Tea as Medicine
 「The tea-plant, a native of southern China, was known from very early times to Chinese botany and medicine. Its is alluded to in the classics under the various names of Tou, Tseh, Chung, Kha, and Ming, and was highly prized for possessing the virtues of relieving fatigue, delighting the soul, strengthening the will, and repairing the eye-sight. It was not only administered as an internal dose, but often appllied externally in form of paste to alleviate rheumatic pains.
The 'Γaoists claimed it as an important ingreadient of the elixir of
immortality.
The Buddists used it extensively to prevent drowsiness during their long hours of medication.」(From the Book of Tea-The Scool of Tea pp.21-22,Charles E. Tuttle Co.,Rutland,Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
The preventive effect of drowsiness may be from caffeine in tea.
Now, the effect of tea chemicals are current discussions. The major components are cathekins and other polyphenol,named fravonoids. These are known as antioxidants. As other antioxidants, carotinoids are also big name of plant leaves. Tea-leaf slso contains czrotinoids such as carotines.
In its mean, Tea drinkings are good for suppling antioxidants.
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Life is an Expression of Our Innermost Thought
 | ｢Life Art, Tea has its periods and its schools. Its evolution may be roughly divided into three main stages: the Boiled Tea, the Whipped Tea, and the Steeped Tea. We moderns belong to the last school. These several methods of appreciating the beverages are indicative of the spirit of the age in which they prevailed. For life is an expression, our unconscious actions the constant betrayal of our innermost thought. Confucious said that "man hideth not." Perhaps we reveal ourselves too much in small things because we have so little of the great to conceal. The tiny incidents of daily routine are as much a commentary of racial ideals as the highest flight of philosophy or poetry.
Even as the difference in favourite vintage marks the separate idiosyncrasies of different periods and nationalities of Europe, so the Tea-ideals characterise the various moods of Oriental culture. The Cake-tea which was boiled, the Powdered-tea which was whipped, the Leaf-tea which was steeoed, mark the distinct emotional impulses of the Tang, the Sung, and the Ming dynasties of China. If we were inclined to borrow the much abused terminology of art classification, we might designate them respectiveiy, the Classic, the Romantic, and Naturalistic school of Tea.」(From the Book of Tea-The School of Tea,pp.20-2 Book of Tea-The School of Tea,pp.20-21,Chares E. Tuttles Co.,Rutland, Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
The way of Tea drinking is not just a drinking the beverages. We would say it is the expression of life, especially our unconscious actions of our innermost thought.
Let's sit down to drink tea and enjoy philosophical free conversation.
It doesn't mean a simple current way of slow life in daily time.
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No Single Recipe for Making the Perfect Tea
 「Tea is a work of art and needs a master hand to bring out its noblest qualities. We have good and bad tea, as we have good and bad paintings-generally the latter. There is no single recipe for making the perfect tea, as there are recipe for making the perfect tea, as there are no rules for producing a Titian or a Sesson. Each preparation of the leaves has its individuality, its special affinity with water and heat, its hereditary memories to recall,its own method of telling a story. The truly beautiful must be always in it. How much do we not suffer through the constant failure of society to recognise this simple and fundamental law of art and life; Lichihlai, a Sung poet, has sadly remarked that there were three most deplorable things in the world: the spoiling of fine youths through false education, the degradation of fine paintings through vulgar administration, and the utter waste of fine tea through incompetent manipulation.」(From The Book of Tea-The Schools of Tea pp.19-20, Charles E. Tuttle Co.,Rutland,Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
Okakura explained that there is no Loyal way to learn and/or master through for making the perfect tea. He taught me the importance of the individuality and decition mind by myself. I have to keep in mind of the tradition and the creativity with my own responcibilities. I am willing to create and decide everything by my view of value. The education of competent youths is the most important and must be carefull not to spoil through false education.
