Friday, October 21, 2005

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.116

With A Smile Upon His Face Rikiu Passed Forth Into The Unknown

 『The ceremony is over; the guests with difficulty restraining their tears, take their last farewell and leave the room.
 
 One only, the nearest and dearest, is requested to remain and witness the end.

 Rikiu then removes his tea-gown and carefully folds it upon the mat, thereby disclosing the immaculate white death robe which it had hitherto cocealed.

 Tenderly he gazes on the shining blade of the fatal dagger, and in exquisite verse thus addresses it:

" Welcome to three,
O sword of Eternity !
Through Buddha
    And Through Dharuma Alike
Thou Hast Cleft Thy Way."

 With a smile upon his face Rikiu passed forth into the unknown.』

 (From The Book of Tea; Tea-Masters, p.116, Chales E. Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont, Tokyo, Japan)

Click Please!! Listed on BlogShares

Thursday, October 20, 2005

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.115

The Evanescence Of All Earthly Things

 『On the day destined for his self-immolation, Rikiu invited his chief disciples to a last tea-ceremony.

Mournfully at the appointed time the guests met at the portio.

As they look into the garden path the trees seem to shudder, and in the rustling of their leaves are heard the whispers of homeless ghosts.

Like solemn sentinels before the gates of Hades stand the grey stone lanterns.

A wave of rare incense is wafted from the tea-room; it is the summons which bids the guests to enter.

One by one they advance and take their places.

In the tokonoma hangs a kakemono,-a wonderful writing by an ancient monk dealing with the evanescence of all earthly things.

The singing kettle, as it boils over the brazier, sounds like some cicada pouring forth his woes to departing summer.

Soon the host enters the room.

Each in turn is served with tea, and each in turn silently drains his cup, the host last of all.

According to established etiquette, the chief gust now asks permission to examine the tea-equipage.

Rikiu places the various articles before them with the kakemono.

After all have expressed admiration of their beauty, Rikiu presents one of them to each of the assembled company as a souvenir.

The bowl alone he keeps.

"Never again shall this cup, polluted by the lips of misfortune, be used by man."

He speaks, and breaks the vessel into fragments.』
(From the Book of the Tea; Tea-Masters, p.11 Book of the Tea; Tea-Masters, p.114-115, Charles E. Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont, Tokyo, Japan)

Click Please!! Listed on BlogShares

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.-114

Seeking Always To Be In Harmony
With The Great Rhythm Of The Universe

『He only who has lived with the beautiful can die beautifully.
 
 The last moments of great tea-masters were as full of exquisite refinement as had been their lives.

 Seeking always to be in harmony with the great rhythm of the universe, they were ever prepared to enter the unknown.

 The "Last Tea of Rikiu" will stand forth forever as the acme of tragic grandeur.

Long had been the friendship between Rikiu and the Taiko-Hideyoshi,
and high the estimation in which the great warrior held the tea-master.

But the friendship of a despot is ever a dangerous honour.

It was an age rife with treachery, and men trusted not even their nearest kin.

Rikiu was no servile courtier, and often dared to differ in argument with his fierce patron.

Taking advantage of coldness which had for some time existed between the Taiko and Rikiu, the enemies of the latter accused him of being implicated in a conspiracy to poison the deposit.

It was whispered to Hideyoshi that the fatal potion was to be administered to him with a cup of the green beverage prepared by the tea-master.

With Hideyoshi suspicion was sufficient ground for instant execution, and there was no appeal from the will of the angry ruler.

One privilege alone was granted to the condemned-the honour of dying by his own hand.』
(From the Book of Tea; Tea-Masters,p.113-114 , Charles E. Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont, Tokyo, Japan)

Click Please!! Listed on BlogShares

Monday, October 17, 2005

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.113

Joy & Beauty in the Roll of the Billows
as They Sweep Outward Toward Eternity

『Those of us who know not the secret of properly regulating our own existing our own existince on this tumultuous sea of foolish troubles which we call life are constantly in a state of misery while vainly tring to appear happy and cotented.

We stagger in the attempt to keep our moral equilibrium, and see forerunners of the tempest in every cloud that floats on the horizon.

Yet there is joy and beauty in the roll of the billows as they sweep outward toward eternity.

Why not enter into their spirit, or, loke Liehtse, ride upon the hurricane itself?』
 (From the Book of Tea; Tea-Masters, p.113, Charles E. Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont, Tokyo, Japan)

Click Please!! Listed on BlogShares

Sunday, October 16, 2005

The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.112

Natural Love of Simplicity &
The Beauty of Humanity

『Great as has benn the influence of the tea-masters in the field of art, it is as nothing compared to that which they have exerted on the conduct of life.

Not only in the usages of polite society, but also in the arrangement of all our domestic details, do we feel the presence of the tea-masters.

Many of our delicate dishes, as well as way of serving food, are their inventions.

They have taught us to dress only in garments of sober colours.

They have instructed us the beaty of humanity.

In fact, through their teachings tea has entered the life of the people.』
(From the Book of Tea; Teqa-Masters, p.112, Charles E. Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont,Tokyo, Japan)

Click Please!! Listed on BlogShares