Tea Culture of Japan

Ohki, Sadako

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BOOKTea Culture of Japan

Sadako Ohki

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00115

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-18214

Imported to Japan from China during the 9th century, the custom of serving tea did not become widespread until the 13th century. By the late 15th and 16th centuries, tea was ceremonially prepared by a skilled tea master and served to guests in a tranquil setting. This way of preparing tea became known as chanoyu, literally “hot water for tea.”

This book explores the aesthetics and history of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, examining the nature of tea collections and the links between connoisseurship, politics, and international relations. It also surveys current practices and settings in light of the ongoing transformation of the tradition in contemporary tea houses. Among the precious objects discussed and pictured are ceramic tea bowls, wooden tea scoops, metal sake pourers, and lacquered incense containers, as well as folding screens that evoke the historical settings of serving tea.

The book also includes a video of a special Japanese tea ceremony known as Kuchikiri. The tea jar shown is a “national treasure” made by Ninsei, one of the most famous potters of 17th-century Japan.

Author

Sadako Ohki

PublisherYale University Art Gallery

Print publication date March 2009 (out of print)

Print ISBN 9780300146929

EISBN 9780300247923

Illustrations 167

Print Status out of print

Publisher (out of print)

WorldCat

Google Books

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List of illustrations

Letter
Maple, from a Pair of Six-Panel Screens: Cherry and Maple
Hangōken Calligraphy
Flower Container
Tea Bowl, named Kaedegure (Twilight by the Maples)
Ceramic Bucket used as a Fresh-Water Jar (Mizusashi)
Candle Stand with a Crane and a Tortoise
Incense Burner with a Chinese Lion
Tea Scoop
Front to back: tea scoop by Daishin Gitō, tea scoop by Sen no Rikyū, and tea scoop by Seta Kamon
Tea Scoop, showing paper sheath with inscription believed to be by Rikyū
Tea Scoop, named Hyakusai (One Hundred Years Old), showing bamboo canister with inscription of name by Daishin
Tea Scoop, showing bamboo canister bearing later certification of Kamon's name
Tea Bowl
Tea Bowl
Tea Bowl, Kohiki- or Muji Hakeme-Type
Flower Vase of the Uzukumaru Type
Tea Bowl
Incense Container
Takasugian (Hut Built Too High)
Chashitsu Tetsu (Tea Room Named Tetsu)
Ten'yūjoki (Table for Playing in the Sky)
Bamboo in Snow
Tea Bowl with Okinawan-Style Decoration
Lacquer Stand, Ryūkū Style
Fresh-Water Jar (Mizusashi) of Madara-Garatsu Type
Annamese Tea Bowl
Foot of Annamese Tea Bowl
Tea Bowl Decorated with Dragon Medallions
Tea Bowl
Tea Bowl, Named Onigawara (Demon Tile)
Foot of Tea Bowl, Named Onigawara (Demon Tile)
Inscriptions on boxes for Tea Bowl named Onigawara
Flower container
Eggplant-Shaped Tea Caddy (Cha-Ire) named Shira Tsuyu (White Dew)
Set of cloth bags and canister for tea caddy named Shira Tsuyu
Inner box for the three display cloth bags (shifuku) for tea caddy named Shira Tsuyu
Set of storage boxes for tea caddy named Shira Tsuyu
Cherry, from a Pair of Six-Panel Screens: Cherry and Maple
Fujiwara Kiyotada, from the Narikane Version of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets
Nō Robe, Atsuita Style
Octagonal Box
River Landscape (Twelve Views of Landscape)
Vase in the Shape of a Kundika (Water Container for a Buddhist Altar)
Poem on the Theme of Snow
Handscroll: Mon'ami's Secret Flower Arrangement Teachings
Inkstone
Brush Rest in the Shape of Mountain Peaks
Table Screen
Water Dropper with a Dragon Handle
White-Robed Kannon
Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang
Naming Certificate for Tagaku
Poem
Hanging Flower Vase
Tea Bowl, foot
