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Image Source: Amazon Japan
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Student : Miho
Ikegami
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Book Title: 利休にたずねよ (Ask
the Green Tea Master Mr. Rikyu)
Author: Kenichi Yamamoto
Year of Publication: 2008
Summary
It’s a historical novel about the green tea master, Mr. “Sen-no Rikyu.”He had an excellent sense of beauty for tea ceremony. Mr. Rikyu wasn’t lord. He was an expert in tea ceremony.
He respected the simple beauty, and look “ Cyashitsu (tea ceremony room)” as the little universe.
In 1591, he was ordered “Seppuku” (the death penalty by cut one’s stomach) by Hideyoshi Toyotomi.
Mr. Hideyoshi was the “Shogun (the general)” at that period of time. He preferred luxurious things.
At the first time, General Hideyoshi thought Rikyu is useful him, but gradually he was jealous about his talent. The cup of tea made many lords comfortable, brought them a peace of mind. Mr. Rikyu didn’t forget his belief when he faced Seppuku.
Recommendation
It is called “The Warring States period” in the novel’s background. When local lords fought each other to expand their influence.
We have to taste Master Mr. Rikyu's sharpen sensitivity as well as his love, and his charming life.
This novel is full of Japanese ancestor’s soul, and fusion of the beauty spirit as “Wabi (comfortable stillness)”. Perhaps, this book will inspire and bring about curiosity to people not just in Japan but other countries also!
Nowadays, many Japanese forget this kind of mind like Mr. Rikyu. Therefore, we should try to recover the beautiful spirit like his!
2 comments:
This novel is in terms of content involved in the tea ceremony history, the story of the deployment I think it can be said that platonic love story depicting the Rikyu mind think a noble woman from Goryeo(Korea)met in the days of 19year old:)
Taro, thank you for your insight. :)
~Prof. Mahrukh
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