When the samurai took power, archery education become a requirement in Japan. This led to the development of archery schools and a growth in archers’ participation in warfare. In fact, while Japan was consumed by civil war in the 15th and 16th centuries, the popularity of archery and its many schools grew exponentially. However, the use of bow as a weapon came to an end when the first Europeans arrived in Japan in 1542.

1603 – 1868 was an era of peace in Japan, where archery became a “voluntary” skill, practiced partly in the court in ceremonial form and partly in different forms of competition. Traditionally trained as fighters, during this peaceful time the samurai adopted Zen Buddhism, which was introduced to them by Chinese monks. They took their archery skills, combined it with this new philosophy and created a new concept – kyudo.

Practice kyudo with the best! Kanjuro Shibata XX, Sensei will be leading two kyudo retreats this summer at the Shambhala Mountain Center. Kanjuro Shibata XX, Sensei, is a 20th-generation Kyudo master and 3rd-generation bowmaker to the Emperor of Japan. He is cofounder, with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, of kyudojos (practice halls) in North America and Europe under the auspices of Zenko International. Having trained in Kyudo since childhood, Shibata Sensei, now in his 80s, is the preeminent teacher in the Way of the Bow. Contact the Shambhala Mountain Center to learn more.