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Chinese-style karate eventually spread to Okinawa and Korea, where the Zen influence was transferred along with the physical art. Eventually, in the twentieth century, karate was spread to Japan proper by Okinawan masters such as Gichin Funakoshi, Chojun Miyagi, and Kenwa Mabuni. Once established there, it was influenced by the native fighting systems, notably jujitsu and kenjitsu.

Plate 1 Two studies of a Buddhist monk by Hokusai. Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Purchased through the Taylor Fund.

These Japanese combative systems already had a strong Zen influence, dating to the beginnings of Zen Buddhism in Japan in the twelfth century. This introduction of Zen into Japan took place roughly about the same time that the warrior caste (samurai) came into power.

Within a century, the value system of the Zen Buddhists had influenced the samurai. Ultimately those who became top sword and spear masters were buoyed in their training by the ability to concentrate during combat, achieving a state of mind known as mushin (no-mind). This mental condition enabled the warrior to block out all thought of death and concentrate completely on his technique.