's ideas about mysticism， but it is largely useless when it comes to exploring Zen。 Herrigel had little knowledge of Japanese and seems to have imposed his ideas about mysticism on Zen and archery。 The book shows little understanding of either。 There are also concerns about his use of the book as a means to rise in the Nazi Party， as has been discussed by Yamada Shoji in his excellent book Shots in the Dark。 ZAA is an interesting read， but should not be taken as a book about Zen or Japanese philosophy/culture。 。。。more
Fer
，
Guau， que libraso， realmente hay que hacer las cosas solo por hacerlas， sin esperar una recompensa， ser libres de todo deseo， de sí mismo， y los demás， para poder ser libre， debes de desprenderte de tí， nacemos libres， y con el paso del tiempo nos vamos encadenando， y nos encadenan， debes de volver al inicio， a desprenderte de tí， de tus preocupaciones， pensamientos， y deseos， ser uno con la vida， fluir。
Argel Landeros
，
Inspirador para todos los que aspiran a convertirse en verdaderos maestros…！
Raymond Domzalski Jr。
，
A humbling read。。。Much has been made of success in modern life。 This book， although aged in certain sentiments， holds true as a reminder that the successes we all chase aren’t nearly as satisfying as the lessons and moments in which we learn along the way。 This is a great read - don’t try to compare it to anything - take it for what it is。
Sabrina
，
The concept of "Zen" in Japan， Germany and Italy has come to have fascist connotations in the last 100 years。 It is unsurprising that the author， a German professor of Philosophy， has been accused of the following: being influenced by and justifying the politics of the Nazi party in the pages of Encounter Magazine by both Arthur Koestler and Gershom Scholem。 Sholem also accuses Herrigel's widow of editing his writing and concealing his membership of the Nazi party and the Nazi organization， the The concept of "Zen" in Japan， Germany and Italy has come to have fascist connotations in the last 100 years。 It is unsurprising that the author， a German professor of Philosophy， has been accused of the following: being influenced by and justifying the politics of the Nazi party in the pages of Encounter Magazine by both Arthur Koestler and Gershom Scholem。 Sholem also accuses Herrigel's widow of editing his writing and concealing his membership of the Nazi party and the Nazi organization， the Militant League for German Culture。 Finally， Shoji Yamada claims that many of the conversations between Herrigel and Awa Kenzo were altered or completely made-up by the author。 I would recommend Zen And The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Pirsig instead。 。。。more
Misaki
，
Poteva essere un libro nozionistico ideale per un'introduzione al mondo zen e delle arti giapponesi， ma a parer mio ha usato un lessico e un linguaggio troppo "accademico" e quindi poco accessibile a tutti。 Peccato 😓 Poteva essere un libro nozionistico ideale per un'introduzione al mondo zen e delle arti giapponesi， ma a parer mio ha usato un lessico e un linguaggio troppo "accademico" e quindi poco accessibile a tutti。 Peccato 😓 。。。more
Simon Pockley
，
Somewhat stilted in style but at 81 pages， some insights into the progress and challenging facing a Zen archery student。 Fascinating to have done this in the 1950s。
Clive F
，
Eugen Herrigel wanted to learn about Zen， about its ineffable qualities， about its place in Japanese culture， and in this short volume we follow his attempts to do so by becoming a student of a Zen archery master。 Herrigel was born in Germany in 1884， and became fascinated by Japanese culture in the early 20th century。 He was attracted to the mysticism of Zen， and when he was given the opportunity to live in Japan as a university lecturer for a few years he seized this chance。 He wanted to learn Eugen Herrigel wanted to learn about Zen， about its ineffable qualities， about its place in Japanese culture， and in this short volume we follow his attempts to do so by becoming a student of a Zen archery master。 Herrigel was born in Germany in 1884， and became fascinated by Japanese culture in the early 20th century。 He was attracted to the mysticism of Zen， and when he was given the opportunity to live in Japan as a university lecturer for a few years he seized this chance。 He wanted to learn about Zen， but was told that he was wasting his time - "it was quite hopeless for a European to attempt to penetrate into this realm of spiritual life - perhaps the strangest which the Far East has to offer - unless he began by learning one of the Japanese arts associated with Zen。" He was prepared to go to any lengths to "get a bit nearer Zen"， and eventually settled upon archery "on the - as it later turned out - completely erroneous assumption that my experiences in rifle and pistol shooting would be to my advantage"。 He eventually prevailed upon one of his colleagues to introduce him to "the celebrated Master Kenzo Awa"。 After the master's initial refusal， he won the day， and both he and his wife were accepted as junior students。 He also mentions that he and his wife also attended lessons in Japanese flower arranging and painting， which "held out the prospect of my winning a still broader basis of understanding through constant comparison of these mutually complementary arts。" The rest of the book follows his attempts to master this art。 It's hard - very hard。 After a year， he is eventually able to "draw the bow 'spiritually' 。。。 that is， with a kind of effortless strength"。 