Jake-gai book

There are some tea rooms that I have yearned for.  They are not traditional ones.  Their walls are trellis.  In the photo that I saw online, the tea rooms emerge in the dark with the soft light slipped through from inside.  The interior looks so fantastical and extraordinary.

The photo of the tea rooms >>>

http://www.uchida-design.jp/portfolio/shosai/index.php?id=1159502163-891094&ca=6

I bought a book entitled 茶室とインテリア or Tea Room and Interior.  I was just captivated by the beautiful design of the booklet.  It’s Jake-gai, hahaha.  (Find out the meaning of Jake-gai  >>> here)  The book explains about Japanese architecture from the historical and cultural aspects.  

I had not given much of a thought to the roots or culture regarding our architecture.  I learned that taking off shoes when entering a house involves a meaning moving in to a holy place.  I also learned that we perceive that the space and interior in Japanese housing always change. Japanese architecture historically doesn’t have walls.  Our housing was basically a big open space with posts and roofs, and we have used it by separating with bamboo blinds and sliding doors as occasions demand.  We also think that garnishes don’t have to be persistent and it will be fine if they shine at the very moment.  I think this philosophy leads to the concept of tea flowers.

A fact that I am surprised about was that the tea master, Rikyu was the one who brought the walls into Japanese architecture.  He created the walls on tea rooms.  It is a revolution!!  The author explains that Rikyu made the room small and found out the potent of the elation and concentration of your mind.

It is very interesting to learn these backgrounds.  I did a quick search about the author, Shigeru Uchida.  It turns out that he is the one who designed the tea rooms that I have yearned for.  What a coincidence!  I think I won this jake-gai!