+ 1-888-787-5890  
   + 1-302-351-4405  
 
 
 
 

Essay/Term paper: Zen's influence on the art of the sword

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Philosophy

Free essays available online are good but they will not follow the guidelines of your particular writing assignment. If you need a custom term paper on Philosophy: Zen's Influence On The Art Of The Sword, you can hire a professional writer here to write you a high quality authentic essay. While free essays can be traced by Turnitin (plagiarism detection program), our custom written essays will pass any plagiarism test. Our writing service will save you time and grade.



Zen's Influence on the Art of the Sword


Zen has long had a great influence upon Japanese culture. Many aspects
of this culture are touched upon by Zen including art, literature, and specific
ceremonies such as the one concerning tea. During the Kamakura period of Japan,
another area of culture began to be affected by Zen; the martial arts of the
samurai class.
Somewhere along the line, the samurai realized the ease with which the
monks of Zen Buddhism dealt with issues such as mortality and then began to seek
these methods of discipline for themselves for the purposes of becoming less
concerned with their physical well-being. However, as D.T. Suzuki noted, it was "
not mere recklessness, but self-abandonment, which is known in Buddhism as a
state of egolessness." This is the ideal which the samurai warrior sought; a
state of being wherein life and death were meaningless and all that he had to
concern himself with was his duty to his master, or if he was ronin (rogue
samurai without a master), with his duty to his own code of honor.
In order for the Zen master to pass on this state of mind to the eager
to learn samurai, the master had to equate the state of mushin (empty mind and
egolessness) with something familiar to the warrior. And what is more familiar
to a warrior than his weapon, most often a sword such as a tachi (long-blade),
katana, or iaito? From the first time that a samurai blade is picked up by its
owner until the day the owner dies, it is his goal to so completely master the
blade and make it as much a part of him as his own hand that there is seemingly
no effort in using it. As stated by Takuan, a Zen master from the Tokugawa
period, "you must follow the movement of the sword in the hands of the enemy,
leaving your mind free to make its own counter-movement without your interfering
deliberation." Herein lies the simplicity of Zen teaching in respect to all
things, both exceptional and common; think not, merely do.

 

Other sample model essays:

Philosophy / Absolute
An elephant was brought to a group of blind men who had never encountered such an animal before. One felt a leg and reported that an elephant is a great living pillar. Another felt the trunk and re...
An elephant was brought to a group of blind men who had never encountered such an animal before. One felt a leg and reported that an elephant is a great living pillar. Another felt the trunk and r...
Philosophy / Agnostic
I believe that I am agnostic because I don"t know what to think about religion. When it comes to saying whether I believe in God or not, I feel that I have not yet come to a complete understand...
Philosophy / Ancient Philosophy
As Aristotle viewed the world around him, he observed that things are moving and changing in certain ways. Aristotle discovered that certain things cause other things, which in turn cause somethin...
Philosophy / Animal Liberation
Animal Liberation For Steve Kramer By Matt Young Philosophy 200 Why is it that we as a society condemn the actions of a man against a man but very rarely a man against an animal? I think this...
Philosophy / Anselm"s Philosophy
Anselm's definition of a God starts by saying that God is the greatest being we can possibly think of. When Anselm states this, it essentially means that it is not possible to think of a being gr...
Philosophy / Antigone
"Antigone" the play written by Sophocles deals with moral law vs civil law. King Creon has condemned Princess Antgione. Antgione went against the king"s decree and buried her brother Ploynic...
What is a moral? This is a question that has plagued philosophers for many years. Is it possible to have a set of universal morals? There are many questions that surround the mystery of morals. ...
Nikki Tabacco Philosophy 100 048728607 Food For Thought… Do we dwell in a Universe Created by a Designer? The phenomenon of the creation of the universe has baffled many for some time. ...
Philosophy / Balance Of Power
The Balance of Power Throughout the semester, a theme that has guided our thoughts has been the idea that the self is the capacity to have capacities. Through what we have read, written about, a...
Experience with Dream Essay - Reliable and great customer service. Quality of work - High quality of work.
, ,
Dream Essay - Very reliable and great customer service. Encourage other to try their service. Writer 91463 - Provided a well written Annotated Bibliography with great deal of detail per th
, ,
it is always perfect
, ,
The experience with Dream Essay is stress free. Service is excellent and forms various forms of communication all help with customer service. Dream Essay is customer oriented. Writer 17663
, ,
Only competent & proven writers
Original writing — no plagiarism
Our papers are never resold or reused, period
Satisfaction guarantee — free unlimited revisions
Client-friendly money back guarantee
Total confidentiality & privacy
Guaranteed deadlines
Live Chat & 24/7 customer support
All academic and professional subjects
All difficulty levels
12pt Times New Roman font, double spaced, 1 inch margins
The fastest turnaround in the industry
Fully documented research — free bibliography guaranteed
Fax (additional info): 866-332-0244
Fax (additional info): 866-308-7123
Live Chat Support
Need order related assistance?—Click here to submit a inquiry
© Dreamessays.com. All Rights Reserved.
Dreamessays.com is the property of MEDIATECH LTD