Now he has to learn to loose the arrow correctly - at this point the target is a large roll of pressed straw a few paces away， so he's not even trying to aim it。 Letting go of the arrow correctly proves almost insurmountable。 "All that you have learned hitherto"， says the Master， "was only a preparation for loosing the shot"。 Initially， Herrigel thinks it's a technical issue - one must loose without jerking the arm away， as that might affect the aim。 But "Why then had the Master spoken as if the process we were now concerned with far exceeded everything we had practiced and accustomed ourselves to up till now？" There follows weeks and months of fruitless practice。 The Master explains "The shot will only go smoothly when it takes the archer himself by surprise"。 Unsurprisingly， this doesn't help poor Herrigel。 The Master says "You must hold the drawn bowstring like a little child holding the proffered finger。 It grips it so firmly that one marvels at the strength of the tiny fist。 And when it lets the finger go， there is not the slightest jerk。 Do you know why？ Because the child doesn't think: 'I will now let go of the finger in order to grasp this other thing'。"。 Herrigel objects that surely the he is drawing the bow and loosing the shot in order to hit the target。 The drawing is a means to an end， whereas the child knows nothing of this。 Ah， says the Master:"The right art is purposeless， aimless！ The more obstinately you try to learn how to shoot the arrow for the sake of hitting the goal， the less you will succeed in the one and the further the other will recede。 What stands in your way is that you have a much too willful will。 You think that what you do not do yourself does not happen。" Herrigel is deeply discouraged， and considers giving up， even though he feels he is at the crux， where the influence of Zen on the art of archery is making itself felt。 But he persists， and learns that he needs to calm his mind as he approaches his practice。 "If the shot is to be loosed right， the physical loosening must now be continual in a mental and spiritual loosening， so as to make the mind not only agile， but free: agile because of its freedom， and free because of its original agility; and this original agility is essentially different from everything that is usually understood by mental agility 。。。 there is a difference of level which cannot be overcome by breath-control alone， but only by withdrawing from all attachments whatsoever， by becoming utterly egoless: so that the soul， sunk within itself， stands in the plenitude of its nameless origin。 Herrigel is getting somewhere now， he thinks。 Breath is at the heart of it， although it's more than this。 There's a great passage here about breath mediation， which I quote in full， as it summarises beautifully what many meditators find as they learn by following the breath:This exquisite state of unconcerned immersion in oneself is not， unfortunately， of long duration。 It is liable to be disturbed from inside。 As though sprung from nowhere， moods， feelings， desires， worries and even thoughts incontinently rise up， in a meaningless jumble， and the more far-fetched and preposterous they are， they less they have to do with that on which one has fixed one's consciousness， the more tenaciously they hang on。 It is as though they wanted to avenge themselves on consciousness for having， through concentration， touched upon realms it would otherwise never reach。 The only successful way of rendering this disturbance inoperative is to keep on breathing quietly and unconcernedly， to enter into friendly relations with whatever appears on the scene， to accustom oneself to it， to look at it equably and at last grow weary of looking。 Poor Herrigel has been at this for several years now， and he still can't get past step two， loosening the arrow correctly。 At one point while on holiday he discovers a technical trick which seems to work for him， which lets the shots go off smoothly， and he's convinced he's on the right track。 When he returns， he shows his Master: "The very first shot I let off after the recommencement of the lessons was， to my mind， a brilliant success。" But the Master was appalled; after asking "Once again， please！"， he takes the bow from Herrigel， and sits on his cushion with his back towards him。 The next day， his colleague informs him that the Master declines to instruct him any further because he had tried to cheat him。 Herrigel is horrified， and eventually persuades the Master to let him continue， upon "my express promise never to offend again against the spirit of the 'Great Doctrine'"。 Herrigel is by now in his fourth year of lessons， but the Master says "The way to the goal is not to be measured！ Of what importance are weeks， months， years？"。 So Herrigel begins again。 "How can the shot be loosed if 'I' do not do it？'， he asks。 The master replies "'It' shoots"。 "And who or what is this 'It'？""Once you have understood that， you will have no further need of me。 So let's stop talking about it and go on practicing。"Herrigel falls into a depression， and would have given up if the Master hadn't held him in his grip。 Finallyone day， after a shot， the Master made a deep bow and broke off the lesson。 "Just then 'It' shot！"， he cried， as I stared at him bewildered 。。。 "What I have said，" the Master told me severely， "was not praise， only a statement that out not to touch you。 Nor was my bow meant for you， for you are entirely innocent of this shot。 