Awa Kenzo

Awa Kenzo ( April 4, 1880 - March 1, 1939 ) was a Japanese kyūdō master.

Life

Awa first studied the technique of kyūdō in the tradition of Heki-ryu Sekka-ha and Heki-ryu Chikurin-ha, but after a religious enlightenment experience began to develop a very idiosyncratic conception of the path of the arch that focused on the spiritual dimension . In doing so, he consciously placed himself outside the established tradition of kyujutsu , but had numerous students and lasting influence throughout Japan. Awa's doctrine of "Daishadõ-kyõ" (Great Teaching of the Way of Shooting) aims at a holistic change of the archer in the sense of a religious enlightenment through the practice of archery .

In the western world, Awa Kenzo became known primarily as a teacher of the philosopher Eugen Herrigel .

literature

• John Stevens: Zen Bow, Zen Arow. The life and teachings of Awa Kenzo. The archery master from "Zen in the archery" . Shambala Press, Boston, Mass. 2007, ISBN 978-1-59030-442-6 .
• Yamada Shõji: The Myth of Zen in the Art of Archery . In: Japanese Journal of Religious Studies . Volume 28, Issue 1–2, 2001