Zen in the Art of Archery

A classic work on Eastern philosophy, and a charming, deeply illuminating story of one man’s experience with Zen.

Eugen Herrigel, a German professor of Philosophy in Tokyo, took up the study of archery as a step toward an understanding of Zen Buddhism. This book is the account of the six years he spent as a student of one of Japan’s great kyudo (archery) masters, and of how he gradually overcame his initial inhibitions and began to feel his way toward new truths and ways of seeing.

“"In this wonderful . . . and illuminating account . . . the Western reader will find a more familiar manner of dealing with what very often must seem to be a strange and somewhat unapproachable Eastern experience." --from the introduction by Daisetz T. Suzuki”

“In this wonderful . . . and illuminating account . . . the Western reader will find a more familiar manner of dealing with what very often must seem to be a strange and somewhat unapproachable Eastern experience.” —from the introduction by Daisetz T. Suzuki

EUGEN HERRIGEL was a German professor who taught philosophy at the University of Tokyo between the wars. In endeavoring to become a Zen mystic, he penetrated deeply and personally into the theory and practice of Zen Buddhism and subjected himself to the rigorous discipline of training with a Zen Master for six years. Zen in the Art of Archery is the account of this experience and his The Method of Zen is also available from Vintage Books. Professor Herrigel died in 1955.

"In this wonderful...and illuminating account...the Western reader will find a more familiar manner of dealing with what very often must seem to be a strange and somewhat unapproachable Eastern experience." -from the introduction by Daisetz T. Suzuki "If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an 'artless art' growing out of the Unconscious." Zen in the Art of Archery is a charming and deeply illuminating story of one man's experience with Zen. Eugen Herrigel, a German professor of philosophy in Tokyo, took up the study of archery as a step toward an understanding of Zen Buddhism. This is the account of the six years he spent as a student of one of Japan's great kyudo (archery) masters, and of how he gradually overcame his initial inhibitions and began to feel his way toward new truths and ways of seeing. Since its original publication, Zen in the Art of Archery has become one of the classic works on Eastern philosophy.

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