Zen Macrobiotics: The Art of Rejuvenation and Longevity

by George Ohsawa

In 1965 the second edition of Ohsawa's Zen Macrobiotics (first published in mimeographed format in 1960) was prepared and published by Lou Oles of the Ohsawa Foundation in Los Angeles. It contained much more information about soyfoods including Ohsawa Tamari (defined as "macrobiotic soy sauce produced by the traditional, biological, sugarless method," to be used both in cookery and in medicinal drinks), miso, tekka miso, miso cream, miso-ae, miso-ni, muso (miso mixed with sesame butter), tofu, and yuba. Thereafter these soyfoods appeared in virtually all Western macrobiotic cookbooks and cooking classes. The influence of this book can not be underestimated

Genres: Health, Food, Zen, Philosophy, Nonfiction

207 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1986

About the author

George Ohsawa, born Nyoichi Sakurazawa, was the founder of the Macrobiotic diet and philosophy. When living in Europe he went by the pen names of Musagendo Sakurazawa, Nyoiti Sakurazawa, and Yukikazu Sakurazawa. He also used the French first name Georges while living in France, and his name is sometimes also given in this spelling.

Ohsawa was born in a family whose father was descended directly from samurai. But this was the period of the Meiji Restoration and his family was very poor. He had to leave school after the compulsory high school as there was no money for higher education. This is when his spiritual path started. Around 1913 he met up with Nishibata Manabu (a direct disciple of the late Sagen Ishizuka) and studied with him in Tokyo in the movement Shoku-yo Kai.

Ohsawa also mentions in his books how he cured himself from tuberculosis at age 19 using what he knew about the ancient yin-yang concepts.

Later he travelled to Europe, particularly Paris, France where he started to spread his philosophy (it is in this period he supposedly adopted his new pen name "Ohsawa", after the French "oh, ca va" which means "all right" or "I'm doing fine" as a reply to the question "how are you doing ?"). After several years he returned to Japan to start a foundation, and gather recruits for his now formalized philosophy. After drawing attention to himself during World War II for his pacifist ideals, he moved his institution to a remote area in the mountains of Yamanashi prefecture.

It is presumed that he got the western name for his movement from a book written by Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland, a famous Prussian physician. It is known that he spent time in Europe with a descendant of Hufeland.

Several of his Japanese disciples were also instrumental in disseminating Macrobiotics in the West. They are, in particular, Herman Aihara in California, Roland Yasuhara in Belgium (where LIMA, the well-known manufacturer of macrobiotic products saw the light of day), and Michio Kushi in Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book touts an ancient philosophy about food: the diet of ancient zen monks. While the recipes themselves are fine, the book's treatment of the philosophy is naive at best and disrespectful at worst.
Particularly, an ancient zen Buddhist diet did not have meat. So, a book about that diet should also not include meat.
Now, I'll concede that concessions must be made in the name of modernity, but, in this book, that leniency fails to extend to the aspects of nutrition that truly matter. Going against traditional doctrine by allowing for meat while remaining fundamentalist in regards to limiting fruit and vegetables is simply asinine.
Books about food should not condemn fruit and vegetables. Period.
The reason ancient Japanese subsisted primarily off rice was not because it was healthy, but because they had little other choice. In the modern age, it is simply irresponsible to suggest that bananas are unhealthy because they are too "yang." Plus, this lifestyle also indicates everything should be taken in moderation, limiting extremes. How, then, can one purposely live off nothing but rice without going against the very doctrine that advocates it?
I believe the lifestyle this book advocates is flawed, but is an understandable byproduct of the era from which it came. The author of this book, however, has no such excuse. His book is both a misrepresentation of tradition and a disservice to the modern.

[Cassandra Carico · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have read one George Ohsawa book, you have read them all. He does have some good advice, but it is always intermingled with an "I-hate-the-influence-of-the-evil-West-because-they-are-killing-our-perfect-Asian-selves" outlook and attitude....

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who wishes to understand the energy of food and how it affects your every emotion and connection to the world.

[Hung · Rating 1 out of 5]

Một vài điểm nhỏ có thể phù hợp để cân nhắc lại. Còn các ví dụ về cách thức ăn uống thì theo mình là không hợp lý, không đủ dinh dưỡng.

[Huyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't read it if you don't have an open mind as you will feel offended by the straight truthful and open criticism from Ohsawa and I loved it! The book content was not that well organised though as I found the last part of the book should be moved to the start and the recipes should be moved to the end of the book for reference. I like Ohsawa's way of living (not just a diet) but am yet convinced until I fully see the result myself.

[Richard Kroyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and reread this one endlessly.

[Trừng Duyên · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tình cờ thấy có vài ý hay hay trong sách nó giống với o của mình khuyên mình. Thế là đọc. Đọc mấy dòng đầu thì tò mò đến Thái Khắc Lễ vì ông ý đề cập đến Huế và lấy bao nhiêu là dẫn chứng người Huế. Sách đề cập nhiều chỗ hay phết, nhất là nhiều ý kiến không bàn mà gặp với Shinya (nhưng cũng có rất nhiều ý kiến trái chiều).
Rồi nghĩ về lời khuyên của người o của mình. O mình cũng đã thử và chẳng biết thành công hay không nhưng khen ngợi suốt.
Không nói nhiều, ngoài việc những ý tưởng phù hợp cho mình thì, đọc vẫn có chỗ cảm thấy dông dài. Nên là thử nghiệm thì hơn. Cho nên là khi nào mình thử nghiệm thấy ổn thì mình sẽ sẵn sàng có một cái review trất'ss hơn. Hi vọng đây là một life style tốt, mình có đọc quyển "Tuyệt thực đi về đâu" tác giả Thái Khắc Lễ cũng rất hay.

[Gregg Puluka]

Not a lot of information in this book just a lot of hype. However the Appendix is good with;
7 orders of the universe
The 12 theorems of unique principle
The seven stages of judgement
The seven stages of illness
The classification of the origin of man’s thoughts and actions

Are really important. They illustrate a basis for zen thinking. This book provides a rudimentary overview of this that seems too simplistic.

I definitely like the philosophy of gratitude but believe there are its limitations.

The seven conditions of health are 1 No fatigue 2 Good appetite 3 Good sleep 4 Good memory 5 Good humor 6 clarity in thinking and doing 7 the mood of justice

Good for its time

[Katherine]

i read up until he said you can cure cancer with brown rice and then i was like alright i think i've gotten all i am going to get out of this. the first half is good/cool tho

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe his meal plans might be good but his ideas made me laugh out loud. :)))