Friday, December 31, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.20

The Choice of Water & the Degree of
Boiling-The Method of Making Tea

Acrobat Monkey His Master by Katashi Oyama「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.
At the third boil, a dipperful of cold water is poured into the kettle to settle the tea and revive the "youth of the water". Then the beverage was poured into cups and drunk.」
(From The Book of Tea-The School of Tea,pp.25-2 Book of Tea-The School of Tea,pp.25-26, Charles E. Tuttle Co.,Rutland, Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
It is so surprising Luwuh was carefull to the choice of water and the degree of boiling for the drinking Tea at his generation.
At the present situations, there are various kinds of tea and each teas has own characteristics. The facts mean much more minds must be paid to the choice of water and the degree of boiling.

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Thursday, December 30, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.19

The Influence of Tea on Chinese Ceramics
Russianblue Katashi Oyama

「The fourth chapter is devoted to the enumeration and description of the twenty-four members of the tea-equipage, beginning with the tripod brazier and ending with the bamboo cabinet for containing all these utensils.
Here we notice Luwuh's predilection for Taoist symbolism. Also it is interesting to observe in this connection the influence of tea on Chinese ceramics.
The Celestial porcelation, as is well known, had its origin in an attempt to reproduce the exquisite shade of jade, resulting, in the Tang dynasty, in the blue glaze of the south, and the glaze of the north.
Luwuh considered the blue as the ideal colour for the tea-cup, as it lent additional greenness to the beverage, whereas the white made it look pinkish and distasteful. It was because he used cake-tea.
Later on, when the tea-masters of Sung took to the powdered tea, they preferred heavy bowls of blue powdered tea, they preferred heavy bowls of blue-black tea, they preferred heavy bowls of blue-black and dark brown.
The Mings, with their steeped tea, rejoiced in light ware with of white porcelain.」
(The Book of Tea-The School of Tea, pp.24-25, Charles E. Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
From the generation of Luwuh, tea equipments were already underuse as if the same as present days.
We have to remember that you could choice any kind of ceramics and other utensils under your own sense. Enjoy tea as you like and your own way. That is the way of Tea drinkig. The facts are aiso the expression of The way of Life.

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Wednesday, December 29, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No18

Fine Earth Newly Swept by Rain

Every With Good by Katashi Oyama「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
of the selection of the leaves. According to him the best quality of the leaves must have "creases like the leather boot of Tartar horsemen, curl like the dewlap of a mighty bullock, unfold like a mist rising out a mighty bullock, unfold like a mist rising out of a ravine, gleam like a lake touched by a zephyr, and be wet and soft like fine earth newly swept by rain."」
(From The Book of Tea-The Scools of Tea, pp.22, Charles E, Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont-Tokyo, Japan)
Just,Enjoy the beatiful lylic poetry like sentences and expression. This is the oriental way of lylical descriptoin of feelings even scientific matters.
It is surprising that Luwuh described all round Book about Tea at eighth century alredy.

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Tuesday, December 28, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-(17)

Luwuh-Chaking


Hare by Katashi Oyama「Its needed the genius of the Tang dynasty to emancipate Tea from its crude state and lead to its final idealisation. Witn Luwuh in the middle of the eighth century we have our our first apostle of tea.
He was born in an age when Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism were seeking mutual synthesis. The pantheistic symbolism of the time was urging one to mirror the Universal in the Particular.
Luwuh, a poet, saw in the Tea-service the same harmony and order which reigned through all things. In his celebrated work, the "Chaking"(The Holy Scripture of Tea) he formulated the Code of Tea. He has since been worshipped as the tutelary god of the Chinese tea merchants.」
(From The Book of Tea-The School of Tea pp.23-24,Charles E. Tuttle Co.,Rutland,Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
The "Chaking" is the most historically important Book written by Luwuh, which is recognized and named as the "The Holy Scripture of Tea". Even our generation,The Book is still the very important Book to understand all about the Tea. We can say He is The Saint of Tea by the works of written book.

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Monday, December 27, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.16

Froth of the Liquid Jade

Kayokukan by Katashi Oyama「By the fourth and fifth centuries Tea became a favourite beverage among the inhabitants of the Yantage-Kiniang valley. Its was about this time that the modern ideograph Cha was coined, evidently a corruption of the classic Tou. The poets of the southen dynasties have left some fragments of their fervent adoration of the "froth of the liquid jade." Then emperors used to below some rare preparation of the leaves on their high ministers as a reward for eminent services.
Yet the method of drinking tea at this stage was primitive in the extreme. The leaves were streamed, crushed in a mortar, made into a cake, and boiled together with rice, ginger salt, orange peel, spices, milk, and sometimes with onions!
The custom obtains at the present day among the Thibetans and various Mongolian tribes, who make a curious syrup of these ingredients. The use of lemon slices by the Russians, who learned to take tea from the Chinese caravansaries, points to the survival of the ancient method.」
(From The Book of Tea-The School of Tea pp.22-23,Charles E. Tuttle Co., Rutland,Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)
From above descrived way of drinking Tea, you are able to mix any other foods which you like. Therefore, any nation could induce the tea into their country.
The facts might be the reasons why the tea spread over world wide.
In addition,its mean the drinks contain almost all kinds of nutritional components.
You will accept the idea that the tea have the glocal character.

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Sunday, December 26, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No15

Tea as Medicine

Striped Porgy by Katashi Oyama「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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Friday, December 24, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.14

Life is an Expression of Our Innermost Thought

Striped Porgy by Katashi Oyama 「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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Thursday, December 23, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.13

No Single Recipe for Making the Perfect Tea

Russianblue by Katashi Oyama「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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Monday, December 20, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.12

A Sip of Tea-linger in the beautiful foolishness of things
With Every Good by Katashi Oyama
「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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Saturday, December 18, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.11

Building Anew Sky of Hope

Acrobat Monkey & His Master(Lithograph) by Katashi OyamaThe 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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Wednesday, December 15, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.10

A Good Action by Stealth & the Art of Concealing Beauty

Kayokukan by Katashi Oyama"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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Monday, December 13, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.9

The Taste of Tea


Hare by Katashi Oyama「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).

Friday, December 10, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.8

Tea & American Indipendence


Russianblue(Lithograph)  by Katashi Oyama「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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Wednesday, December 08, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.7

The History of Tea to Euoropean

With Every Good by Katashi oyama
「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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Sunday, December 05, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.6

Harmony-Weak Against Aggression

Stripedporgy by Katashi Oyama
「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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Friday, December 03, 2004

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.5

The Mutual Understanding

Acrobat Monkey & His Master by Katashi Oyama


「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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