> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Okakura-Le-Livre-du-the/19504

> Par l’un des plus célèbres chantres du thé, ce Livre du Thé, baigné de poésie, est un classique fourmillant d’anecdotes, d’idées, de légendes sur la vie héroïque, religieuse, intime, du vieux Japon traditionnel.
—Nouvelles Clés

This is a lovely collection with interesting pieces. ( )

Until I read this book, I had no idea about Teaism or other of the wonderful things that surround tea culture in the East. Although I am an avid drinker of tea, the idea of it linking to ikebana, architecture and other manifestations of the Japanese and Chinese culture escaped me. But Master Kakuzō makes it all so clear.

If you are looking to learn how to steep the perfect cup of tea, or where it is grown, or about its varieties, this is not your book. It is not a manual, it provides no instructions. Yes, it will tell you about the tea room, or about the different schools of tea, or about the tea masters or the past. But only with a wider objective: It is a book about philosophy, about art, about culture and, most of all, about understanding: understanding of the Eastern mind and aesthetics, of the reasons behind the standpoint of the East, of a different (from the Western viewpoint) life stance. So it will also tell you about Taoism, or flowers, or pottery.

Moreover, it provides a much needed reminder of what is important in life, and a lesson on how to face life as it comes. In this sense, it is timeless. As is in so many other senses.

Regarding the present edition by [a:Natalio Cardoso|14675885|Natalio Cardoso|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1613668897p2/14675885.jpg], many references in the original book would be lost to the Western reader were it not for the annotations, comments and other notes, sometimes historical or mythological, sometimes cultural in a broader sense, included herein. I have had the pleasure to read it in its (much welcome) ebook version, so finding references and comments is easy.

It has become one of my bedside readings, and will be revisited many times. ( )

Interesting little book regarding the importance and influence of tea. Tea is a part of the Japanese culture, rather than just a drink, but we forget the import it has also had for the Western world. Okakura points out that it was tea that first opened the doors between East and West, and that the heavy duties on tea prompted the American Revolution.

Beyond the historical importance of tea is the philosophical and cultural importance of tea, and the discussion here of Taoism and Zennism was fascinating.

Those who cannot feel the littleness of great things in themselves are apt to overlook the greatness of little things in others.

I enjoyed listening to Mike Rosenlof's reading, which surprised me, as I am still not a fan of audiobooks. ( )

Will have to read again. A bit to philosophical. ( )