Southern Record
Encyclopedia
is a book of secrets describing the teachings of the tea saint, Sen no Rikyū
.
After the death of Rikyu, the book was lost with its author, Nanbo Sokei, a Zen priest and Rikyu's leading disciple. About one hundred years later, in 1686, Tachibana Jitsuzan, the chief vassal of the Kuroda clan
happened to find the book while heading to Edo
with his lord. Tachibana set about the task of transcribing the work into five volumes, adding two further volumes when more documents came to light. He then made a fair copy of the seven volumes, and the book was named Southern Record for the first time. The collection was highly regarded among researchers as a direct record of Rikyu’s teachings and exerted a great influence on the process of the concept building of wabi-cha
. The original collection is now owned by a Zen temple, Enkaku-ji, in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
, where a very limited number of pupils are initiated into the Nanpo school tea ceremony
.
, entitled Chá Ching (Cha-kyo in Japanese, The Classic of Tea
or Tea Classic in English), in which he writes "Tea is a good tree in the south". The alternative view asserts that it came from the name of the original author, Nanbo Sokei. .
Sen no Rikyu
, is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese "Way of Tea", particularly the tradition of wabi-cha...
.
After the death of Rikyu, the book was lost with its author, Nanbo Sokei, a Zen priest and Rikyu's leading disciple. About one hundred years later, in 1686, Tachibana Jitsuzan, the chief vassal of the Kuroda clan
Kuroda clan
The ' was a Japanese samurai clan which came to prominence during the Sengoku period.-Origins:The Kuroda clan claimed its origins in Tōtōmi Province.-Sengoku era:...
happened to find the book while heading to Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
with his lord. Tachibana set about the task of transcribing the work into five volumes, adding two further volumes when more documents came to light. He then made a fair copy of the seven volumes, and the book was named Southern Record for the first time. The collection was highly regarded among researchers as a direct record of Rikyu’s teachings and exerted a great influence on the process of the concept building of wabi-cha
Wabi-cha
Wabi-cha Wabi-cha Wabi-cha (わび茶、侘茶、侘び茶）, or wabi-tea, is a style of Japanese tea ceremony particularly associated with Sen Rikyū and Takeno Jōō before him. Wabi-cha emphasizes simplicity...
. The original collection is now owned by a Zen temple, Enkaku-ji, in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is best known as the location of Fukuoka's main train station, Hakata Station.-Geography:...
, where a very limited number of pupils are initiated into the Nanpo school tea ceremony
Tea ceremony
A tea ceremony is a ritualised form of making tea. The term generally refers to either chayi Chinese tea ceremony, chado Japanese tea ceremony, tarye Korean tea ceremony. The Japanese tea ceremony is more well known, and was influenced by the Chinese tea ceremony during ancient and medieval times....
.
Chapters
- First Scroll: Memorandum 卷一 覚書
- Second Scroll: Gatherings卷二 会
- Third Scroll: Shelves卷三 棚
- Fourth Scroll: Schools卷四 書院
- Fifth Scroll: Tables卷五 台子
- Sixth Scroll: Citations卷六 墨引
- Seventh Scroll: Memoirs卷七 滅後
Outline
There are two opinions regarding the origin of the book's name. The first holds that it derived from the opening passage of the work by the Chinese writer, Lu YuLu Yu
Lu Yu is respected as the Sage of Tea for his contribution to Chinese tea culture. He is best known for his monumental book The Classic of Tea , the first definitive work on cultivating, making and drinking tea.-Biography:...
, entitled Chá Ching (Cha-kyo in Japanese, The Classic of Tea
The Classic of Tea
The Classic of Tea or Tea Classic is the very first monograph on tea in the world, written by Chinese writer Lu Yu between 760 CE and 780 CE during the Tang Dynasty....
or Tea Classic in English), in which he writes "Tea is a good tree in the south". The alternative view asserts that it came from the name of the original author, Nanbo Sokei. .