the book of tea-第13章

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　at　Yoshino　or　Arashiyama　must　have　realized　this。　　For　a　moment　they　hover　like　bejewelled　clouds　and　dance　above　the　crystal　streams；　then；　as　they　sail　away　on　the　laughing　waters；　they　seem　to　say：　〃Farewell；　O　Spring！　We　are　on　to　eternity。〃



VII。　Tea…Masters


In　religion　the　Future　is　behind　us。　　In　art　the　present　is　the　eternal。　The　tea…masters　held　that　real　appreciation　of　art　is　only　possible　to　those　who　make　of　it　a　living　influence。　　Thus　they　sought　to　regulate　their　daily　life　by　the　high　standard　of　refinement　which　obtained　in　the　tea…room。　　In　all　circumstances　serenity　of　mind　should　be　maintained；　and　conversation　should　be　conducted　as　never　to　mar　the　harmony　of　the　surroundings。　　The　cut　and　color　of　the　dress；　the　poise　of　the　body；　and　the　manner　of　walking　could　all　be　made　expressions　of　artistic　personality。　These　were　matters　not　to　be　lightly　ignored；　for　until　one　has　made　himself　beautiful　he　has　no　right　to　approach　beauty。　Thus　the　tea…master　strove　to　be　something　more　than　the　　artist；art　itself。　　It　was　the　Zen　of　aestheticism。　　Perfection　is　everywhere　if　we　only　choose　to　recognise　it。　　Rikiu　loved　to　quote　an　old　poem　which　says：　〃To　those　who　long　only　for　flowers；　fain　would　I　show　the　full…blown　spring　which　abides　in　the　toiling　buds　of　snow…covered　hills。〃

Manifold　indeed　have　been　the　contributions　of　the　tea…masters　to　art。　　They　completely　revolutionised　the　classical　architecture　and　interior　decorations；　and　established　the　new　style　which　we　have　described　in　the　chapter　of　the　tea…room；　a　style　to　whose　influence　even　the　palaces　and　monasteries　built　after　the　sixteenth　century　have　all　been　subject。　　The　many…sided　Kobori…Enshiu　has　left　notable　examples　of　his　genius　in　the　Imperial　villa　of　Katsura；　the　castles　of　Najoya　and　Nijo；　and　the　monastery　of　Kohoan。　All　the　celebrated　gardens　of　Japan　were　laid　out　by　the　tea…masters。　Our　pottery　would　probably　never　have　attained　its　high　quality　of　excellence　if　the　tea…masters　had　not　lent　it　to　their　inspiration；　the　manufacture　of　the　utensils　used　in　the　tea…ceremony　　calling　forth　the　utmost　expenditure　of　ingenuity　on　the　parts　of　　our　ceramists。　　The　Seven　Kilns　of　Enshiu　are　well　known　to　all　　students　of　Japanese　pottery。　many　of　our　textile　fabrics　bear　the　　names　of　tea…masters　who　conceived　their　color　or　design。　It　is　　impossible；　indeed；　to　find　any　department　of　art　in　which　the　　tea…masters　have　not　left　marks　of　their　genius。　　In　painting　and　　lacquer　it　seems　almost　superfluous　to　mention　the　immense　　services　they　have　rendered。　　One　of　the　greatest　schools　of　painting　　owes　its　origin　to　the　tea…master　Honnami…Koyetsu；　famed　also　as　　a　lacquer　artist　and　potter。　　Beside　his　works；　the　splendid　creation　of　his　grandson；　Koho；　and　of　his　grand…nephews；　Korin　and　Kenzan；　almost　fall　into　the　shade。　　The　whole　Korin　school；　as　it　is　generally　designated；　is　an　expression　of　Teaism。　　In　the　broad　lines　of　this　school　we　seem　to　find　the　vitality　of　nature　herself。

Great　as　has　been　the　influence　of　the　tea…masters　in　the　field　of　art；　it　is　as　nothing　compared　to　that　which　they　have　exerted　on　the　conduct　of　life。　　Not　only　in　the　usages　of　polite　society；　but　also　in　the　arrangement　of　all　our　domestic　details；　do　we　feel　the　presence　of　the　tea…masters。　　Many　of　our　delicate　dishes；　as　well　as　our　way　of　serving　food；　are　their　inventions。　　They　have　　taught　us　to　dress　only　in　garments　of　sober　colors。　　They　have　instructed　us　in　the　proper　spirit　in　which　to　approach　flowers。　They　have　given　emphasis　to　our　natural　love　of　simplicity；　and　　shown　us　the　beauty　of　humility。　　In　fact；　through　their　teachings　tea　has　entered　the　life　of　the　people。

