Kyudo, the Way of the Bow, is one of Japan's oldest and most honored martial traditions. Over the course of Japanese history and under the influence of Shinto beliefs, Confucian morality, and Buddhist philosophy (including, but not limited to, Zen), the technique of archery flowered intothe art of kyudo, where archery is practiced as a Way of seishin tanren, or "spiritual forging." The diligent practice of kyudo provides both healthful exercise and a way for cultivating self-awareness and spiritual maturity, eventually leading to the realization of "Shin Zen Bi", or "Truth, Goodness and Beauty" in the life of the archer.