Zen and the Samurai Spirit: Kamakura

The city of Kamakura lies just south of Tokyo. From around 800 years ago, it was the capital of the samurai generals who ruled Japan. During that period, Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan by priests from China. The philosophy and meditation practices of Zen were embraced by the samurai warriors, and many temples were built among the hills of Kamakura. This gave rise to the distinctive culture that can still be found in the city to this day. Just a few steps away from Kamakura's main street, you find yourself in narrow alleys where you can still feel traces of the city's past. Because of its long history and culture, Kamakura has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Rosa Yum explores Kamakura when the autumn foliage is at its most beautiful, and visits several of the ancient religious sites in the city. She is shown how to practice Zen meditation and is introduced to shojin-ryori, the vegetarian cuisine served in the temples. She also observes kyudo, a spiritual practice based on the same kind of bows and arrows that were used by the samurai warriors.