An Introduction to Japanese Tea Ritual [Paperback]

Jennifer L. Anderson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 374 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (September 3, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791407500
• ISBN-13: 978-0791407509
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,438,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best introductions to Chado there are, March 22, 2011

By 

Manuel Del Rio Rodriguez "Galician Bookworm" (Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: An Introduction to Japanese Tea Ritual (Paperback)

'An Introduction to Japanese Tea Ritual' is a very well-written, systematic and enjoyable introduction to one of the classical Japanese arts: Chado, usually translated in the West as 'the Tea Ceremony', a name the author os this book dislikes (following Sen Shoshitsu XVth, oiemoto of Urasenke).

The book annalyses different aspects of the art, and of her schooling in it, following the Urasenke family tradition, which is the most accesible to non-Japanese. Information is included about the history and origins of ritual tea-consumption, its development in Japan, the different elements employed in tea ritual and an explanation of their role and 'grammar' (how each element transmit information, like the choices of items employed for each tea gathering, the toriawase). The author has studied Anthropology, so she also gives her reflections on the Tea-Ritual as a form of religious experience, in connection with Zen Buddhism, with transformative and more conventional elements coexisting inside it. The book also explains the structure of Tea-Learning and its organizations (especially Urasenke) and gives a model of a sojo-chaji (formal tea gathering at midday). There's some other tidbits and morsels of information scattered around.

Overall, I'd say this is the best introduction you can probably find about Chado. I've read 3 myself, with this one (Sadler's and Okakura's are the other two), and this one gives the starting information clearly and systematically, and with reasonable depth. The only deffect I'd mention is I wish the book was much, much bigger and detailed.