Song of Tateyama
Brief Biography
Second son of Muneharu, sixth lord of Matsue in Unshū. Childhood name: Tsurutarō. Assumed the name Jigō upon coming of age. Served as Governor of Sado and Governor of Dewa. Held the literary names Miyōan, Ikkanko, Isshōsai, and Sōnō.
He inherited the fief at age 17. Under the tutelage of his chief retainer, Asahi Tango, he reformed the domain’s administration. He achieved remarkable development in industry, public works, flood control, and trade, amassing immense wealth and collecting renowned tea utensils.
He first studied tea under Sankei of the Sanzai school and Issho of the Arai school. He then studied under the third generation of Isakō Takumi to master the Sekishū school. Disliking exclusive allegiance to any single school, he established his own branch of the Fumai school. He gathered tea utensil merchants to study famous tea bowls, publishing the eighteen-volume magnum opus Kokon Meibutsu Ruiju (A Comprehensive Collection of Famous Tea Utensils of Past and Present) and the three-volume Setō Tōki Ranshō (The Origins of Seto Pottery) under the name Tōsai Shōkō, categorizing tea caddies by kiln. He passed away on April 24, Bunsei 1 (1818)
at the age of 68.
Tea Scoop
Freshly carved, utterly new and without curvature, with protruding knots. Two holes at the knot stop, the handle being extremely slender.
Song of Shigiridatsuzawa
Harusato
Centered on the middle knot, it bears black mottled patterns. The knots form two tiers with slight indentations.
Song of Uratomaya
Rustic bamboo with exceptionally high knots.
Tube
Makidateyama: Grass Tube
“The loneliness was not in its color, nor in its form. Autumn evening at Makidateyama. Crafted one by one.”
Shigidatezawa: Grass Tube
“Even a heartless being felt pity. Autumn evening at Shigidatezawa. Crafted one by one by Munenori.”
Uratomaya: Grass Tube, retaining black bark
“Looking around, neither flowers nor autumn leaves remain. Autumn evening at the shore hut. Made by Fumai.”
Accessories
Main box: White cedar with inscription. Written by Matsudaira Fumai. ‘Sanraku’
Outer box: White paulownia. Inscription: “Lord Fumai’s Three Evening Tea Scoops”
Postscript
A mature work from his later years, exceptionally well-preserved with almost no signs of use. “Kiritateyama” refers to Jakuren, ‘Shigitatezawa’ to Saigyo, and “Ura no Tomaya” to Teika—needless to say, these are the so-called Three Evening Poems.
Published in
Three Hundred Selected Tea Scoops
Dimensions
Makidateyama
Tea Scoop
Length: 20.1 cm
Width: 1.0 cm
Thickness: 0.2–0.4 cm
Tube
Length: 22.4 cm
Diameter: 2.8 cm
Naritatezawa
Tea Scoop
Length: 19.8 cm
Width: 0.9 cm
Thickness: 0.2–0.4 cm
Tube
Length: 22.4 cm
Diameter: 2.5 cm
Uratomaya
Tea Scoop
Length: 19.8 cm
Width: 1.0 cm
Thickness: 0.25–0.4 cm
Tube
Length: 22.4 cm
Diameter: 2.5 cm