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A Sip of Tｅａ-linger in the beautiful foolishness of things
「The heaven of modern humanity is indeed shattered in the Cyclopean struggle for wealth and power. The world is groping in the shadow of egotism and vulgarity. Knowledge is brougt through a bad conscience, benevolence practised for the sake of utility.
The East and West, like two dragons tossed in a sea of ferment, in vain strive to regain the jewel of life. We need a Niuka again to repair the grand devastatation; we await the great Avatar. Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea.
The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle.
Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things.」(From The Book of Tea-the Cup of Humanity pp.16-17(Charles E. Tuttles Co. Rutland, Vermont-Toyo,Japan)
This is the last part of the chapter, "The Cup of Humanity". As already introduced at No.2 of this story, I think the most important part is the following sentence.
「Fain would we remain barbarians, if our claim to civilisation were to be based on the gruesome glory of war. Fain would we await the time when due respect shall be paid to our art and ideals.」
I believe The Philosophy lead to our Declaration of A WAr-renouncing Constitution. The facts are our contribution to the civilized society of the world.
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Building Anew Sky of Hope
 「 The Taoists relate that at the great beginning of the No-Beginning, Spirit and Matter met in mortal combat. At last the Yellow Emperor, the Sun of Heaven, triumphed over Shuhyung, the demon of Heaven, triumphed over Shuhyung, the demon of darkness and earth. The Titan, in his death agony, struck his head against the solar vault and shivered the blue dome of jade into fragments. The stars lost their nests, the mooon wandered aimlessly among the wild chams of the night. In despair the Yellow Emperor sought far and wide for the repairer of the Heavens. He had not to search in vain. Out of the Eastern sea rose a queen, the divine Niuka, horn-crowned and dragon-trailed, resplendent in her armour of fire. She welded the five-coloured rainbow in her magic cauldron and rebuilt the Chinese sky. But it is also told that Niuka forgot to fill two tiny crevices in the blue firmament. Thus began the dualism of love-two souls rolling through space and never at rest until they join together to complete the universe. Everyone has to build anew his sky of hope and peace.」(From The Book of Tea, The Cup of Humanity pp.1 of Tea, The Cup of Humanity pp.15-16, Charles E. Tuttles Co. ,Rutland, Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
The combat between Spirit and Matter is eternal subject to human being beyond the East and the West. Yet,we have to keep in mind always. But, We /or our status of life phenomenon are the functional status of the well organised matter. That means the Sprit of human is also the expretional functional of the well organised matter. Therefore, we have to uptake energy from outside of the world. The facts are origin of mortal human tragedy to exisistence.
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A Good Action by Stealth & the Art of Concealing Beauty
 | "A good action by stealth" is the fundamental way of oriental conception. It may be Confucian ideas influence. In Japan, "Bushido, the way of Japanese chivalry" also had the strong effect on the maind. It is the "Shame Culture". Many japanese were very sensible to shame. Recentry, I regret to say that japanese might pass out of mind. After the world war second, we japanese have to work hard for national wealth, and tend to forget about traditional culture. Now, we have to clear the difference between the nationalism and the patriotism, and think about Japanese culture from the Glocal standpoint. Let's think about "The Imperfect".
「Charles Lamb, a professed devotee, sounded the true note Teaism when he wrote that the greatest pleasure he knew was to do a good action by stealth, and to have it found out by accident. For Teaism is the art of concealing beauty that you may discover it, of suggesting what you dare not reveal. It is the noble secret of laughing at yourself, calmly yet thoroughly, and is thus humour itself,-the smile of philosophy. All genuine humourists may in this sence be called tea-philosophers,-Thackeray, for instance, and, of course, Shakespeare. The poets of the Decadence (when was not the world in decadence?), in their protects against materialism, have, to a certain extent, also opened the way of Teaism. Perhaps nowadays it is in our demure contemplation of the Imperfect that the West and the East can meet in mutual consolation.」
From The Book of Tea-the Cup of Humanity pp.14-15(Charles E. Tuttles Co. Rutland, Vermont- Tokyo,Japan)
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The Taste of Tea
 | 「There is a subtle charm in the taste of tea which makes it irresistible and capable of idealisation. Western humourists were not slow to mingle the fragrance of their thought with its aroma. It has not the arrogance of wine, the self-consciousness of coffee, nor the simpering innocence of cocoa. Already in 1711, says the Spectator:"I would therefore in a particular manner recommend these my specurations to all well-regulated families that set apart an hour every morning for tea, bread and butter; and would earnestly advise them for their good to order this paper to be punctually served up and to be looked upon as a part of the tea-equipage."
