# Japanese Basic Course, Lesson 150

Narration and the written language

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/148. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/148.json.

## Tea ceremony and flower arranging · Narration 1 of 2

### Training through tea

*茶道というのは 茶の湯の道で、それを通じて精神を修練し 交際礼法を修得する事である* means "The tea ceremony is the way of tea, through which one trains the spirit and learns the etiquette of social relations."

*現在では、客を茶室に招いて、抹茶を立ててすすめる女子の作法としておもに行なわれている* describes inviting guests, preparing powdered tea, and serving it.

### Natural beauty in a vase

*華道というのは 活花の道であって、木の枝や草花などを花器にさし、その中に自然の美を表わす芸術であって、各種（二千から三千）の流派がある* describes flower arranging as an art that expresses natural beauty with plants in a vase.

The art is *IKEBANA*. Its schools form formal and natural branches.

### Kanji: / 湯, / 練, / 賞, 作

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

**1** 日本の伝統芸術として 茶道、華道が ある。  
にほんのでんとおげいじゅつとしてちゃどお、かどおがある。  
The tea ceremony and flower arranging are among the traditional arts of Japan.

**2** 茶道というのは 茶の湯の道で、それを通じて精神を修練し 交際礼法を修得する事である。  
ちゃどおというのはちゃのゆのみちで、それをつうじてせいしんをしゅうれんしこうさいれいほうをしゅうとくすることである。  
The tea ceremony is the way of tea, through which one trains the spirit and learns the etiquette of social relations.

**3** 現在では、客を茶室に招いて、抹茶を立ててすすめる女子の作法としておもに行なわれている。  
げんざいでは、きゃくをちゃしつにまねいて、まっちゃをたててすすめるじょしのさほおとしておもにおこなわれている。  
Today, it is practiced mainly as etiquette for women, in which they invite guests into a tea room, prepare powdered tea, and serve it to them.

**4** 茶の湯の流派には 表千家、裏千家、江戸千家、遠州流などがある。  
ちゃのゆのりゅうはにはおもてせんけ、うらせんけ、えどせんけ、えんしゅうりゅうなどがある。  
Schools of the tea ceremony include Omotesenke, Urasenke, Edosenke, and the Enshu school.

