Wabi-cha
Encyclopedia
Wabi-chaWabi-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 term came into use in the Edo era, prior to which it was known as wabi-suki (侘数寄), suki generally referring to the concept of "artistic inclination," and "wabi" literally meaning 'forlorn'.
, tea ceremony had become widespread, with a preference for expensive wares of Chinese
origin (known as karamono). Wabi-cha evolved as part of a movement to appreciate local wares and simpler styles.
Generally, three main figures are credited with the development of the wabi-cha aesthetic form of chanoyu: first, Murata Shukō
; then, Takeno Jōō
; and finally, Sen Rikyū.
Rikyū cited two poems from the Shin Kokin Waka Shū poetry anthology of the early thirteenth century, as exemplifying his wabi aesthetic. One, a favorite of Takeno Jōō's, is by Fujiwara Teika (1162–1241):
The other, in which Rikyū found particular appeal, is by Fujiwara Ietaka (1158–1237):
At the core of Rikyū's aesthetic was the tea room smaller than 4.5 tatami mats. Rikyū sought to mold chanoyu into a spiritual path. His radical simplification of the tea-room interior, his reduction of space to the bare minimum needed for "a sitting," was the most practical way of focusing tea practice on the communion of host and guests. This is seen in the one extant tea house attributed to his design, the tea house called Taian (待庵), located at Myōkian temple in Yamazaki, Kyoto, which has been designated by the Japanese government as a National Treasure (kokuhō). His achievement represents the culmination of the wabi aesthetic born of the contemplative awareness of the relationship between people and things.
With Rikyū, wabi took on its most profound and paradoxical meaning: a purified taste in material things as a medium for human interaction transcending materialism.
Rikyū also began designing his own tea wares, sometimes having them made by local craftsmen. Raku ware tea bowls originated from Rikyū having the tile maker named Raku Chōjirō
create tea bowls for him. He even created his own objects to use in the tea room
, including flower containers made of bamboo he cut himself.
Japanese tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
particularly associated with Sen Rikyū and Takeno Jōō
Takeno Joo
was a master of the tea ceremony and a well-known merchant during the Sengoku period of the 16th century in Japan. His name has come down in Japanese cultural history because he followed Murata Jukō as an early proponent of wabi-cha, and was chanoyu teacher to Sen Rikyū.It is believed that the...
before him. Wabi-cha emphasizes simplicity. The term came into use in the Edo era, prior to which it was known as wabi-suki (侘数寄), suki generally referring to the concept of "artistic inclination," and "wabi" literally meaning 'forlorn'.
History
By the latter years of the Muromachi periodMuromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...
, tea ceremony had become widespread, with a preference for expensive wares of Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
origin (known as karamono). Wabi-cha evolved as part of a movement to appreciate local wares and simpler styles.
Generally, three main figures are credited with the development of the wabi-cha aesthetic form of chanoyu: first, Murata Shukō
Murata Shuko
Murata Shukō was a Japanese tea ceremony practicer of Muromachi period. He proposed the importance of the spirit and mind in the ceremony from studying Zen Buddhism....
; then, Takeno Jōō
Takeno Joo
was a master of the tea ceremony and a well-known merchant during the Sengoku period of the 16th century in Japan. His name has come down in Japanese cultural history because he followed Murata Jukō as an early proponent of wabi-cha, and was chanoyu teacher to Sen Rikyū.It is believed that the...
; and finally, Sen Rikyū.
Rikyū cited two poems from the Shin Kokin Waka Shū poetry anthology of the early thirteenth century, as exemplifying his wabi aesthetic. One, a favorite of Takeno Jōō's, is by Fujiwara Teika (1162–1241):
Casting wide my gaze,/
Neither flowers/
Nor scarlet leaves:/
A bayside hovel of reeds/
In the autumn dusk.
The other, in which Rikyū found particular appeal, is by Fujiwara Ietaka (1158–1237):
Show them who wait/
Only for flowers/
There in the mountain villages:/
Grass peeks through the snow,/
And with it, spring.
At the core of Rikyū's aesthetic was the tea room smaller than 4.5 tatami mats. Rikyū sought to mold chanoyu into a spiritual path. His radical simplification of the tea-room interior, his reduction of space to the bare minimum needed for "a sitting," was the most practical way of focusing tea practice on the communion of host and guests. This is seen in the one extant tea house attributed to his design, the tea house called Taian (待庵), located at Myōkian temple in Yamazaki, Kyoto, which has been designated by the Japanese government as a National Treasure (kokuhō). His achievement represents the culmination of the wabi aesthetic born of the contemplative awareness of the relationship between people and things.
With Rikyū, wabi took on its most profound and paradoxical meaning: a purified taste in material things as a medium for human interaction transcending materialism.
Rikyū also began designing his own tea wares, sometimes having them made by local craftsmen. Raku ware tea bowls originated from Rikyū having the tile maker named Raku Chōjirō
Chojiro
is distinguished as the first generation in the Raku family line of potters, and according to historical documents, was the son of one Ameya, who is said to have immigrated to Japan from China , which is also asserted on the RAKU WARE website of the still active line of potters founded by Chojiro...
create tea bowls for him. He even created his own objects to use in the tea room
Chashitsu
In Japanese tradition, architectural spaces designed to be used for tea ceremony gatherings are known as chashitsu ....
, including flower containers made of bamboo he cut himself.