Samuel Johnson draws his own portrait as "a hardened and shameless tea-drinker, who for twenty years diluted his meals with only the infusion of the fascinating plant; who with tea amused the evening, with tea solaced the midnight, and with tea welcomed the morning."」
I think Okakura's expression and explanation about the taste of tea are quite excellent.
Yet, I would like to say "Tea has no taste, but has taste." However, no taste doesn't mean just like water. We could drink tea any time with no hesitation. Therfore, as the proverb of Zen, the Zen sect says "Feel free to come and sit down to drink tea." It means to get together to drink tea and to talk freely just like Unsui(a wandering monk in Zen).
Tea & American Indipendence
 | 「Like all the good things of the world, the propagnda of Tea met with opposition. Heretics like Henry Saville(1678) denounced drinking it as filthy custom. Jonas Hanway(Essay on Tea,1756) said that men seemed to lose their stature and comeliness, woman their beauty through the use of tea. Its cost at the start (about fifteen or sixteen shillings a pound) forbade popular consumption, and made it "regalia for hight treatments and entertainments, presents being made thereof to princes and grandees." Yet, in spite of such drawbacks tea-drinking spread with marvellous rapidity. The coffee-houses of London in the early half of the eighteenth century became, in fact, tea-houses, the resort of wits like Addison and Steele, who beguiled themselves over their "dish of tea." The beverage soon became a necessry of life-a taxable matter. We are reminded in this connection what an important part in it plays in modern history. Colonial America resigned herself to oppression until human endurance gave way before the heavy duties laid on Tea. American indipendence dates from the throwing of tea-chests into Boston harbour.」
From The Book of Tea-the Cup of Humanity pp.12-13(Charles E. Tuttles Co. Rutland,Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
The throwing of tea into Boston Harbour was the important historical happening to induce the indipendence war against England. The facts mean at that time Tea was already inevitable drinks in their daily life. I don't hesitate to agree to Okakura's description "in spite of drawbacks tea-drinking spread with marvellous rapidity". He also recognized the facts of "necessary of life-a taxable matter." I laugh silently to myself becuse our japanese goverment is always struggle to find a taxable matter in daily so called non・alcoholic drinks.
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The History of Tea to Euoropean
「The earliest record of tea in European writing is said to be found in the statement of an Arabian traveller, that after the year 879 the main sources of revenue in Canton were the duties on salt and tea. Marco Polo records the depotition of a Chinese minister of finance in 1285 for his arbitrary augmentation of the tea-taxes. It was at the period of the great discoveries that the European people began to know more about the extreme Orient. At the end of the sixteenth century the Hollanders brought the news that a pleasant drink was in the East from the leaves of a bush.
The travellers Giovanni Batista Ramusio(1559), L.Almeida(1576),Maffeno(1588),Tareia(1610),also mentioned tea.
In the last-named year ships of the Dutch East India Company brought the first tea into Europe. It was known in France in 1636,and reached Russia in 1638.
England welcomed it in 1650 and spoke of it as "That exellent and by all phisicians
approved China drink, called by the Chineans Tcha, and by other nations Tray, alias Tee."」
From The Book of Tea－the Cup of Humanity pp.11-12(Charles E. Tuttles Co.Rutland,
Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
As for Japanese history to drink tea, Emperor Saga, Heiann generation was well known to enjoy tea and poem at 8th centuries, said to be brought back to japan by buddhist, Ku-kai &/or Saichou from China,"Tou" generation.
