When Buddhists Attack: The Curious Relationship Between Zen and the Martial Arts

by Jeffrey K. Mann, Patrick McCarthy (Foreword)

Uncover the historical truth about Buddhist warrior monks with this informative and enlightening book.

Film, television and popular fiction have long exploited the image of the serene Buddhist monk who is master of the deadly craft of hand-to-hand combat. While these media overly romanticize the relationship between a philosophy of non-violence and the art of fighting, When Buddhists Attack: The Curious Relationship Between Zen and the Martial Arts shows this link to be nevertheless real, even natural.

Exploring the origins of Buddhism and the ethos of the Japanese samurai, university professor and martial arts practitioner Jeffrey Mann traces the close connection between the Buddhist way of compassion and the way of the warrior. This zen book serves as a basic introduction to the history, philosophy, and current practice of Zen as it relates to the Japanese martial arts. It examines the elements of Zen that have found a place in budo --the martial way--such as zazen, mushin, zanshin and fudoshin , then goes on to discuss the ethics and practice of budo as a modern sport.

Offering insights into how qualities integral to the true martial artist are interwoven with this ancient religious philosophy, this Buddhism book will help practitioners reconnect to an authentic spiritual discipline of the martial arts.

Genres: Martial Arts, Buddhism, History, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Japan, Religion

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2012

Reviews

[Brendan Coster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, Mann runs you through the whole damn thing in his 'little book.' If you don't know much about the history of buddhism, meditation, how to meditate, japan, religion,history, contemporary Japan, Budho, Kata, martial arts as sports, and on, and on. Mann glosses a great deal of this, a great deal, but I suppose if you want a primer on martial arts, zen, religion, and history, you got it!

As an overview, he does a good job of melding in the disparate elements needed to have some kind of answer for, "why do buddhists fight" or "how does that relationship even exist?" My critique from the onset was that if he was going to gloss so many elements and refer the reader to other books, why not simply cutout the outlier segments and expand on the primary message more? He does manage to wrap it up at the end but it's in that professorial discourse thing where the teacher expounds through a lesson for 55 minutes and when he realizes the bell's about to ring for the end of class, summarizes his ass off right until the kids are walking out the door. This isn't bad, but it's really not necessary to do in a book and I think either Mann or his editor could have worked out the 'conclusion' a little more effectively he could have built up to it better.

The author does, to the best of his ability, answer the question. I don't know, is the conclusion to the book a spoiler? In case:
After writing a great deal on the disparate parts of Buddhism and martial arts.... small subjects like that... he makes his arguments plea to Reality. That 1) Much of the connection in both history and art of the connection between martial arts and Zen has been exaggerated. He makes the case of a person which is buddhist-lite (my words) which is very much like the Christmas & Easter Christian (so called because that's the only two times they go to church during a year). In this case you have whole groups of people who identify as being Zen or buddhist, are influenced, but are nothing like an ascetic Zen practitioner.

Also that Zen, and eastern religions, often have little of the 'telos' of Western religions. If one creates as much good karma, lives as best they can, though still forced to live in this imperfect world (fighting, in this case) that it's well within religious tolerance to do the best you can in the hopes have having a better situation in the next life.

As well as bringing in sport fighting to point out that it is unlikely much has changed from medieval Japan to modern Japan. That fighting practitioners despite being under the guise of a zen art, have had to go out to fight for land, family, and country for ages, for spoils, glory, and victory. And that while it's called sports fighting now, or was for imperial favors, or for land, or for the respect there have been factors that have meant Eastern warriors were just not as 'zen' as media and literature would have you think.

So the conclusion is one part - No, the rare Zen martial artists has nothing to do with the more common Martial artists who kind of falls under the Zen umbrella. The other part - "A sitting of zazen is a sitting of the Buddha" so an affirmation that the attempt is important. Or basically, warriors fight for all the reasons they have always fought in all lands and in all times.

But just like Zen doesn't 'add' anything too you, Meditation and zazen just makes you a better you. So too does this book not tell you anything you shouldn't have known already, it simply strips away the preconceptions, false knowledge, and poor 'fact' you had prior.

Finally, in discussing his 5 minute conclusion before the bell, Mann says, "We need to remember that scholars often focus intensely on their particular area of interest, creating a skewed picture of the whole... Scholars dwell on their own interests and can thereby misrepresent the reality they seek to describe." I found it both interesting and refreshing that he actually said one of the unspoken truths of writing. We as reader have to constantly monitor ourselves and the impressions we get. Sitting in this middle ground of educating ourselves and increasing our overall sense of our world but also realize there is so much more then 'this book.' It's nothing new, I was just impressed Mann stated it so explicitly and made no attempt to pull himself out of his own statement.

