Tea-Drinking: A Philosophy
(Final of two articles) TTARMONY consists in the harmony of the guests, and of them with the sound of trickling water, the sound of wind blowing through pine trees, the simmering of the kettle, harmony in the sight of simplicity and orderliness―the touch of pottery, the flavor of the tea.
Respect consists in mutual respect of the guests and their host (all men are equal in the tea room), the respect for the master of tea―Rikyu― and for the composer of the scroll hanging in the alcove, respect for the flowers which stand there in all their simplicity and perfection, for the Ta-tami, the posts, the pillars, the roof and the garden path bathed in sunlight.
Purity lies in purity of the body. In the things around the participants, but above all in the mind. When there is any feeling of competition, of enmity with nature, purity is no longer there.
Tranquility comes from nature to
the participants and they return it to nature. Tranquility is something that man gives to things, but this presupposes a nonexistent division between the two; to remove the illusion is the function of the tea ceremony.
These four elements are at the same time the fundamentals of Oriental philosophy, and beauty is brought forth by the successful blending of this philosophy to a natural way of living.
Rikyu's reformation of the art of tea was not confined to the spiritual, but also extended as far as the use and selection of utensils. For example, he began to use ceramic utensils of Japanese make, instead of imported Chinese ceramics.
After Rikyu's death, his son Shoan succeeded him, after Shoan Sotan, Shoan's son-in-law succeeded to the third generation mastership of the family. Sotan in his old age gave his residences to his three sons. The front house went to Sosa, the first son, and his school was called Omote (front)
THE VANCOUVER CHINESE BOWLING CLUB INVITES YOU
to its
NEW YEAR'S EVE DANCE
DECEMBER 31, 1964 AT THE REGAL BALLROOM, HOTEL GEORGIA
參 7:00 p.m.—Cocktail hour.
• 8:00 p.m.—Dinner—Grilled New York Cut Sirloin Steak (12-oz.)
• Dancing Till 2:30 a.m.
• Bar Service provided—Drinks only 25 cents each.
Music by the Hotel Georgia Orchestra led by John Lava rock.
Price: $15.50 per couple. Door Prizes
Call MU 2-1851 (days) or AL 3-0605, AL 5-8389 (nights) for reservations.
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CHINATOWN NEWS, NOV. 18, 1964