On Jars and All-time Masters. Chanoyu as Revealed by Yamanoue Sōji

• Authors: Urszula Mach-Bryson

Abstracts

EN

Amongst the multiple treatises and documents that a chanoyu history researcher has at their disposal, the Yamanoue Sōji ki (Record of Yamanoue Sōji) holds a special place. First of all, written over the period from 1586 to 1590, it is a document written within the timeframe of the life of Sen no Rikyū (1522–1591) – the very person to whom the accomplished form of wabicha – tea in the style of the “beauty of noble poverty”, is attributed. It is the first tea document written with at least an attempt to record the history of chanoyu. Mostly focused on lists of noteworthy utensils, it is also a tea treatise that in a detailed manner describes the tearooms of Takeno Jōō (1502–1555) and Rikyū, including drawings to illustrate the descriptions. The Record relates the teachings of Murata Shukō (1423–1502), Takeno Jōō and Rikyū. Sōji became Rikyū’s disciple in 1565 and studied with Rikyū for over twenty years, therefore the Record is a source concerning the style and essence of Rikyū’s tea based on first-hand information. The article describes the contents of the Yamanoue Sōji ki and includes a closer analysis of two out of many aspects of the world of tea mentioned: the status of a tea jar among the widely described must-know tea utensils, and Sōji’s categories of tea men. It is the author’s belief, that study of the Record can provide a fresh insight into the nature of tea in Rikyū’s times, and can turn out to be of invaluable help for today’s tea practitioners in finding their approach to the essence of tea.

Keywords

EN

the Way of Tea; chanoyu; Yamanoue Sōji ki; Yamanoue Sōji; Sen no Rikyū; chatsubo; wabicha

• Publisher: Polskie Stowarzyszenie Badań Japonistycznych
• Journal: Analecta Nipponica
• Year: 2015
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 99-116

Dates

published

2015

Contributors

author

Urszula Mach-Bryson

• Uniwersytet Warszawski: Wydział Orientalistyczny

References

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Identifiers

Biblioteka Nauki

1810629