Ladies and Art
女性と芸術
This subject will come up once in a while. It happens every time I see really wonderful things that impress me. The tea ceremony is one art form that really pleases me, and which I enjoy watching, as well as drinking the tea. Many people say the tea is too bitter, but I advise them that they must appreciate the beauty of the ceremony and the mood where everyone is the same, enjoying each other's company. My wife is practicing it every week and has her teacher's certificate. She is very shy, though, like me, and would rather practice with her friends than teach.
今回は、私が深い感銘を与えてくれるものと出会う度に取り上げて来たテーマです。茶道もその一つで、実際に参加するのはもちろんのこと、鑑賞しているだけでも十分楽しめます。 お茶は苦くて飲めない、という声を良く耳にしますが、そんな時私は茶道の持つ様式美、仲間と心が一つに解け合う瞬間を認識するように言います。 私の家内は大変控えめな性格ですが、毎週茶会を催していおり、先生の免状も持っています。しかし、人に教えるよりは友人達と茶の湯を楽しんでいる方が好きなようです。
I have many friends who practice the tea ceremony, and it affects their daily lives by making them more gentle and ladylike, or gentlemanly. Men also practice it. In the United States, we used to do sewing and music for the same reasons. Of course, there are also ladies who study Aikido, Judo, and even Kendo. This doesn't make them ladylike, but it sure makes them confident. Why not learn both tea and Kendo? Then you can be a strong lady!
Matsue is rather famous for the tea ceremony since the seventh Lord of Matsue Castle, Fumaiko Matsudaira, loved the tea ceremony and did much to advance it here. He had two tea houses built. The first, Meimei-An, was built in 1779. It was rebuilt at its present site in 1966. That is why it looks so new. Its present location also gives a fine view of Matsue Castle. The second tea houseムKanden-Anムwas built in 1792. The approach to Kanden-An is lovely. It goes through woods and bamboo groves, that give a mood of silence and thoughtfulness.