THe powdered tea for the way of tea was brought back by buddist named Saigyou at 13th centuries, Kamakura generation in japan.Since then,tea drinking was spread to many peoples through buddist.
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Harmony-Weak Against Aggression
「Let us stop the continents from hurling epigrams at each other, and be sadder if not wiser by the mutual gain of half a hemisphere. We have developed along different lines, but there is no reason why one should not supplement the other. You have gained expansion at the cost of restlessness; we have created a harmony which is weak against aggression. Will you believe it?-the East is better off in some respects jhan the West!
Strangely enough humanity has so far met in the tea-cup. It is the only Asiatic ceremonial which commands universal esteem.
The white man has scoffed at our religion and our morals, but has accepted the brown beverage without hesitation. The afternoon tea is now an important function in Western society. In the delicate clatter of trays and saucers,in the soft rustle of feminine hospitality, in the common catechism about cream and suger, we know that the Workship of Tea is established beyond question. The philosophic resignation of the guest to the fate awaiting him in the dubious decoration proclaims that in this single instance the Oriental spirit reigns supreme.」
From The Book of Tea-the Cup of Humanity pp.10-11（Charles E. Tuttles Co. Rutland,
Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
The Worship of Tea is based on gentle harmony between the human relations. We have to love and respect each others beyond any differences such as East and West,nations,
and countries. "The Tea" also must harmonize with nature.
The equorites of human being are essential in just getting together to drink tea. We hate the aggresiveness and love the peace. Therefore, it is the historical necessity that we, Japan have the constitution to renunctiate the War.
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The Mutual Understanding
「Perhaps I betray my own ignorance of the Tea Cult by being so outspoken. Its very spirit of politeness exacts that you say what you are expected to say, and no more.
But I am not to be a polite Teaist. So much harm has been done already by the mutual misunderstanding of the New World and the Old, that one need not apologise for contributing his tithe to the furtherance of a better understanding. The beginning the twentieth century would have been spared the spectacle of sanguinary warfare if Russia had condenscended to know Japan better.
What dire concequences to humanity lie in the contemptuous ignoring of Eastern problems!
European imperialism, which does not disdain to raise the absurd cry of the Yellow Peril, fails to realise that Asia may also awaken to the cruel sense of the White Disaster.
You may laugh at us for having "too much tea", but may we not susoect that you of the West have "no tea" in your constitution?」
"The Book of Tea"(Chales E. Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont-Tokyo, Japan) From chapter;The Cup of Humanity pp.9-10
Unfortunatly, we have to realize the facts that the disastrous misunderstanding are still happening in this world. Nowaday not only between the East and the West, more complicated facters are relating. They are sometimes reagions, nationarities, economics.
The technology developments to accelerate the communications among worldwide peoples are not yet enough to make the world peace.
We need more direct communications between the people basis. That meen the tea cult is one of the best way to the direct happy communicaton.
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| | | 
「In the fifth chapter Luwuh describes the method of making tea. He eliminates all ingredients except salt. He dwells also on the much-discussed question of the choice of water and the degree of boiling it. According to him, the mountain spring is the best, the river water and the spring water come next in the order of excellence. There are three stages of boiling : the first boil is when the little bubbles like the eye of fishes swim on the surface; the second boil is when the bubbles are like crystal beads rolling in a fountain; the third boil is when the billows surge wildly in the kettle. The Cake-tea is roasted before the fire until it becomes soft like a baby's arm and is shredded into powder between pieces of fine paper. Salt is put in the first boil, the tea in the second.
「The "Chaking" consists of three volumes and ten chapters. In the first chapter Luwuh treats of the nature of the tea-plant, in the second of the implements for gathering the leaves, in the third
