The Japanese Tea Ceremony Gift Set: Explore the Mysteries and Traditions of the Ancient Japanese Tea Ceremony - Hardcover

Lee, Anthony Mann-Tu

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1862045909 ISBN 13: 9781862045903

Publisher: Element Books Ltd, 1890

Synopsis

Tea making in Japan has a mystique that is a world apart from the hurried drink that is enjoyed in the West. Sado - the Way of Tea - is a highly stylized ritual that was formally established in the late sixteenth century by the master Sen-Rikyu. While the fundamentals of the ceremony were laid down by the Samurai, the esthetic comes from the austerity and grace of Zen Buddhism. The Japanese Tea Ceremony Gift Set is designed to bring a little calm and grace into your life by offering the chance to experience a simple form of relaxation that enhances self-awareness and social relationships. It will give you the opportunity to escape for an hour and immerse yourself in the elegant traditions of japan. To start you on your journey into the world of tea, the pack offers both the basic equipment and clear step-by-step instructions for carrying out your own tea ceremony at home, incorporated into a beautifully presented gift box. All that is needed for a splash of Eastern culture is the addition of hot water. Included in the pack are - A traditional Japanese teacup, a packet of matcha - powdered green tea, a bamboo whisk, and a beautifully illustrated book which explores the history and culture of Japan, the esthetics of tea, and the status of the tea ceremony in Japan today, together with over 100 illustrations and helpful diagrams.

About this title

About the Author

Anthony Man Tu-Lee was born in Canada but has been pursuing his Asian roots since he was a child. He lived in a small town at the foot of Mount Fuji, Japan, where he studied the forms, philosophy and history of the Japanese tea ceremony with a monk in Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam. He is now actively involved in teaching Asian culture, performing and teaching the tea ceremony in Canada.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Front cover: From the chaos of the civil wars in medieval Japan emerged a dramatic transformation, the simple act of pouring tea became a complex Zen Buddhist ritual called Sado, the Way of Tea. Initially the ceremony provided a focus for the mind so that practitioners could separate their thoughts from a hectic, bloody world outside, the tea ceremony served to promote tranquillity in the midst of battle. With the growth of the merchant classes in the 17th and 18th centuries came an increased interest in the detail and trappings of the ceremony - the material objects necessary to the practice that today are so prized for their beauty. Yet despite the ceremony's esthetic and love of decorum, at the heart of Sado is an understated elegance and the belief that each moment in life is as precious as the next. This was embodied in a fresh approach, heralded by tea spokesman and courtly teamaster Sen Rikyu who encouraged a clear division between guest and host to create a ritual that demanded calm, comportment, and respect for others. As the Japanese saying goes, Ichigo ichie, which translates as one time, one meeting- treat each meeting not only as the first, but also the last.

Edition details

• Publisher: Element Books Ltd
• Publication date: 1890
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1862045909
• ISBN 13: 9781862045903
• Binding: Hardcover