This vintage Japanese book, titled “Furuta Oribe to Sono Shūhen” (古田織部とその周辺), meaning “Furuta Oribe and His Surroundings,” was written by Japanese historian and tea culture researcher Osamu Kuno (久野治) and published by Chōeisha (鳥影社) in 1994.
Dedicated to the life and legacy of Furuta Oribe (古田織部, 1544–1615), one of Japan's most influential tea masters and cultural figures, this book explores his remarkable contributions to the development of the Japanese tea ceremony and traditional ceramics during the late Azuchi-Momoyama and early Edo periods.
Furuta Oribe was a samurai, tea master, and influential figure in Japanese aesthetics. A disciple of the legendary tea master Sen no Rikyū (千利休), Oribe developed his own distinctive interpretation of the tea ceremony, introducing bold artistic expressions that challenged conventional ideas of beauty.
While Rikyū emphasized simplicity, restraint, and the philosophy of wabi, Oribe became known for his adventurous aesthetic sensibility, embracing asymmetry, unconventional forms, expressive decoration, and playful designs.
His artistic influence is particularly evident in Oribe ware (織部焼), a distinctive style of Japanese pottery associated with the Mino ceramic tradition. Oribe ware is celebrated for its vibrant copper-green glazes, abstract geometric patterns, irregular shapes, and innovative designs.
Size: 12 x 21cm
218 pages
