Shikishi – Chanoyu Decoded

Shikishi

*“Ugoku”*, 動く, Move, written by *Shio-tsuki Ya-e-ko*, 塩月弥栄子, Salt-moon Increase-splendor-child, signed in *hiragana*, しおつきやえこ. The Kanji for *ugoku*, 動, has the hiragana, ku, く, to give it the reading, as there are several ways to read the Kanji. *“Ugoku”* was the title of her first written work that was published in 1958.

Shiotsuki Sama [April 4, 1918 March 8, 2015 ] was the first-born of the fifteenth generation of Ura-sen-ke, 裏千家, Inner-thousand-family. In those days, it was unlikely for a woman to assume the role of ie-moto, 家元, house-origin, however, she had an extraordinary influence on Chanoyu in Tōkyō, with her boundless energy and un-ending creativity. She was born in the year of the Horse, as was her ancestor, Rikyū. Her Chamei is Sō-shin, 宗芯, Sect-wick. Her posthumous Buddhist name, kai-myō, 戒名, commandment-name, is Yō-wa-in, 陽和院, Positive-harmony-temple.

*“Sei sen seki jō o nagaru”*, 清泉石上流, Pure spring rock over flows, by *Za-bō-sai*, 坐忘斎, Sit-forget-abstain, *Sen Sō-shitsu*, 千宗室, Thousand Sect-room, XVI, Iemoto, Urasenke, Kyōto. Signed *Sō-shitsu*, 宗室, and stamped in red ink. Paper adorned with gold spray. My *cha-mei*, 茶名, tea-name, is *Sō-sei*, 宗清, Sect-pure, and Zabōsai Sama in his writing has metaphorically given me his family name or Sen, because the Kanji for spring, sen, is wordplay on sen, 千, thousand.

*“Cha Zen ichi mi”*, 茶禅一味, Tea Zen one taste, written by *Yama-guchi En-dō*, 山口円道, Mountain-opening Circle-way, abbot of *Man-shu-in*, 曼殊院, Wide-especially-temple, Kyōto. This imperial retreat was changed into a Buddhist temple, and has an important tea hut named, *“Ha-ssō-ken”*, 八窓軒, Eight-window-eave. Signed: *Ha-ssō Cha-shitsu*, Eight-window Tea-room, *Man-shu Mon-shu En-dō*, 曼殊門主円道, Wide-especially Gate-master Circle-way. With red ink stamps for the temple and author.

*“Aki no yō wo fuku yuku matsu kaze mi ni shimu nori no koe wo kikitsuru*, 秋の夜をふくゆくさまに松かせのみにしむのりの声をききつる, Autumn’s evening in as it passes through pine wind ’s body in penetrates law’s voice is heard, written by *O-gawa Ryō*, 小川良, Little-river Good, wife of *Ogawa Gi-sshō*, 義章, Righteousness-badge, abbot of *Kō-san-ji,* 高山寺, High-mountain-temple, northwest of Kyōto.

The original poem was written by Myō-e Shō-nin, 明恵上人, Bright-blessing Upper-person. Myōe was given tea seeds by Ei-sai, 栄西, Splendor-west, when he returned from China where he studied and brought back to Japan Zen and the foundation for Chanoyu. Myōe planted the seeds where descendants grow to this day, and is regarded as the ‘true tea.’

Friend, Michael Sō-ei [宗栄, Sect-splendor] Birch, and I had a Chaji at Kōsanji, for guests Mori Akiko Sensei. For the gathering, the Ogawas allowed us to hang Myo-e’s original poem that had been mounted as a scroll. It was one of four poems that he had written on the seasons, and Mrs. Ogawa wrote several copies of the four poems for the guests, and I was given one of the extra copies.

*“Bu-ji kore ki-nin”*, 無事是貴人, No-matter is noble-person, written by *Matsu-naga Gō-zan*, 松長剛山, Pine-ever Strength-mountain, abbot of Kō-tō-in, 高桐院, High-paulownia-temple, sub-temple of *Dai-toku-ji*, 大徳寺, Great-virtue-temple, Kyōto. Signed: *Murasaki-no Gō-zan*, 紫野剛山, Purple-field Strength-mountain, and red ink stamps for the temple and the abbot. Kōtōin is the family temple of the *Hoso-kawa*, 細川, Narrow-river, clan, founded by *Taka-oki*, 忠興, Loyal-revive, who is also named *San-sai*,三斎, Three-abstain. He was one of Rikyū’s most devoted follower, and was married to Gracia, the daughter of the traitorous Akechi Mitsuhide.