Foot of Kohiki- or Muji Hakeme-type tea bowl
Incense Container (Kōgō), originally a Nailhead Cover from Jurakudai Palace
Foot of tea bowl named Kaedegure
Tea Bowl
Fresh-Water Jar (Mizusashi), named Mino (Straw Rain Cape)
Set of Dishes (Mukōzuke)
Rectangular Plate
Nobleman's Meal Table (Kakeban)
Mirror Box used as an Incense Container (Kōgō)
Tea Scoop, named Furusato (Hometown), showing bamboo canister with inscription by Enshū
Incense Container (Kōgō) with Kōrin-Style Design
Letter to Raku Kichizaemon
Hangōken Calligraphy
Tin-Glazed Sake Cup
Small Charger used as a Brazier for a Tobacco Tray
Guan-Ware Incense Container with a Raku Lid and an Added Dragon Handle, showing box with inscription by Ryōnyū and his seal
Pair of Six-Panel Screens: Cherry and Maple
Pair of Stirrups
Nō Robe, Atsuita Style
Tea Picnic Basket Set (Chakago)
Orange-Laced Dōmaru Suit of Armor
Covered Cosmetic Box
Tea Bowl
Tea Bowl
Tea Bowl
Water Dropper with a Dragon Handle
Vase
Vase in the Shape of a Kundika (Water Container for a Buddhist Altar)
Table Screen
Nobleman's Meal Table (Kakeban)
Footed Stand for a Tea Bowl (Tenmoku-dai)
River Landscape (Twelve Views of Landscape)
Naming Certificate for Tagaku
White-Robed Kannon
Candle Stand with a Crane and a Tortoise
Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang
Octagonal Box
Inkstone
Brush Rest in the Shape of Mountain Peaks
Rock in the Form of a Horizontal Mountainscape with Cavern Heaven
Square Tray
Tea Bowl
Ceramic Bucket used as a Fresh-Water Jar (Mizusashi)
Incense Container (Kōgō), originally a Nailhead Cover from Jurakudai Palace
Tea Bowl, named Kaedegure (Twilight by the Maples)
Tea Scoop
Flower Container
Tile (Shikigawara)
Fishing Weight used as a Kettle Lid Rest (Futaoki)
Hangōken Calligraphy
Kettle with Design of Willow and Cherry
Brazier of Otogoze Type
Small Charger used as a Brazier for a Tobacco Tray
Tobacco Container
Antique Rice Measuring Box used as a Tobacco Tray
Water Ladle
Tea Caddy (Natsume)
Used-Water Container (Kensui)
Nails from Hōryūji used as Chopsticks for Charcoal
Blue Tang Sake Cup
Guan-Ware Incense Container with a Raku Lid and an Added Dragon Handle, showing box with inscription by Ryōnyū and his seal
Fujiwara Kiyotada, from the Narikane Version of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets
Square Incense Container (Kōgō) with Tortoiseshell Design
Poem on the Theme of Snow
Poem
The Mountain is Empty; A Pinecone Falls
Tea Bowl
Hanging Flower Vase
Letter
Tea Bowl, Kohiki- or Muji Hakeme-Type
Tenmyō-Type Kettle, known as Taya Itome (Kettle with Thread Pattern at the Taya House)
Fresh-Water Jar (Mizusashi), named Mino (Straw Rain Cape)
Tea Scoop
Mirror Box used as an Incense Container (Kōgō)
Eggplant-Shaped Tea Caddy (Cha-Ire) named Shira Tsuyu (White Dew)
Tea Bowl, Named Onigawara (Demon Tile)
Tea Bowl Decorated with Dragon Medallions
Annamese Tea Bowl
Tea Bowl
Fresh-Water Jar (Mizusashi), named Hotei
Set of Dishes (Mukōzuke)
Rectangular Plate
Letter to Raku Kichizaemon
Incense Container (Kōgō) in the Shape of a Wisteria Seedpod
Tea Scoop, named Furusato (Hometown), showing bamboo canister with inscription by Enshū
Sake Pourer with Kutani-Ware Lid
Rectangular Serving Plates (Mukōzuke)
Tea Scoop, named Hyakusai (One Hundred Years Old)
Treatise on Tea
Tin-Glazed Sake Cup
Incense Container (Kōgō) with Kōrin-Style Design
Tea Caddy (Cha-Ire) of Kinrinji Type
Charcoal Basket (Sumitori)
Moon-Shaped Incense Container (Kōgō)
Basket Used as a Flower Vase
Used-Water Container (Kensui)
Sake Cup in the Style of Kōetsu
Set of Bowls with Lids
Flower Vase of the Uzukumaru Type
Tea Bowl
Covered Jar used as a Tea Caddy
Used-Water Container (Kensui)
Pair of Sake Flasks
Lacquer Stand, Ryūkū Style
Fresh-Water Jar (Mizusashi) of Madara-Garatsu Type
Square Kettle
Kettle Lid Rest (Futaoki) with Dragon Design
Tea Bowl with Okinawan-Style Decoration
Hearth Frame (Robuchi)
Incense Container
Bamboo in Snow

