The Book of Tea
'The Book of Tea' Summary
“Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage. In China, in the eighth century, it entered the realm of poetry as one of the polite amusements. The fifteenth century saw Japan ennoble it into a religion of aestheticism--Teaism. Teaism is a cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence. It inculcates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order. It is essentially a worship of the Imperfect, as it is a tender attempt to accomplish something possible in this impossible thing we know as life.”
The author shows that the philosophy of Teaism, which was developed from Japanese Zen Buddhist teachings, actually has deeper roots in Chinese Confucianism and Taoism as well.
After its publication in 1906 The Book of Tea provided a window into Japanese culture, and furthered a better understanding and appreciation of the philosophy behind minimalism in Japanese art, architecture, design and living.
Book Details
Authors
Okakura Kakuzo
Japan
Okakura Kakuzō was a Japanese scholar who contributed to the development of arts in Japan. Outside Japan, he is chiefly remembered today as the author of The Book of Tea. The second son of Okakura Ka...
Books by Okakura KakuzoDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, volume 11 by Various
This volume, part of a multi-volume set, focuses on a selection of literary works from the period between the writers Dana and Dickens. It features a...
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, volume 08 by Various
This volume, part of a comprehensive 45-volume set, delves into literary works spanning diverse periods and cultures. It features selections from reno...
Ancient Ideals in Modern Life: Four Lectures by Annie Besant
The lectures in this book explore the relevance of ancient ideals and teachings in the modern world, and how they can provide guidance and inspiration...
Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Germany by Friedrich Engels
Revolution and Counter-Revolution is an account of what happened in Prussia, Austria and other German states during 1848, describing the impact on bot...
The Subjection of Women by John Stuart Mill
The Subjection of Women is an essay by English philosopher, political economist and civil servant John Stuart Mill published in 1869, with ideas he de...
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, volume 04 by Various
This fourth volume in "The Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern" series features a diverse collection of writings from various a...
The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism by Bertrand Russell
This book records Bertrand Russell's impressions of the new regime after a 1920 visit to Russia following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, including his...
And Thus He Came by Cyrus Townsend Brady
This collection of short stories, often referred to as modern parables, explores the impact of Christmas on life's events and crises. The stories, wr...
Bushido: The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe
Bushido: The Soul of Japan is, along with Hagakure by Yamamoto Tsunetomo a study of the way of the samurai. A best-seller in its day, it was read by m...
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, volume 16 by Various
This volume of "The Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern" encompasses a diverse selection of literary works, ranging from the wr...
Reviews for The Book of Tea
No reviews posted or approved, yet...