**5** 華道というのは 活花の道であって、木の枝や草花などを花器にさし、その中に自然の美を表わす芸術であって、各種（二千から三千）の流派がある。  
かどおというのはいけばなのみちであって、きのえだやくさばななどをかきにさし、そのなかにしぜんのびをあらわすげいじゅつであって、かくしゅ（にせんからさんぜん）のりゅうはがある。  
Flower arranging is the way of arranging flowers, an art in which branches, flowers, and grasses are placed in a vase to express the beauty of nature, and it has various schools, numbering from two to three thousand.

```
Tea Ceremony

1 The ceremony, referred to as CHANOYU in Japan, is an aesthetic pastime peculiar to Japan that features the serving and drinking of MATCHA, a powdered green tea. This ceremony, which dates back to the 15th century, is something more than a refined form of taking refreshment. Its purpose and essence are difficult to express in words. It will be helpful to remember that the ceremony was developed under the influence of Zen Buddhism, the aim of which is, in simple terms, to purify one’s soul by becoming one with nature.

1 In addition, CHANOYU is an embodiment of the Japanese people’s intuitive striving for recognition of true beauty in plainness and simplicity. Such terms as calmness, rusticity, gracefulness, or the phrase “aestheticism of austere simplicity and refined poverty,” may help to define the true spirit of CHANOYU. For instance, the strict canons of CHANOYU etiquette, which may seem to be burdensome and meticulous at first glance, are in fact minutely calculated to achieve the highest possible economy of movement and indeed is pleasing for the initiated to witness, especially

when performed by experienced masters.

1 CHANOYU has played an important role in the artistic life of the Japanese people, since, as an aesthetic pursuit, it involves the appreciation of the room in which it is held, the garden attached to the room, the utensils used in serving the tea, and the decor of the setting, such as a hanging scroll or an ikebana. The development of Japan’s architecture, landscape gardening, ceramics and the floral arts, therefore, owes a great deal to the tea ceremony. It should be noted that, throughout all these and other artistic elements connected with CHANOYU, there prevails that love of simplicity which is characteristic of the Japanese people.

1 Furthermore, the development of daily manners of the majority of the Japanese have been basically influenced by formalities such as those observed in the CHANOYU ceremony. As a result, it is rather common practice for young ladies before marriage to take lessons in the art in order to cultivate the poise and refinement stemming from CHANOYU etiquette.

The traditional tea ceremony

The traditional tea ceremony

Tea ceremony

野点

Utensils used in chanoyu.

茶碗 tea bowl

茶入れ tea caddy

茶筅 bamboo tea whisk

茶杓 bamboo spoon

釜 kettle
```

```
Flower Arrangement

2 The art of arranging flowers known as IKEBANA is an aesthetic attainment unique to the Japanese people. Although historians dispute the origin of the art, it is true that the institution has been developed to its present stage of accomplishment purely as a native cult in this country independent of all outside influences. It is said that the practice of flower arrangement is believed to have originated in India with the worship of Buddha, before whose image it was the custom to offer flowers. Another record says that it was first practiced by Prince Shootoku Taishi (573-621), who through a vision instructed the art of flower arrangement to Ono-no-Imoko, who is regarded as the founder of the IKENOBOO school, at the Rokkakudoo Temple in Kyoto. Some people also believe that the small tearoom within the Ginkakuji or Silver Pavillion in Kyoto is the birthplace of the floral art in Japan.

Today there are more than 300 different schools of flower arrangement, which may be divided into two main branches, the formal and the natural. To the formal belongs

2 that form known as RIKKA or the standing style, from which sprang a popular form called the TEN-CHI-JIN or ’’heaven-earth-man” style, and to the natural belongs that style known as the NAGEIRE or the thrown-in style.

The fundamental principles followed in the arrangement of flowers in the formal style, whatever form the arrangement may take or to whatever school the person arranging them may belong are three: the Leading Principles (Heaven), the Subordinate Principle (Earth), and the Reconciling Principle (Man), Any flower arrangement which does not embody these principles is considered barren and dead.

Another important point consists in treating the flowers from three different aspects, according to the nature of the flower, the place in which it is to be put, and the shape of the vase.

In decorating the alcove with flowers, they must be arranged so as not to hide the hanging scroll. If the scroll shows mountain scenery, flowers which grow in marshes or by river banks should be selected, but if the

scroll shows flowering plants, flowering branches should be chosen for the vase.

池坊流の立花

立花

Nageire Arrangement

Moribana Arrangement
```

```
Bonsai

Bonsai is a product of the peculiar trend of the Japanese people to love nature and also to be fascinated by anything minute in size. Their love of nature made them wish to plant trees in pots so that their beauty can be appreciated within their rooms or garden.

