The Book of Tea
1900 • 128 pages

Ratings21

Average rating3.6

15

The Book of Tea describes all aspects of the Japanese tea ceremony and explains how its rituals blend seamlessly with traditional Japanese life. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition has an introduction by Anna Sherman and delightful illustrations by Sayuri Romei. This short book, written in English by a Japanese scholar and artist, was first published in 1906 at a time when Japan was opening up to Western Culture. In response to that, Okakura Kakuzo set out to explain the beauty and simplicity of Japanese daily life which was greatly inspired by teaism. He describes in detail the different aspects of the tea ceremony, how it was founded, the role of the tea masters, the architecture of the tea-room and the stages of making and serving the tea. He then goes on to explain the connection between Taoism and Zennism with tea and he also writes chapters on art appreciation and the art of flower arranging.

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Series

Featured Series

14 primary books

#11 in Penguin Little Black Classics

Penguin Little Black Classics is a 14-book series with 14 primary works first released in -441 with contributions by Giovanni Boccaccio, Eugene H. Peterson, and David Morrell.


Reviews

Popular Reviews

Reviews with the most likes.

Tea as religion
influencer of art forms
smug simplicity.

November 4, 2021
August 3, 2022

Re-read, a classic that says a lot not only about the Tea Ceremony and teaism, but Japanese Culture.

March 24, 2014