By Eugen Herrigel

Zen in the Art of Archery is a 1948 book by German philosopher Eugen Herrigel (1884–1955), recounting his experiences learning Kyudo, the Japanese art of archery, under the master Awa Kenzo during his time in Japan in the 1920s. This work is credited with introducing Zen philosophy to Western audiences in the late 1940s and 1950s. The book explores the process of motor learning, highlighting the importance of allowing unconscious control in physical activities. Herrigel argues that, with extensive practice, complex movements become automatic and effortless, a concept now known as “muscle memory,” challenging the Western belief that all actions must be consciously controlled. This is one of the classic books on Budo.