Those　of　us　who　know　not　the　secret　of　properly　regulating　our　own　existence　on　this　tumultuous　sea　of　foolish　troubles　which　we　call　life　are　constantly　in　a　state　of　misery　while　vainly　trying　to　appear　happy　and　contented。　　We　stagger　in　the　attempt　to　　keep　our　moral　equilibrium；　and　see　forerunners　of　the　tempest　in　every　cloud　that　floats　on　the　horizon。　　Yet　there　is　joy　and　beauty　in　the　roll　of　billows　as　they　sweep　outward　toward　eternity。　　Why　not　enter　into　their　spirit；　or；　like　Liehtse；　ride　upon　the　hurricane　itself？

He　only　who　has　lived　with　the　beautiful　can　die　beautifully。　The　last　moments　of　the　great　tea…masters　were　as　full　of　　exquisite　refinement　as　had　been　their　lives。　　Seeking　always　to　be　in　harmony　with　the　great　rhythm　of　the　universe；　they　were　ever　prepared　to　enter　the　unknown。　　The　〃Last　Tea　of　　Rikiu〃　will　stand　forth　forever　as　the　acme　of　tragic　grandeur。

Long　had　been　the　friendship　between　Rikiu　and　the　Taiko…　Hideyoshi；　and　high　the　estimation　in　which　the　great　warrior　held　the　tea…master。　　But　the　friendship　of　a　despot　is　ever　a　dangerous　honour。　　It　was　an　age　rife　with　treachery；　and　men　trusted　not　even　their　nearest　kin。　　Rikiu　was　no　servile　courtier；　and　had　often　dared　to　differ　in　argument　with　his　fierce　patron。　Taking　advantage　of　the　coldness　which　had　for　some　time　existed　　between　the　Taiko　and　Rikiu；　the　enemies　of　the　latter　accused　　him　of　being　implicated　in　a　conspiracy　to　poison　the　despot。　It　was　whispered　to　Hideyoshi　that　the　fatal　potion　was　to　be　administered　to　him　with　a　cup　of　the　green　beverage　prepared　by　the　tea…master。　　With　Hideyoshi　suspicion　was　sufficient　ground　for　instant　execution；　and　there　was　no　appeal　from　the　will　of　the　angry　ruler。　　One　privilege　alone　was　granted　to　the　condemned　the　honor　of　dying　by　his　own　hand。

On　the　day　destined　for　his　self…immolation；　Rikiu　invited　his　chief　disciples　to　a　last　tea…ceremony。　　Mournfully　at　the　appointed　time　　the　guests　met　at　the　portico。　　As　they　look　into　the　garden　path　the　trees　seem　to　shudder；　and　in　the　rustling　of　their　leaves　are　heard　the　whispers　of　homeless　ghosts。　　Like　solemn　sentinels　before　　the　gates　of　Hades　stand　the　grey　stone　lanterns。　　A　wave　of　rare　incense　is　wafted　from　the　tea…room；　it　is　the　summons　which　bids　the　guests　to　enter。　　One　by　one　they　advance　and　take　their　places。　　In　the　tokonoma　hangs　a　kakemon；a　wonderful　writing　by　an　ancient　monk　dealing　with　the　evanescence　of　all　earthly　things。　　The　singing　kettle；　as　it　boils　over　the　brazier；　sounds　like　some　cicada　pouring　forth　his　woes　to　departing　summer。　　Soon　the　host　enters　the　room。　Each　in　turn　is　served　with　tea；　and　each　in　turn　silently　drains　his　cup；　　the　host　last　of　all。　　according　to　established　etiquette；　the　chief　guest　now　asks　permission　to　examine　the　tea…equipage。　　Rikiu　places　the　various　articles　before　them；　with　the　kakemono。　　After　all　have　expressed　admiration　of　their　beauty；　Rikiu　presents　one　of　them　to　each　of　the　assembled　company　as　a　souvenir。　　The　bowl　alone　he　keeps。　　〃Never　again　shall　this　cup；　polluted　by　the　lips　of　misfortune；　be　used　by　man。〃　　He　speaks；　and　breaks　the　vessel　into　fragments。

The　ceremony　is　over；　the　guests　with　difficulty　restraining　their　tears；　take　their　last　farewell　and　leave　the　room。　　One　only；　the　nearest　and　dearest；　is　requested　to　remain　and　witness　the　end。　Rikiu　then　removes　his　tea…gown　and　carefully　folds　it　upon　the　mat；　thereby　disclosing　the　immaculate　white　death　robe　　which　it　had　hitherto　concealed。　　Tenderly　he　gazes　on　the　shining　blade　of　the　fatal　dagger；　and　in　exquisite　verse　thus　addresses　it：

〃Welcome　to　thee；/　O　sword　of　eternity！/　Through　Buddha/　And　through　Daruma　alike/　Thou　hast　cleft　thy　way。〃

With　a　smile　upon　his　face　Rikiu　passed　forth　into　the　unknown。





End