Chih Chung & Gods of Japan

[Fanfan]

Hi,

I have searched for past posts about these subjects but i dunnot found anything, so I just want to report an original artist : Tsai Chih Chung ( http://www.lambiek.net/chung_tsaichih.htm ). He has transcribed in comics some wisdom book like ZuangZi, Laozi, Buddha, SunTzu, various zen koans and so on… the idea is good (one page one koan or precept), because koan musn’t be understood with intellect but truly understood by the whole person. And to see story rather than read it is a good way to apprehend this.
“Sun of midday makes no shadow”
Do you know him ?

In my websearch I found this site that should interest many of you (if you do not already know it) : http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/buddhism.shtml
This site called “Gods of Japan” is a photo library and dictionary concerning japanese buddhism and shintoism. A gold mine on the subject… only yojimbo usagi is missing ^_^ !
Mister Sakai, have you reference books about feudal Japan, or do you use different materials according to the subjects? And now that you have passed many years to study Japan, do you still learn or got you sufficient background to write your plot and details (of course when it is not inspired by pop culture!) , then illustrate it just with your memory ? (sorry if you answered in the past, I don’t have read all your interviews yet…)

[Stan Sakai]

Thanks for the great websites, Fanfan.

I have used Tsai Chih Chung as a reference, most notably in "Tamago" a story about an assassin who travels disguised as a Buddhist priest.

Tsai Chih Chung's books are wonderful. They are very beginner-friendly, conveying Buddha's teachings through clear, delightful cartoons.

I have a big library of Japan reference, but I'm always discovering new things.

[Shishio]

Thank you for the links, Fanfan.

And Mr. Sakai, if it means anything to you, one of my favourite things about Usagi Yojimbo is that you list the references you used in each issue.

[Steve Hubbell]

Hi,

I have searched for past posts about these subjects but i dunnot found anything, so I just want to report an original artist : Tsai Chih Chung ( http://www.lambiek.net/chung_tsaichih.htm ). He has transcribed in comics some wisdom book like ZuangZi, Laozi, Buddha, SunTzu, various zen koans and so on… the idea is good (one page one koan or precept), because koan musn’t be understood with intellect but truly understood by the whole person. And to see story rather than read it is a good way to apprehend this.
(SNIP....)

When I first read this posting, the description you give, and the mention of Sun Tzu, made me think of "SHI: SENRYAKU" (which Stan contributed a bit of artwork for).

There is no plot to this book. It is, in short, a colorful repackaging of Thirty-Six Strategies, a classic Chinese treatise on war and living. The Thirty-Six Strategies are ranked with the likes of Suz Tzu's Art of War and Musashi's Book of Five Rings for endurance and excellence.

[Fanfan]

the Thirty-Six Strategies are ranked with the likes of Suz Tzu's Art of War and Musashi's Book of Five Rings for endurance and excellence.

Go Rin and Sun Tzu, and one more to add : the Hagakure commentary made by Mishima : "Samurai Ethic And Modern Japan". A really good introduction to Mishima thought and a brilliant interpretation of "Bushido [way of the samurai] comes down to death"
About these kind of books, "In Praise of Shadows" written by jun Ichiro Tanizaki is the perfect aesthetic textbook about japanese culture.

Personnaly one book that is new for me everytime : ZuangZi, and this taoist book is a source of inspiration of many zen books.

[Deerock]

Awesome! Another fan of Tsai Chih-chung. I feel silly I just posted a new topic regarding to him because i found this thread just right after I done posting my message. Anyway, I agree with you all that if anyone like to start understand Daoist philosophy and Zen Buddhism, Tsai's works are a good start. Easy to understanding, a good sense of humor and just great style.

By the way, this may interest you for where Sensei Sakai brought up using reference of Tsai's works.
http://members.shaw.ca/Deerock/Welcome/ ... 0essay.htm