The present art of making bonsai is said to have started in the 13th century. In these seven hundred years, nature lovers of the country perfected an art of keeping a hundred-year-old tree to the height of one or two feet, and making it look like a giant tree.

Looking at a pot planted with a few slender trees, about six inches high, one would see a great forest of huge trees before him. Bonsai is, in short, an art of reproducing natural plants and scenes in small potted areas. The size of bonsai varies, ranging from the very tiny ones of one or two inches in height to those of five or six feet. The value of a bonsai, however, is not judged by its size, but by the naturalness it presents.

A dwarfed camphor tree, center, and a group of 8-year-old zelkova trees.

A 250-year-old juniper tree, 60 cm high, left, and a 20-year-old juniper tree, 20 cm high.

Holly trees, 50 years old and 50 cm high.

Holly trees, 45 years old and 25 cm high.

A group of zelkova trees, 35 years old and 35 cm high.

A dwarfed hawthorn, 60 years old and 45 cm high.

Pine trees, 80 years old and 55 cm high.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| の | See Grammar Notes |
| 伝統 | tradition |
| と | and (See Gram. Notes) |
| し | city |
| 茶道、 | tea ceremony; tea cult |
| 華道 | art of flower arrangement |
| が | but (See Gram. Notes) |
| ある。 | certain, some |
| は | leaves |
| 茶の湯 | tea ceremony |
| 道 | road, street |
| で、 | --is and -- (See Grammar Notes) |
| を | particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill) |
| 現在 | present; at present |
| 客 | guest |
| 茶室 | tea-ceremony room (house) |
| に | on (See Gram. Notes) |
| 抹茶 | powdered tea |
| すすめる | to recommend |
| 女子 | female, woman |
| 作法 | manners; etiquette |
| おもに | mainly, chiefly |
| いる。 | to need (See Gram. Notes) |
| 流派 | school |
| など | and so forth, etc. |
| 活花 | flower arrangement |
| 木 | tree, wood |
| や | and---among others (See Gram. Notes) |
| 草花 | flowering plant, flower |
| 花器 | flower vase |
| 美 | beauty |
| 表わす | show; express (v.t.) |
| （二千 | 2,000 |
| から | from (See Gram. Notes) |
| 三千） | 3,000 |

## Flower styles and potted trees · Narration 2 of 2

### Four flower styles

Flower arranging has several styles. *活花の様式にも立花、生花、なげ入れ、もり花などがある* means "Styles of flower arranging include rikka, seika, nageire, and moribana."

### Natural beauty in small pots

*盆栽は 日本の創始した芸術で、草木を小さな鉢に植え* introduces an art that places plants and trees in small pots.

Careful cultivation and shaping prolong their lives and express natural beauty. *そして、これを室内の観賞物とする* means "They are then used as objects of appreciation indoors."

*Bonsai* is said to have started in the 13th century. Its value is judged by the naturalness it presents, not its size.

### Kanji: 続

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

**6** そのおもなものには池坊を始め、小原流、草月会などがある。  
そのおもなものにはいけのぼうをはじめ、おばらりゅう、そうげつかいなどがある。  
The main ones include Ikenobo, the Ohara school, and the Sogetsu Association.

**7** 活花の様式にも立花、生花、なげ入れ、もり花などがある。  
いけばなのよおしきにもりっか、せいか、なげいれ、もりばななどがある。  
Styles of flower arranging include rikka, seika, nageire, and moribana.

**8** 盆栽は 日本の創始した芸術で、草木を小さな鉢に植え、その生育する力を利用して適切な培養と矯姿を行ない、長く生命を持続させて、自然美を表現させるのである。  
ぼんさいはにほんのそおししたげいじゅつで、くさきをちいさなはちにうえ、そのせいいくするちからをりようしててきせつなばいよおときょおしをおこない、ながくせいめいをじぞくさせて、しぜんびをひょおげんさせるのである。  
Bonsai is an art originated by Japan in which plants and trees are planted in small pots, their power of growth is used to cultivate and shape them properly, their lives are prolonged, and natural beauty is expressed.

**9** そして、これを室内の観賞物とする。  
そして、これをしつないのかんしょうぶつとする。  
They are then used as objects of appreciation indoors.

**10** 盆栽は近年では外国にも進出して、合衆国でも展覧会がしばしば開催されている。  
ぼんさいはきんねんではがいこくにもしんしゅつして、がっしゅうこくでもてんらんかいがしばしばかいさいされている。  
In recent years, bonsai has also spread to foreign countries, and exhibitions are often held in the United States as well.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| もの | things (tangible) |
| 様式 | mode; form; style |
| も | as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes |
| 立花、 | standing style arrangement |
| 生花、 | natural flower |
| なげ入れ、 | thrown-in style |
| 盆栽 | potted plant |
| 創始 | creation; origination |
| 草木 | trees and plants |
| 小さな | small (See Gram. Notes) |
| 鉢 | pot |
| な | I wish, I hope, huh |
| 培養 | cultivation |
| 矯姿 | training of shape; correction of shape |
| 生命 | life |
| せ | height (of man) |
| 表現 | expression |
| 室内 | inside a room |
| 近年 | recent years |
| 国 | country, nation |
| しばしば | often |

## Schools of tea and flowers · Questions 1 of 2

### Arts, practices, and schools

The questions ask what tea ceremony and flower arranging are, how tea ceremony is practiced, and which schools belong to each art.

*茶道というのは 何ですか* means "What is the tea ceremony?" An answer states its purpose and how powdered tea is served.

*華道というのは 何ですか* means "What is flower arranging?" An answer describes its use of plants to express natural beauty.

**11** 日本の 伝統芸術として どんなものが ありますか。  
にほんのでんとおげいじゅつとしてどんなものがありますか。  
What kinds of traditional arts are there in Japan?

**12** 茶道というのは 何ですか。  
ちゃどおというのはなんですか。  
