Abstract

★Clear Away the Clutter in Your Mind—Treasured Words That Zen Monks Hold Close in Their Daily Lives
★An Ideal Introduction for International Readers Who Want to Discover What Zen Is and What Zen Teachings Can Offer!

This bilingual book introduces the Zen way of life and thought through Zen sayings, illustrations, and English translations. It brings together Shinsuke Hosokawa, an emerging talent in the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism and head priest of Ryūunji Temple in Setagaya, Tokyo, and Takayuki Ino, an illustrator known for his distinctive, interpretive artwork, particularly in the fields of Zen and art.

The book is filled with gentle, accessible explanations that connect seemingly abstruse Zen teachings to everyday life, alongside witty illustrations that invite readers to discover deeper meanings for themselves.

It consists of two sections: Reading the Ten Oxherding Pictures, which explores the Ten Oxherding Pictures—an iconic series depicting the stages of Zen practice—through newly created illustrations and commentary; and Seeing Zen Sayings, which presents memorable Zen expressions in each installment, accompanied by playful illustrations that bring their messages to life.

The book brings together four years of serialized features originally published in the monthly magazine Nagomi. It also offers a natural point of connection with the Zen and Ghibli Exhibition, supervised by Hosokawa and scheduled to open at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art in October 2026.

Author’s Information

・Shinsuke Hosokawa : Born in 1979. Grandson of Taidō Matsubara. He practiced Zen for nine years at the Myōshinji training monastery in Kyoto. He is the head priest of Ryūunji, a Rinzai Zen temple of the Myōshinji branch in Setagaya, Tokyo.

・Takayuki Ino : Born in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, in 1971. A graduate of Toyo University and of the advanced course at Setsu Mode Seminar. He has received the Kodansha Publishing Culture Award and the Takahashi Gozan Award.