Collection
Chanoyu ichi-e shū (The Spirit of Ichi-e in Chanoyu)
| Chanoyu ichi-e shū (The Spirit of Ichi-e in Chanoyu) |
| Written by Ii Naosuke; booklet, ink on paper; height 26.8 cm, width 19.2 cm; Edo period, 19th century; Important Cultural Property; Gift of the Ii Family |
This work is widely considered the summation of Ii Naosuke’s thinking and study about the practice of tea (chanoyu). It was completed circa 1857 after numerous revisions. Among the ideas it discusses is ichi-go ichi-e, a phrase that captures the desirable interaction between host and guests, stating that one should treasure every tea gathering as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Another is dokuza kannen, the notion that after the guests have left, the host should sit alone for a time before the hearth, thinking back over the gathering.
