Tea-cult . . . represents a mutual rejoicing in such spiritual bonds of comradeship, in the course of the search for Truth, Good and Beauty, through the works of art placed in the tea-room. For example, if both the host and guests discover in the tea cup, brought into the tea-room by the host, some comment element of beauty, the souls of those persons become united.
(This passage appears on page 151 of The Ideologies of Japanese Tea: Subjectivity, Transience and National Identity, by Tim Cross, Global Oriental, 2009. Its original source is “On tea-room enjoyment,” by Emori Nahiko; from Chashitsu [Tea-rooms], by Emori Nahiko and Asahitani Sau. Asahi Shimbun, 1949.)
For a sample of Emori Nahiko’s tea-house design work, click here. Tim Cross is an Associate Professor at Fukuoka University.
Comments