Zen and Art

In August this year, a large-scale "book clearing plan" was carried out: I worked hard to read the books I bought. Of course, this is an impossible task, since buying books is much faster than reading, but only do your best. The following books were read under this circumstance.

This book was bought in the bookcase at the foot of the Qifenyi Bookstore@Southeast Building. I remember when the store manager Rachel introduced this book to me, he said that a photographer friend introduced this book because the master photographer was full of praise for this book. The waist of the book does have this recommendation, and the website also records it. However, what attracted me to buy this book and read it came from an unfulfilled dream.

When I was in middle school, I liked reading Japanese novels, especially the Warring States period, which was mentioned in other articles before. At that time, I wanted to learn kendo in the past. It is a pity that for some reason it cannot be achieved, so I can only go to the Japanese bookstore in Causeway Bay every month and buy the monthly Kendo magazine to fill the regret in my heart. The books introduced this time are not related to kendo, but they are all Japanese martial arts: the art of arrows. The book is called "Arrow Art and Zen Heart", and the author is Ogan. Harrig.

Yes, this is a story of a foreigner learning archery. Organ. Herigger was a German philosopher. He really wanted to understand the meaning of Zen, but for him, reading books about Zen was incomprehensible, probably because he had always accepted the Western philosophical thinking mode. So, he decided to go to Japan to learn archery, so as to understand the truth of Zen. This book is to record the process.

When reading this book, it is not difficult to see the difference between Western and Eastern learning modes: Ogg is eager to learn archery, and learning means being able to hit the target. But the master has always asked him to learn to breathe and to cooperate with the action of drawing the bow. This kind of repeated practice seems to be meaningless to Auger. So the master explained to him:

Master then went on to explain the relationship between breathing and archery. Breathing exercises are not just for breathing. He decomposes the continuous process of drawing the bow and releasing the arrow into several steps: holding the bow, raising the arrow, raising the bow, drawing the bow and staying at maximum tension, and then releasing the arrow. Each step begins with an inhalation, holding the breath in the abdomen, and exhaling. The result is a natural coordination of breath that not only emphasizes the rhythmic process of weaving individual positions and hand movements. Although it is divided into these steps, the whole process seems to be a complete creature, and its meaning and characteristics will not be destroyed by a slight increase or decrease, and it is not at all like Western gymnastics. (pages 39, 40)

Huh? Why is it so similar to the breathing method described in "Blade of Demon Slayer"? If you are familiar with Chinese martial arts novels, this breathing method is very similar to breathing. Perhaps this is the characteristic of oriental martial arts: breathing and movement are one, and all movements are natural and not artificial.

Auger described his learning difficulties in the book: in addition to repeated practice, the master did not give much guidance, and he was often asked to comprehend. When he practiced the archery posture, he could not meet the master's request, so he tried to change the method and let the arrow shoot out. However, this practice made the master so angry that he was almost expelled from the division. I can understand Oger's mood, because this is the difference between Eastern and Western cultures on "learning art". Oger, who represents the West, feels that "learning" is his focus: being able to shoot arrows to the target means he has learned/learned. But the masters who represent the East don’t think like this. There is nothing to “learn and understand”. Every practice is a kind of practice, and no tricks are allowed to achieve the goal.

This can understand why Japanese-style apprentices do not study according to the timetable, but keep repeating monotonous exercises. Every practice is a practice, and they are to hone themselves. This can also be found in craftsmen: even though he has been doing that craft for more than ten years, he still feels that it is not enough. It is not that they are humble, but that they genuinely feel that they are still far from that realm.

Ogg's master told Ogg that archery is not for hitting the target, and he couldn't understand this statement. Later he got the answer from the Zen master:

According to Zen Master Ze'an, the reason is that students can't ignore their opponent's and their own swordsmanship; he has been thinking about how to subdue his opponent and wait for his opponent to reveal his flaws. In other words, he devoted all his time to his skills and knowledge. As a result, Zean said, he lost the sincerity of the moment, and the decisive blow was never too late for him to "beat the opponent with the opponent's sword." The more he seeks excellence in swordsmanship by his own reflexes, conscious use of technique, combat experience, and strategy, the more he hinders the free functioning of the mind. How to do this? How can skills be spiritualized? How can the control of technology become the mastery of swordsmanship? According to the Dao, the only way is to make students want nothing and no self. Students not only have to learn to forget their opponents, but also to forget themselves. He must be detached from the present stage, leaving it behind forever, even risking irreparable failure. Doesn't this sound as absurd as the claim that "the shooter can't aim to hit the target"? (page 101)

What the Zen master said was like Zhang Wuji said to Zhang Sanfeng, "I forgot everything." The more you remember every move, the more you will be trapped by the move; if you want to win, it will become a pressure, but you will not perform well.

Auger's writing about the process of learning the art of archery does not mean that he already knows the true meaning of Zen. He just opened the door of Zen through the learning process. Just like after he passed the exam, the master said to him, this is the only one who learns the art of archery. a start.

～～～～～～～～～

"Arrow Art and Zen Heart" (from blog)——
https://www.books.com.tw/products/0010882739