What is the tea ceremony?

**13** 今日では おもに どんなに 行なわれていますか。  
こんにちではおもにどんなにおこなわれていますか。  
How is it mainly practiced today?

**14** 茶の 湯の 流派には どんなのが ありますか。  
ちゃのゆのりゅうはにはどんなのがありますか。  
What schools of the tea ceremony are there?

**15** 華道というのは 何ですか。  
かどおというのはなんですか。  
What is flower arranging?

**16** 華道の おもな 流派には どんなのが ありますか。  
かどおのおもなりゅうはにはどんなのがありますか。  
What are the main schools of flower arranging?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| どんな | what kind of; what sort of |
| ます | trout |
| か。 | either--or-- (See Gram. Notes) |
| 茶道 | tea ceremony; tea cult |
| です | to be (See Gram. Notes) |
| 今日 | today |
| で | --is and -- (See Grammar Notes) |
| い | stomach |
| 茶 | tea |

## Potted trees and exhibitions · Questions 2 of 2

### Styles, uses, and exhibitions

The questions ask for flower-arranging styles, the nature of bonsai, its indoor use, and its spread abroad.

*盆栽は どんな 芸術ですか* means "What kind of art is bonsai?" An answer describes small potted plants shaped to express natural beauty.

Other answers name the four flower styles or confirm facts about Japan, indoor appreciation, and exhibitions in the United States.

**17** 活花の 様式には どんなのが ありますか。  
いけばなのよおしきにはどんなのがありますか。  
What styles of flower arranging are there?

**18** 盆栽は どんな 芸術ですか。  
ぼんさいはどんなげいじゅつですか。  
What kind of art is bonsai?

**19** 盆栽は 日本の 創始した 芸術ですか。  
ぼんさいはにほんのそおししたげいじゅつですか。  
Is bonsai an art originated by Japan?

**20** 盆栽は おもに 室内の 観賞物と するものですか。  
ぼんさいはおもにしつないのかんしょうぶつとするものですか。  
Are bonsai mainly used as objects of appreciation indoors?

**21** 盆栽は 近年では 外国にも 進出しましたか。  
ぼんさいはきんねんではがいこくにもしんしゅつしましたか。  
In recent years, has bonsai spread to foreign countries as well?

**22** 合衆国では しばしば 展覧会が 開催されますか。  
がっしゅうこくではしばしばてんらんかいがかいさいされますか。  
Are exhibitions often held in the United States?

## Traditional arts and tea etiquette · Word list 1 of 4

### Arts and tea etiquette

These words name three traditional arts and the training, etiquette, and setting of tea ceremony.

*茶道* means "tea ceremony," *交際礼法* means "social etiquette," and *茶室* means "tea-ceremony room."

*道*, "art" or "teaching," appears at the end of *茶道* and *華道*.

**23** 茶道  
ちゃどお  
tea ceremony; tea cult

**24** 華道  
かどお  
art of flower arrangement

**25** 盆栽  
ぼんさい  
potted plant

**26** 伝統  
でんとお  
tradition

**27** 茶の湯  
ちゃのゆ  
tea ceremony

**28** 道  
みち  
art; teaching

**29** 修練する  
しゅうれんする  
practice; train; drill

**30** 交際礼法  
こうさいれいほう  
social etiquette; social code

**31** 修得する  
しゅうとくする  
learn; acquire

**32** 茶室  
ちゃしつ  
tea-ceremony room (house)

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 修練する | practice; train; drill |
| 交際礼法 | social etiquette; social code |
| 修得する | learn; acquire |

## Tea, guests and flower arranging · Word list 2 of 4

### Serving tea and arranging flowers

These words cover the people, objects, and actions used in serving powdered tea and arranging flowers.

*茶を立てる* means "make tea," *すすめる* means "offer," and *さす* means "insert" or "put in."

Together, *茶を立てる* and *すすめる* distinguish preparing tea from offering it.

**33** 抹茶  
まっちゃ  
powdered tea

**34** 茶を立てる  
ちゃをたてる  
make tea; fix tea

**35** すすめる  
すすめる  
offer

**36** 作法  
さほお  
manners; etiquette

**37** 客  
きゃく  
guest

**38** 流派  
りゅうは  
school

**39** 活花  
いけばな  
flower arrangement

**40** 草花  
くさばな  
flowering plant; flower

**41** 花器  
かき  
flower vase

**42** さす  
さす  
insert; put in

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 茶を立てる | make tea; fix tea |
| さす | insert; put in |

## Flower styles and plant cultivation · Word list 3 of 4

### Styles and plant care

These words name flower-arranging styles, then the plants, pots, cultivation, and shaping used for bonsai.

*立花* means "standing style arrangement," *培養* means "cultivation," and *矯姿* means "training of shape."

The first four entries name styles. The remaining entries concern growing and shaping plants in pots.

**43** 立花  
りっか  
standing style arrangement

**44** なげ入れ  
なげいれ  
thrown-in style

**45** 生花  
せいか  
natural flower

**46** もり花  
もりばな  
flower arranged in the basket (basin)

**47** 草木  
くさき  
trees and plants

**48** 鉢  
はち  
pot

**49** 生育する  
せいいくする  
grow; rain

**50** 培養  
ばいよお  
cultivation

**51** 矯姿  
きょおし  
training of shape; correction of shape

**52** 持続する  
じぞくする  
maintain; suppose

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 立花 | standing style arrangement |
| なげ入れ | thrown-in style |
| 生花 | natural flower |
| もり花 | flower arranged in the basket (basin) |
| 生育する | grow; rain |
| 持続する | maintain; suppose |

## Indoor displays and exhibitions · Word list 4 of 4

### From indoor display to exhibition

These words cover bonsai as an indoor object of appreciation and its appearance in exhibitions abroad.

*観賞物* means "object of admiration," *展覧会* means "exhibition," and *開催する* means "hold" or "open."

With *展覧会*, *開催する* names holding an exhibition.

**53** 生命  
せいめい  
life

**54** 室内  
しつない  
inside a room

**55** 観賞物  
かんしょうぶつ  
object of admiration

**56** 進出する  
しんしゅつする  
advance into; find one’s way into

**57** 展覧会  
てんらんかい  
exhibition; exhibit

**58** 開催する  
かいさいする  
hold; open

**59** 合衆国  
がっしゅうこく  
U.S.A.

