The Book of Tea

by Kakuzo Okakura, Yasuhiro Okawa (Photographer)

Overview

The definitive visual edition of a classic masterpiece.

The Book of Tea was originally written in English by Kakuzo Okakura in 1906. Since then, it has been recognized, together with Bushido, as one of the most important books written by Japanese authors in English in the early 20th century. The Book of Tea is said to be the definitive guide to Japanese aesthetics. Okakura expresses the sublimity of a non-Christian culture at a time when Christianity was the dominant religion and cultural tradition. At the same time, Okakura prays for a world in harmony under mutual understanding between the West and the East. The Book of Tea is not a book on how to conduct a tea ceremony. Instead, it introduces aesthetic and cultural aspects of Japanese life to Western audiences through Teaism by elucidating the Japanese tea ceremony’s relationship with Zen, Taoism and Kado, and, more broadly, through a discussion of Japanese aesthetic principles, the essence of art and the true meaning of life.

This concept is visually enhanced by photographs taken by Yasuhiro Okawa, offering readers the opportunity to appreciate a richer experience of the world presented in The Book of Tea.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9784756254351
Publisher:	PIE International
Publication date:	04/06/2021
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 6.30(h) x (d)

About the Author

Kakuzo Okakura (February 14, 1863 – September 2, 1913), also known as Okakura Tenshin, is a Japanese scholar who contributed to the development of arts in Japan. Outside of Japan, he is chiefly remembered as the author of The Book of Tea.

Yasuhiro Okawa is an acclaimed Japanese photographer.

Table of Contents

I The Cup of Humanity 14

Tea ennobled into Teaism, a religion of aestheticism, the adoration of the beautiful among everyday facts-Teaism developed among both nobles and peasants-The mutual misunderstanding of the New World and the Old-The Worship of Tea in the West-Early records of Tea in European writing-The Taoists' version of the combat between Spirit and Matter-The modern struggle for wealth and power

II The Schools of Tea 46

The three stages of the evolution of Tea-The Boiled Tea, the Whipped Tea, and the Steeped Tea, representative of the Tang, the Sung, and the Ming dynasties of China-Luwuh, the first apostle of Tea-The Tea-ideals of the three dynasties-To the latter-day Chinese Tea is a delicious beverage, but not an ideal-In Japan Tea is a religion of the art of life

III Taoism and Zennism 86

The connection of Zennism with Tea-Taoism, and its successor Zennism, represent the individualistic trend of the Southern Chinese mind-Taoism accepts the mundane and tries to find beauty in our world of woe and worry-Zennism emphasises the teachings of Taoism-Through consecrated meditation may be attained supreme self-realisation-Zennism, like Taoism, is the worship of Relativity-Ideal of Teaism a result of the Zen conception of greatness in the smallest incidents of life-Taoism furnished the basis for aesthetic ideals, Zennism made them practical

IV The Tea-Room 128

The tea-room does not pretend to be other than a mere cottage-The simplicity and purism of the tea-room-Symbolism in the construction of the tea-room-The system of its decoration-A sanctuary from the vexations of the outer world

V Art Appreciation 178

Sympathetic communion of minds necessary for art appreciation-The secret understanding between the master and ourselves-The value of suggestion-Art is of value only to the extent that it speaks to us-No real feeling in much of the apparent enthusiasm to-day- Confusion of art with archaeology-We are destroying art in destroying the beautiful in life

VI Flowers 208

Flowers our constant friends-The Master of Flowers-The waste of Flowers among Western communities-The art of floriculture in the East-The Tea-Masters and the Cult of Flowers-The Art of Flower Arrangement- The adoration of the Flower for its own sake-The Flower-Masters-Two main branches of the schools of Flower Arrangement, the Formalistic and the Naturalesque

VII Tea-Masters 240

Real appreciation of art only possible to those who make of it a living influence-Contributions of the Tea-Masters to art-Their influence on the conduct of life-The Last Tea of Rikiu

Interviews

"It (Teaism) insulates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order. It is essentially a worship of the Imperfect, as it is a tender attempt to accomplish something possible in this impossible thing we know as life."

Editorial Reviews

"This 1906 treatise, written by Kakuzo Okakura for a western audience keen to educate themselves in eastern art and custom, details the Japanese tea ceremony and the "teaist" movement stemming from it. A blend of Zen Buddhism and Taoism, teaism used the ancient tea ceremony to foster mental discipline and a kinship with nature that would, it was hoped, lead to enlightenment. The Book of Tea became a central text in the orientalist movement of the early 1900s, and captivated poets like Eliot and Pound."

The Guardian

Kakuzo was a leading figure in Japanese art and culture at the end of the 19th century, and this book, first published in 1906, is a classic treatise explicating the philosophical nuances of tea and the tea ceremony in Japanese culture. This edition contains an introduction by Liza Dalby who was the first American trained as a Geisha in the 1970s, and elegant photos by Daniel Proctor. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"A seminal guide to Asian life and thought. . . . Very highly recommended."
—Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher