Book Of Tea

The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo was written in 1906. Essentially it is a long essay linking the role of tea (teaism) to the aesthetic and cultural aspects of Japanese life. Okakura had been taught English from a very young age so was very adept at writing in English to a Western audience. In The book of Tea, one of the great English tea classics, he discusses such topics as Zen and Taoism, but also the secular aspects of tea and Japanese life. The book emphasizes how Teaism taught the Japanese many things; most importantly, simplicity. Kakuzo argues that this tea-induced simplicity affected art and architecture. It's a fascinating cultural gem.