You remained this time absolutely self-oblivious and without purpose in the highest tension， so the shot fell from you like a ripe fruit。 Now go on practicing as if nothing had happened。" Eventually， after a considerable time， more of his shots are like this。 Delectable indeed is this state。 Be he who has it， said the Master with a subtle smile， would do well to have it as though he did not have it。 Only unbroken equanimity can accept it in such a way that it is not afraid to come back。 Now， at long last， Herrigel graduates to the temple archery hall， where the target is sixty feet away。 After a demonstration where the Master puts two arrows in the centre of the target， Herrigel tries。 "The slender bamboo arrows flew off in the right direction， but failed to hit even the sandbank， still less the target， and buried themselves in the ground just in front of it。" The Master explains that "Your arrows do not carry because they do not reach far enough spiritually。 You must act as if the goal were infinitely far off。" The point isn't even particularly to hit the target -"if you merely hit the target with nearly every shot you are nothing more than a trick archer who likes to show off"。 The true mastery is to perform the ceremony itself with the right spirit。 The Master explains"The spider dances her web without knowing there are flies who will get caught in it。 The fly， dancing nonchalantly on a sunbeam， gets caught in the net without knowing what lies in store。 But through both of them 'It' dances， and inside and outside are united in this dance。 So， too， the archer hits the target without having aimed - more I cannot say。" Super-helpful， as ever。 After weeks and months of "the hardest schooling of my life"， Herrigel slowly gets there。 He is hitting the target in the correct way。 The Master asks him if he now understands what he means by 'It' shoots。 Herrigel replies:"I'm afraid I don't understand anything any more at all。 Even the simplest things have got in a muddle。 Is it 'I' who draw the bow， or is it the bow that draws me into the state of highest tension？ Do 'I' hit the goal， or does the goal his me？ Is 'It' spiritual when seen by the eyes of the body， and corporeal when seen by the eyes of the spirit - or both or neither？ Bow， arrow， goal an ego， all melt into one another， so that I can no longer separate them。" To which the Master replies "Now at last， the bowstring has cut right through you"。So， eventually， Herrigel passes the test， and becomes a competent archer - and， which was the whole point， a Zen practitioner。 The same lessons apply everywhere。 The hand must execute what is before the mind's eye at teh same moment that the mind begins to form it。 In his painting， for example， he says "the painters instructions might be: spend ten years observing bamboos， become a bamboo yourself， the forget everything - and paint"。 This is a very long review for a very short book。 The book attempts to convey a lifetime of Zen experience in a few dozen pages。 Does it succeed？ In the same way as all descriptions of the metaphysical， it does - by allusion， by distraction， by reminding us that we are already at the end before we even start。 。。。more
Rahul Sureka
，
An excellent book that tells much in a few pages。 The importance of looking inwards and then at nothing， in particular， cannot be highlighted more in today's world of constant distractions and bombardment of endless information。 The tendency to theoretically understand everything without really practicing has become so widespread。 It makes us think we understand so much when in reality we don't。 An excellent book that tells much in a few pages。 The importance of looking inwards and then at nothing， in particular， cannot be highlighted more in today's world of constant distractions and bombardment of endless information。 The tendency to theoretically understand everything without really practicing has become so widespread。 It makes us think we understand so much when in reality we don't。 。。。more
Don
，
One takeaway of the book， for me， was idea that there are various paths one can take toward mindfulness， and connection with the essential forces of the universe。 It is intriguing that it requires commitment， and rigorous disciplined practice， to achieve a state of surrender of one's self in order to connect with that force。 Lots more questions and discussion generated by this line of contemplation， than can be encompassed in a brief review such as this one。 One takeaway of the book， for me， was idea that there are various paths one can take toward mindfulness， and connection with the essential forces of the universe。 It is intriguing that it requires commitment， and rigorous disciplined practice， to achieve a state of surrender of one's self in order to connect with that force。 Lots more questions and discussion generated by this line of contemplation， than can be encompassed in a brief review such as this one。 。。。more
Ngan Do
，
This one is worth re-reading when we suddenly realize that we use our brain too much。 Japanese culture doesn't stop surprising me from Ikebana （art of flower arrangement） to Kyūdō （martial art of archery）。The moment we totally relaxed from inside out is the moment we stay focused effortlessly。 This one is worth re-reading when we suddenly realize that we use our brain too much。 Japanese culture doesn't stop surprising me from Ikebana （art of flower arrangement） to Kyūdō （martial art of archery）。The moment we totally relaxed from inside out is the moment we stay focused effortlessly。 。。。more
Bailey
，