A beautifully preserved Shōwa 24 (1949) instructional manual of the Ogawa-ryū (小川流) school of sencha-dō — the refined Japanese art of steeped-leaf tea.
Titled 「蓋盆手前 二」(Gai-bon Temae II) and subtitled 「玉露手前」(Gyokuro Temae), this second volume of the Ogawa-ryu Sencha Temae Collection (煎茶手前集 其二) offers a complete presentation of the covered tray tea service for preparing premium gyokuro tea.
Authored by Ogawa Kōraku (小川後楽) and published by Ogawa Kōrakudō (小川後楽堂) in Kyoto, the manual describes the formal methods (temae) for brewing gyokuro with artistic precision — from water temperature and utensil sequence to gestures of gratitude and calm mindfulness.
A fold-out diagram titled “蓋盆玉露手前 座右荘” illustrates the exact arrangement of utensils, including chabin (teapot), furo (brazier), yubin (hot-water pot), mizusashi (fresh-water jar), sumikago (charcoal basket), and furo placement.
Printed on high-quality washi paper with delicate fukuro-toji binding and embossed yin-yang motifs, this volume reflects both the discipline and beauty of postwar Kyoto craftsmanship.
The Ogawa-ryū lineage descends from Edo-period literati tea (文人茶), emphasizing clarity, simplicity, and harmony between body, nature, and spirit.
The Gyokuro Temae exemplifies the pinnacle of refinement in sencha-dō — a ritual of patience and sensory awareness in which temperature, aroma, and silence merge into one contemplative act.
Produced shortly after Japan’s reconstruction, this 1949 edition captures the revival of traditional Kyoto tea schools and their dedication to preserving the essence of Japanese aesthetics through ritual practice.
An exceptional document of Kyoto’s postwar sencha-dō heritage, this volume combines scholarly rigor and visual elegance.
With its intact fold-out diagram and complete text, it serves as both a functional tea manual and an artistic expression of Japanese literati aesthetics, ideal for collectors of Japanese cultural books, tea ceremony artifacts, or Kyoto publications.
