Zalety praktykowania Drogi Herbaty w twórczości Hisamatsu Shin’ichiego (1889–1980)

The concept of the ten virtues of tea (cha no juttoku) in Japanese tradition evolved from early lists in Eisai's Kissa yōjōki (1214) and an iron kettle inscription attributed to Myōe, dividing benefits into health (e.g., prolonging life) and psychological/spiritual (e.g., focusing the mind). Hisamatsu Shin'ichi later proposed his own selection for post-war Japan, advocating tea practice as a path of moral and spiritual growth grounded in Zen Buddhist thought. He aimed to elevate tea practice to the highest standard, showcasing Japanese material and intellectual culture in an increasingly international context.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The theme, the virtues of tea, evolved over time into the ten virtues of tea (cha no juttoku), and is present in Japanese tea tradition as early as the arrival of powdered tea in Japan. The earliest examples come from the Kissa yōjōki (Record of drinking tea for health, 1214) by Myōan Eisai and the inscription on the iron kettle of ten virtues (juttokugama) attributed to Myōe. Virtues from differing early lists, could generally be divided into two categories benefiting an individual: health benefits, like prolonging life, and psychological and spiritual benefits, like focusing the mind and gaining spiritual power. Analyzing these earlier examples, Hisamatsu Shin’ichi creates his own selection of ten virtues that he feels are more proper for post-war Japan. He advocates for tea practice as a path of moral and spiritual growth, with Zen Buddhist thought as a teaching tool. His aim is tea practice of the highest standard, a showcase of material and intellectual, culture Japan can be proud of in an increasingly international environment.