fubako 文箱 (letter box)

fubako 文箱 (letter box) , 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868) to early Meiji period (1868–1912)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: gold hiramaki-e; lacquer

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.2975.a,b

Not on display

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Label texts

Teaching Gallery Label:
"The Tea Ceremony," Apr-2014, Kris Imants Ercums
Letter-writing and recordkeeping is an important aspect of tea practice. For centuries, many tea practitioners have kept extensive written records documenting their engagement with chanoyu. These included tea diaries (chakaiki), which record the persons, utensils, and menus for particular tea gatherings; lists of valuable tea utensils (meibutsuki); and philosophical ruminations on tea aesthetics and the spiritual aspects of the art.