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Contents

Sadako Ohki

Tea Culture of Japan

Contents

Author

Sadako Ohki

PublisherYale University Art Gallery

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00115.001

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-18215

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IN JULY 2005, 116 WORKS OF ART relating to the tea culture of Japan arrived at the Yale University Art Gallery, on loan from Peggy and Richard M. Danziger, LL.B. 1963. The collectors’ expressed wish was that the objects would be experienced directly by students engaged in the study of Japan and Japanese...

Author

Jock Reynolds

PublisherYale University Art Gallery

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00115.002

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-18216

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IN OUR DESIRE TO CREATE a natural tea-house setting for the exhibition Tea Culture of Japan: Chanoyu Past and Present at the Yale University Art Gallery, we decided to display as many of the small and large tea-related objects as possible without glass cases. This decision was not easy; apart from the obvious conservation concerns, our...

Author

Sadako Ohki

PublisherYale University Art Gallery

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00115.003

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-18217

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A Journey through Chanoyu Past and Present

Sadako Ohki

Tea Culture of Japan

CHANOYU, LITERALLY “HOT WATER FOR TEA,” refers to a practice of tea that came to fruition in Japan during the sixteenth century. This tea culture and the...

Author

Sadako Ohki

PublisherYale University Art Gallery

Related print edition pages: pp.13-45

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00115.004

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-18218

Chapter subject tags:Japanese tea ceremonyWabiJapanese tea mastersTea--Japan--HistoryTea bowlsJapanese tea ceremony--UtensilsDecorative arts--Japan

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Breaking Down Boundaries: A History of Chanoyu

Takeshi Watanabe

Tea Culture of Japan

THE JOURNEY OF TEA STARTED IN CHINA; it first reached Japan in the ninth century. There, especially in the sixteenth century, a quintessentially Japanese cultural practice developed around it—a practice Japanese not only in its aesthetic but also in its fascination with foreign objects and their eventual choreographed incorporation into a unique, native setting. Its...

Author

Takeshi Watanabe

PublisherYale University Art Gallery

Related print edition pages: pp.47-78

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00115.005

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-18219

Chapter subject tags:Japanese tea ceremonyTea--Japan--HistoryJapanese tea mastersPottery, JapaneseWabiJapanese tea ceremony--Utensils

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Exhibition Checklist

Author

Sadako Ohki

PublisherYale University Art Gallery

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00115.006

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-18220

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Map of Important Tea Sites

Sadako Ohki

Tea Culture of Japan

Map of Important Tea Sites

Author

Sadako Ohki

PublisherYale University Art Gallery

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00115.007

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-18221

~BASARA : A Buddhist-derived term that describes a flamboyant style associated with daimyo of the Muromachi and Momoyama periods. It featured exotic goods and decadent behavior.

Author

Sadako Ohki

PublisherYale University Art Gallery

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00115.008

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-18222

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Tea Arrangement

Author

Sadako Ohki

PublisherYale University Art Gallery

https://doi.org/10.37862/aaeportal.00115.009

Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-18223

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