```
Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise

1 Topics:

a Talk about the following topics in Japanese with your classmates.

(1) The tea ceremony.

(2) Flower arrangement.

(3) Bonsai.

2 Exercise:

a Interpretation Exercise.

(1) What is the art of the tea ceremony?

(1) 精神を 修練し、交際礼法を 修得する事です。

(2) For what purpose is the tea ceremony performed today?

(2) 現在では 客を 茶室に 招いて 抹茶を 立てて すすめる 女子の 作法として 行なわれています。

(3) What is the art of flower arrangement?

(3) 木の 枝や 草花などを 花器に さし、その中に 自然の 美を 表わす 芸術です。

(4) Is the art of Bonsai very popular in the United States?

(4) はい、近年では 米国人も 盆栽に 趣味を 持つ様になり、展覧会が しばしば 開催されています。

(5) What are the traditional arts of Japan?

(5) 茶道、華道、盆栽などです。
```

```
Homework

1 Study the Narration thoroughly and memorize the vocabulary.

2 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercises given.

3 Learn to read and write the new Kanji.

4 Read the Cultural Notes.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 観賞物 | object of admiration |
| 進出する | advance into; find one’s way into |
| 展覧会 | exhibition; exhibit |
| 開催する | hold; open |
| 合衆国 | U.S.A. |