Coffee table book - Book of Tea

“Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage.” This is how Okakura Kakuzo’s essay The Book of Tea begins, written in English in 1906 for a Western audience. The book is a tribute to the Japanese tea ceremony – not as a religious practice, but as an aesthetic, cultural, and philosophical expression rooted in Zen Buddhism and Taoism.

In the book, Kakuzo introduces the concept of Teaism – a philosophy of life where simplicity, harmony, and beauty are central values. He shows how the role of tea in Japan reflects deeper aesthetic ideals, expressed in everything from architecture and art to a worldview.

This beautifully hand-bound edition is made with traditional Chinese bookbinding methods and comes with a new introduction that places the text in a modern context. A classic and thought-provoking book for those interested in Japanese culture, aesthetics, and tea.

Product Information:
Dimensions: W 19.5 x D 2 x H 26.5 cm
Cover: Hardcover
Pages: 96
Language: English