The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo

[dancerjodi]

Back sometime in 2004 on one of our White Mountains trips I picked up this book in a clearance bin for $4.98. We were browsing in my favorite book store in Lincoln, NH (the Innisfree Bookshop, inside of the old Mill building on the Kanc Highway, near Loon Mountain) and I caught the low price, neat pictures, and interesting topic. Upon further scrutiny I noticed that inside of the book jacket it was noted that the author read this story first aloud at Isabella Stewart Gardner's salon in 1906. I used to spend a lot of time at the Gardner Museum when I was at Simmons (it being right next door, and me getting free admission as a Simmons student) and it holds a kind of magical place in my heart for various reasons, so the book appealed to me even more.

I'm definitely a big tea drinker that tends to do my best thinking when sitting with a cup, pondering the simplicity of the ritual. I'm also interested in learning of different religions and of history (and, history of religions) which the book also touches on. I finally 2 years later, got around to reading the thing!



Here's some interesting ideas/quotes I copied down while reading:
“American culture has traditionally stressed the Romantic notion that form and structure are things to be thrown off to discover the pure artistic soul beneath. In contrast, the idea that deep artistic freedom can lie within rigidly structured form is one of the most important lessons I have learned in my life, and I am grateful that I found it at an early age, in tea.” (in introduction by Liza Dalby)

“Those who cannot feel the littleness of great things in themselves are apt to overlook the greatness of little things in others.”

“It has not the arrogance of wine, the self-consciousness of coffee, nor the simpering innocence of cocoa.”

Tea has historically been prepared according to three different styles: boiled (a formed cake that was boiled, during the time of the "classic" Tang Dynasty), whipped (a fine powdered variety, during the "romantic" Sung Dynasty) and today's steeped variety (using full leaves, starting with the "naturalistic" Ming Dynasty)

“Teaism was Taoism in disguise.”, involving the concepts of relativity, mundane=spiritual

I have to admit, though I enjoyed some of the concepts in this book greatly (marveling over the beauty and meaning of the simple, of order, of balance) it tended to lose me towards the last couple of chapters. Its beautifully written and is a work of poetry in its own right (imo), but the same basic concepts are reiterated over and over again. I ended up skimming the last couple of chapters. Alas, the book doesn't get into the mechanics of the tea ceremony or preparation in detail itself - but there are plenty of other books out there that do. The point really was to express the essence of tea or rather, teaism, and I think it does this well.

I just thought some of you may be interested in reading. I may lend to a co-worker that's a big tea and history buff, but if you think you may be interested in borrowing let me know (and I can give to you in the future).

Comments

[arianasilver.livejournal.com]

That does sound pretty interesting, actually. I love a good cup of tea over most other things. I especially like this quote: "In contrast, the idea that deep artistic freedom can lie within rigidly structured form is one of the most important lessons I have learned in my life..."

Tea book

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"That does sound pretty interesting, actually. I love a good cup of tea over most other things."

I'm not sure how I'll get it to you (maybe through Amavia?), but when my co-worker is done with it I can pass it on to you. :) I know I'll never read it again (and I only paid $5 for it).