The art of the tea ceremony has a long history in Japan going back many hundreds of years and practiced among the cultured nobility and the imperial family. But did you know that the tea ceremony was extremely popular among some of the most feared warlords in Japanese history.
Probably the most feared warlord of them all was Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) who had a great passion for the tea ceremony. Nobunaga did not just simply participate in the ceremonies but also had a great desire to collect the most incredible tea utensils, meibutsu, as well as how to use them expertly. Nobunaga received instruction in the art of tea from the greatest masters including Imai Sokyu, Tsuda Sogyu, and Sen no Rikyu.
For Rikyu, this association meant fame and fortune, and for Nobunaga it brought qualification as a man of culture. Each used the other to increase his own prestige.
Nobunaga valued he's tea utensils immensely. A sign of how much Nobunaga valued his great general Toyotomi Hideyoshi is revealed after Nobunaga rewarded him with twelve of his famed tea pieces. On the first day of the sixth month of 1582, Oda Nobunaga held a grand tea party at the Honnoji temple in Kyoto, having brought with him several dozen of his most precious tea implements to show an assembly of leading nobles and lords of the land. But before the next day had dawned, Nobunaga was dead, the victim of one of his general's, Akechi Mitsuhide. Both Nobunaga and his meibutsu were devoured by the flames that destroyed the temple in which he was staying.
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The tea ceremony is part of Japanese celebrations. It brings intimacy and closeness to those who participate.
ReplyDeleteIf you tour Kyoto, there are places to visit that offer the tea ceremony as part of the experience.
Matsunaga Hisahide was another tea freak as well. Before Hisahide persihed, he made sure that Nobunaga was not going to obtain histea kettle. Matsunaga destroyed it as he took his own life.
ReplyDeleteAnother story I like was when Nobunaga gave Gifu Castle to his son, Nobutada. He gave him everything except the tea goods. Nobunaga did not want to give away his prized jewels.
Tony, I have yet to visit Kyoto but I will someday and would love to experience that.
ReplyDeleteOtsuke, those are two really interesting stories. It shows how much they cherished them. It really does show how much Nobunaga respected Hideyoshi then after giving him so many prized tea sets.
I've always thought it was interesting that samurai were interested in the tea ceremony. I have read and do understand the reason, but still.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Many were also interested in the other arts such as renga and Noh.
ReplyDeleteThe Samurai became influenced by those they associated with. The artisans who they worked with and were influenced by.
ReplyDeletehttp://nihonehime.blogspot.com/2008/10/koetsu-ji-temple-kyoto.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honami_K%C5%8Detsu
Tony,
ReplyDeleteI'm a graduate student doing a public relations homework assignment. Could I use the tea ceremony picture in this post?
Sorry Renee but I did not take this photo and I forget to cite it. Maybe I got it from Wikipedia but I am not certain. It was two years ago. I always cite photos now and use public domain photos.
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