If you don't know about Zen meditation, one if it's major differences is in 'being present' and aware of your surroundings and the now - as opposed to the bulk of other meditative processes where one looks inside of themselves and often to get into the mode of a trance. The Zen meditation involves taking in the stimulus from the world around you and letting it go. So to does it seem like Mann has his own literary zazen where he took in all the various parts that make up this question of why Zen and Martial arts were linked - then began letting go of the pieces one by one.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good explanations of topics like mushin ("empty mind") and zanshin ("awareness"). It even has a chapter on Zen meditation technique. The author's writing style kept me engaged; a perfect balance between academic and popular.

[Benjamin Spurlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeffrey Mann answers the crucial question of why Zen and the martial arts have such a strong connection both in the popular consciousness and in history, and also shares a deep respect and interest in both subjects. Far from being overly invested in his own side, or being sharply cynical of either facet, he strikes a reasonable balance and investigates the subject from a variety of angles. Too, his depth of research encourages further study, which is only to the good of anyone interested in zen, martial arts, or the mix of the two.

[Marsha Altman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the clickbait-y title, actually a fantastic book on the history of Buddhism as it developed in India and then Japan, and how it came to influence the Japanese character and the art of bushido right down to contemporary times. Recommended.

[Jesse Braün · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way of zen balances the way of the sword

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad introduction if you're unfamiliar with Zen, but it's a surprisingly Western text for this topic... the vast majority of the cited works are Western folks writing about Zen, with far less reliance on primary texts than I'm used to there. The section on ethics at the end came across as pedantically heavy-handed to me, as did the section on mushin not being the same thing as zoning out. Perhaps these are common misconceptions that the author has encountered? It isn't something I've run into. So it was a little weird to read pages and pages of "you might think [stupid idea], but no! Actually it's [obvious thing!]". That might just mean that I'm the wrong audience for this book, but it was strange.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting little book that provided a brief overview of Buddhism (specifically Zen) and martial arts. I appreciated the author's honesty in not trying to sell the book as being more than it is. You won't read this and come away an expert in anything. But it's a good starting point for a few different paths!

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite in-depth. But what took away a star was the focus on karate and the Japs. Buddhism is more than Zen.

[Tin Wee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A study of how aspects of Zen Buddhism influenced various arts in Japanese culture, especially the various schools of martial arts. Essentially, the practice of the various arts was seen as a path to self development and a form of enlightenment , and in turn the insights gleaned would lead to wisdom and service to a wider community. The book also acknowledges other influences like Confucianism, and its influence on both Zen Buddhism (defined roles in society and by extrapolation, how people are expected to play those roles across the various lives they will live) and indirectly, the martial arts.

Some takeaways:

Zen is about attaining a level of understanding that is beyond words and must be experienced, hence the emphasis on meditation and experience. This understanding can be achieved through different paths/ disciplines

Discipline in practice is to achieve a level of proficiency where one does not think, but merely performs the most efficient move, regardless in tea making, flower arrangement of swordplay. I believe this state of 'no-mind' is akin to being 'in the zone'

Yet simultaneously, there is an awareness of all that is happening around, and retaining a nimbleness to address surprises that may come, yet a focus on what is important

All this, while retaining a certain fortitude, and projecting an inner strength to all around.

Certainly these aspects of Zen buddhism as cultivated through meditation have an appeal to the warrior caste as well. This is where the book is interesting : in how it dissects Zen and explains how different components would be relevant to a more martial way of life.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was thoughtful, well researched, and relevant.

As someone who has tried to engage with more classical Zen texts with very limited success, Mann does a great job building the cultural context up for a more in depth understanding of Zen. Particularly helpful are his discussions on differences between how religion in general is approached in the East compared to the West, resolving many issues that I have always seen as in conflict (violence vs pacifism in Buddhism being one of the main concerns of the book).

Mann also treats the status of budo (traditional Japanese martial arts) in the modern day, discussing competition and traditionalism as they manifest in the words of recent authors, athletes, and budoka.

If nothing else, I feel affirmed in my long standing hunch that karate is a suitable activity for developing my mind and character, and guided in how to best approach it for that purpose.

[Patrick Séguin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wouldn't take much out of this book coming from this guy's perspective. The book is written very subjectively. It should have been a personal journal on how HE understands these subjects. It's a heavy American point of view, with quotes and citations from other American literature on ancient Asian traditions. Grain of salt.

[Brandon Bosworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story of the relationship between Zen and the warrior class in Japan. Dispels many myths, and shows how a peaceful philosophy can be warped and perverted for nationalistic purposes.

[Matthew Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read for such an academic attempt.

[Chris Shopland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half which covers the Buddhists history is rather tiresome but after that this book begins and has some interesting insights .

