Directory: Sumi

Charcoal

Tea and the Sōrin

One of the most visually distinct forms of architecture in Japan is the pagoda. Atop the structure is a nine-tiered spire called the sō-rin, 相輪, mutual-ring. The sōrin is rich with symbolic meaning both in Buddhism and Shintō. This symbolism is evoked in the Tea garden, the Tea house, and the tools used to present Tea. The spire, sō-rin, 相輪, together-ring, is a feature of the five-storied pagoda, go-jū-no-tō, 五重塔, five-tier-’s-tower, and san-jū-no- tō, 三重塔, three-tier-’s-tower. The sōrin is composed of many aspects, here, the upper-most component of the spire is the focus as it relates to architecture, philosophy and Tea. The hōju at the top...

Charcoal: Sumi for Furo and Ro

Left: sumi-tori, 炭斗, charcoal-measure, sai-rō, 菜籠, vegetable-basket, for fu-ro, 風炉, wind-hearth. Right: sumi-tori, 炭斗, charcoal-measure, fukube, 瓢, gourd, for ro, 炉, hearth. The cha-dō-gu, 茶道具, tea-way-tools, in both sumi-tori, 炭斗, charcoal-measure, are sumi, 炭, charcoal, ha-bōki,羽箒, feather-brush, hi-bashi, 火箸, fire-rods, a pair of kan, 鐶, metal rings, kō-gō, 香合, incense-gather. In Chanoyu, there is the critically important Ri-kyū Hyaku-shu, 利休百首, Rich-quit Hundred-necks, one hundred poems on the nature, procedures, and utensils written by Sen no Rikyū. Several of these are on the subject of sumi. 炉のうちは炭斗ふくべ柄の火箸陶器香合ねり香と知れ Ro sumi-tori fukube e no hi-bashi tō-ki kō-gō neri-kō to shire Hearth charcoal-measure gourd handled-fire-rods ceramic-container incense-gather knead-incense know and: 風炉の時炭斗菜籠にかね火箸ぬり香合に白檀をたけ...

Furo Ro: Three Forms

The furo and the ro are rarely, if ever, used together, however there are so many similarities and differences that examining them together is quite revealing. One great difference is that the furo/kama manifests the Yō, 陽, positive aspect, and the ro manifests the In, 陰, negative aspect. The standard fu-ro, 風炉, wind-hearth, that uses a go-toku, 五徳, five-virtues, to support the kama, 釜, kettle, was originally made of tetsu, 鉄, iron, as was the kama, 釜, kettle. Furo are made in various materials; iron, bronze, ceramic, wood, etc. A furo is essentially a large bowl that has an opening in the front, hi–mado, 火窓, fire-window. The...

Hibashi

Among the essential utensils in Chanoyu are a pair of metal hi-bashi, 火箸, fire-rods, used by the tei-shu, 亭主, house-master, to move pieces of charcoal, sumi, 炭. The charcoal presentation in the presence of the guests, kyaku, 客, is called sumi de-mae, 炭手前, charcoal hand-fore. Different types of hibashi are used with the fu-ro, 風炉, wind-hearth, and the ro, 炉, hearth. For the furo, Sen no Rikyū preferred simple hollow steel rods with an eye-hole at the end and covered with black lacquer. Hibashi for the ro are hollow, metal rods with mulberry wood handles: kuwa-e, 桑柄, mulberry-handle. The most formal hibashi are kazari hi-bashi, 飾火箸,...