- Wabi-cha
"Wabi-cha" (わび茶、侘茶、侘び茶）is a style of
Japanese tea ceremony particularly associated withSen no Rikyu andTakeno Jōō that emphasises simplicity. The term came into use in theEdo era , prior to which it was known as "wabi-suki" (侘数寄).History
By the latter years of the
Muromachi period tea ceremony had become widespread, with a preference for expensive wares of Chinese origin (known as "karamono"). "Wabi-cha" evolved as part of a movement to appreciate local wares and simpler styles.Rikyu began designing his own tea wares, sometimes having them made by local craftsmen.
Raku ware tea bowls originated from Rikyū having the tile maker named Raku Chōjirō create tea bowls for him. [Japanese "Rikyū Daijiten" (Rikyū Encyclopedia). Tankosha, 1989. ISBN4-473-01110-0] He even created his own objects to use in the tea room, including flower containers made of bamboo he cut himself.Rikyu also refined the art of tea house design, with a preference for very simple and very small tea rooms, often of only two mats, and natural building materials, with little decoration.
Modern wabi-cha
Ironically, in modern times achieving the aura of rustic simplicity demanded by "wabi-cha" can be an expensive endeavour. Even the simple, cheap items used by Rikyu and his followers have gained both status and value: authentic "Raku"
tea bowl s, for example, are among the most expensive available today, and among the most sought after. Similarly, creating the look of simplicity promoted by Rikyu for tea rooms can also be very expensive.References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