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mann’s book considers one of Asian history’s intriguing little questions: How is it that one of the most pacifistic of world religions, i.e. Buddhism, came to be integrally connected to some of the world’s most fearsome and devastatingly effective warriors? Specifically, the author looks at the connection of Zen Buddhism to warrior traditions like the samurai of Japan and—to a lesser extent—the Shaolin monks of China. It should be noted that while Zen was one of the most firmly established intersects of Buddhism and martial arts; it’s not the only one. Branches of Vajrayana (esoteric) Buddhism had their own warrior-monk traditions—which he mentions as well as Shugendō’s (combines Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist elements) warrior connection. The book is heavily weighted toward the Japanese martial arts. This may be in part owing to the author’s particular background, but also because many of the works that establish this firm connection between Zen and martial arts are Japanese (e.g. works by Takuan Sōhō, Yagyū Munenori, and even Miyamoto Musashi.)

It’s worth noting that both Buddhists and modern martial artists have tried to downplay or outright deny the connection between these traditions. However, Mann suggests the connection is undeniable in the face of historical evidence, and that it even has a logic that belies the apparent contradiction. (Note: Presumably many Buddhists deny this connection because they want to distance themselves from the taint of violence, and many modern martial artists deny it so their religious students won’t ditch the art because it isn’t 100% secular [or based entirely in the student’s religious belief structure.])

The book consists of eight chapters as well as front matter and an Epilogue that explores the question of whether the Zen of samurai lore is truly Zen Buddhism. The first couple chapters give the reader an introduction to Buddhism and, specifically Zen. There are then chapters that show the linkage between Zen and the martial arts of East Asia. The book then considers the nature of the advantages offered by Zen to martial artists that made it so appealing to warriors like the samurai. It also considers the interpretation of violence that allows for the dichotomy under discussion, and explores the degree to which the connection between Zen Buddhism and martial arts is relevant in the modern era. The book is a mix of history, religious studies, philosophy, and the art and science of fighting systems. So if one’s interests are eclectic, there’s a lot to take away from this book. If you have narrow interests, you’ll want to make sure they include the aforementioned central question (i.e. Why pacifistic Buddhism has helped produce some of the world’s greatest fighting systems.)

The book is well-researched and documented. There are many interesting and informative stories throughout the book. For example, I’d never read about the 19th century jujutsu murders until this book. This is a fascinating case in which several experienced students of one particular school of jujutsu were found dead with the exact same wound. While the murderer wasn’t captured, investigators quickly discerned his (or her) method. That is, the killer knew the trained responses of this school and made a feint to draw a certain defense and then exploited a vulnerability the response presented. How is this story relevant? It speaks to the perceived advantages of Zen, which emphasizes avoiding habituation and residing in the moment.

I’d recommend this book for martial artists who are interested in the history and cultural context of their arts [and of the martial arts in general.] There’s a class of martial arts student who may want to avoid the book. If you’re a devout adherent of a Western religion who practices a traditional style of East Asian martial art and think that there isn’t an imprint of the local religion on that art, your delusions may be shattered by this book. Buddhists may find the discussion of the less absolutist interpretation of ahimsa (non-violence) to be illuminating (or—for all I know—infuriating.) It’s a short book, coming in at around 200 pages, but is end-noted and referenced in the manner of a scholarly work. It has a glossary and bibliography, but no graphics.

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is good. Mann does an excellent job of describing the relationship between Zen Buddhism and the martial arts in Japanese culture, and he does a good job of recognizing the complexities of that relationship and of engaging with that relationship as a Westerner. It is an excellent introduction to the topic.

There are some problems, however, if one is looking for something deeper than an introduction. He relies heavily on Western sources, on books written for or by Westerners. His resources on Buddhism are almost exclusively Zen-based. I have always found D.T. Suzuki's assertions about the importance of Zen in Japanese culture, written for a Western audience whom he wanted to interest in Zen, to be problematic. Philip Kapleau's authority is similarly questionable.

Additionally, once he introduces Zen, it is rather as though all other possible forms of Buddhism fall aside. It is rather like calling all Christian elements in Western society Protestant, without examining which beliefs are, in fact, core to Christianity. While he acknowledges the interplay between Buddhism and the other major philosophies of Japan (Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto), he seems unwilling to explore those themes.

And a final complaint: Mann declares early in the text that he'll be giving older Japanese names in the correct Japanese order and more recent Japanese names in Western order. For those unfamiliar with the individuals in question this has got to be horribly confusing. As one familiar with most of the texts he references, I merely found it frustrating.

I recognize that what I wanted was a more serious academic text and what I got was a good introduction to the topic. So note that for all my complaints, I still believe it warrants 4 out of 5 stars.

[Andrea Iorio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even more than the interesting nexus between Buddhism and martial arts, I found the Zen Buddhism summary as one of the best ever. Great book!