If these five Kanji were written in a single vertical row would be called an ichi-gyō-mono, 一行物, one-transition-thing. Murasaki-no is frequently included on writings by abbots of Daitokuji and its sub-temples, as it is the name of the northern area of Kyōto where the great Rinzai Zen temple is located. It is believed that Murasaki Shikibu was named after the Murasaki area where she is said to have been born.

*“Shizuka”*, 静, Quiet, written by *Samu-gawa Shu-ga*, 寒川秀雅, Cold-river Excellent-gracious, abbot of *Hō-kai-ji*, 法界寺, Law-world-temple, located in *Hi-no*, 日野, Sun-field, near Uji. Signed: *Hi-no Hō-kai-ji Yama-nushi Shu-ga*, and red ink stamps of the abbot and author. *Yama-nushi*, 山主, Mountain-master, is a title of the abbot of a temple, which is identified as a mountain. This quiet temple is located in Hino, which is the family name of Shinran, the founder of the Shin Sect of Pure Land Buddhist. It is also near where *Ake-chi Mitsu-hide*, 明智光秀, Bright-knowledge Light-excel, was captured and killed after the attack on *O-da Nobu-naga*, 織田信長, Weave-rice field Faith-long, in an attempt to overthrow the government. Akechi Mitsuhide was the father of Gracia who was the wife of *Hosokawa Tada-oki*, 細川忠興, Narrow-river Loyal-revive, who is also named *San-sai*, 三斎, Three-abstain, and a Christian convert.

Ink drawing of *Daru-ma*, 達磨, Attain-polish, with calligraphy of *ichi-i*, 一葦, one-reed, phragmites, and red ink stamp on silk mounted on pasteboard. The writing is derived from the alleged incident of Daruma travelling in China, and crossing a river on a stalk of grass; *ichi-i to-kō*, 一葦渡江 , one-reed cross-inlet. The red ink stamp is a bit of a mystery, as it is a bit obscured. It appears to read, *kake-maki*, 掛巻, hang-wrap, which, if it is truly that reading, what does it mean? Was it destined to be made into a hanging scroll, and if so, how easily would it be to get rid of the red ink stamp? Often artists would paint a picture of Daruma, and have a Buddhist priest write something identified with the Zen master on the remainder of the painting.

*“Fu-shiki”*, 不識, No-consciousness, written by *O-zeki Tō-rin*, 尾関桃林, Tail-barrier Peach-grove, abbot of *Dai-sen-zen-in*, 大仙禅院, Great-hermit-Zen-temple, a sub-temple of *Dai-toku-ji*, 大徳寺, Great-virtue-temple, Kyōto. Signed: *Murasaki-no Dai-sen Tō-rin*, 紫野大仙桃林, Purple-rice field Great-hermit Peach-grove, and red ink stamps for the temple and the author. Daisen-in is famous for its eloquent priest and exceptionally simple and elaborate garden designs.

*“Hi-bi kore kō-jitsu”*, 日々是好日, Day-day is good-day, written by *O-no-zawa Kan-kai*, 小野澤寛海, Little-field-swamp Tolerant-sea, abbot of *Ju-kō-in*, 聚光院, Assemble-light-temple, a sub-temple ofDai-toku-ji, 大徳寺, Great-virtue-temple. The site of Rikyū’s Tea-hut, *Kan-in-seki*, 閑隠席, Leisure-conceal-seat, and Rikyū’s tomb. Signed *Murasaki-no Ju-kō Kan-kai*, with red ink stamps. *Jukō-in* is the Sen families’ temple, with the tombs of many of the family members, along with abbots and other dignitaries associated with the temple.

At the end of the Tang period, Zen monk, Yun-men, Un-mon, 雲門, Cloud-gate, is featured with this koan in the Hi-bi kore kō-jitsu is one of the most famous phrases in Zen studies. It is sited in the sixth case of the Heki-gan-roku, 碧巌録, Blue-cliff-record. The following is taken from the Chinese Blue Cliff Record:

Un-mon shide go-un: “Jū-go-nichi i-zen fu-mon nanji, jū-go-nichi i-go dō-shō i-kku rai.? ”

“Ji-dai-un: Hi-bi kore kō-jitsu.”　

雲門垂語云:『十五日已前不問汝，十五日已後道将一句来。』

自代云：『日日是好日。』

Cloud-gate gave word-say: “Fifteen day stop-before not-ask you, fifteen day stop-after way-general one-phrase come?” “Self-replace-say: “Day day is good day.”