*Japanese Tea House - Spring 2009 updated 6/17/09

茶室「霧中庵」
Teahouse named “Muchu-an,” 2002
Designed for the Asian Art Museum by Sato Osamu and constructed by Nakamura Sotoji (both Japanese)
Woods, paper, bamboo, and plaster
Gift of Masako Martha Suzuki

*The Tearoom is on the audio tour. Click here for the text of the description in the audiotour. Tea Utensils in Tearoom.. The Way of Tea for docents Press Releases. Click here to go to press releases

The name of the tearoom, Muchu, is carved into a wood plaque, which hangs on the wall to the left of the tearoom. Muchu literally means “in the mist” or “in the fog” (appropriate for San Francisco), but it is also a homonym with the Japanese word meaning literally “in a dream,” which describes the state of being completely absorbed in or engrossed by something. The word an—meaning “hermitage” or “hut”—is not written on the plaque, but is typically added to the name of a teahouse. The calligraphy on which the carving is based was done by Yamada Sobin (1920–2008), head abbot of Shinjuan, a subtemple of Daitokuji, one of the largest Zen temples in Kyoto. [updated 5/16/08]

Currently on view in the Tokonoma:

清巌宗渭筆　雲門匡眞禪師廣錄問答
Calligraphy of a Zen Dialogue from The Record of Yunmen, By Seigan Soi (Japanese, 1588-1661), Japan, Hanging scroll, ink on paper, The Avery Brundage Collection, 1989.3 [On display Spring 09]

牡丹文蒔絵香合
Incense container with peony design, approx. 1800–1900, Japan, Lacquered wood with colored lacquer and sprinkled metallic powder (makie) decoration, The Avery Brundage Collection, B69M23 [On display Spring 2009]

末村笙文作　唐物写　霊照女籠花入
Chinese-style “Ling Zhao” flower basket, 1993, By Suemura Shobun (Japanese, 1917–2000), Kansai region; Osaka, Bamboo and rattan; twining, twill plaiting, and mat plaiting, Lloyd Cotsen Japanese Bamboo Basket Collection, 2006.3.687

内橋陽子作　粘土製夏の茶花（ガクアジサイ、ツユグサ、ススキ）
Summer tea flowers: Lacecap hydrandea (Hydrangea macrophylla), Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis), 2008*, By Uchihashi Yoko (Japanese, born 1954), Japan; Yachiyo, Chiba prefecture, Modeling dough with resin, wire, Museum purchase. Uchihashi Yoko is an “art flower” artist who forms naturalistic flowers out of modeling dough, which she then bakes and hand colors with oil paint. The flowers here are those associated in Japan with the summer season. In a traditional context, only fresh flowers would be displayed.

Objects marked with an asterisk have been acquired for display in this tearoom but are not part of the museum’s art collection.

Utensils for Making a Bowl of Tea

The tea utensils are placed to suggest the point in the tea procedure when the host has finished purifying the tea container and the small bamboo scoop used to portion the tea. Next the host purifies the bowl, scoops powdered tea into it, ladles hot water, whisks the tea, and places the bowl for the guest. A second bowl near the wall awaits use for the next guest. To view short clips of the tearoom in use, please access the video behind you. Inquire at the Information Desk in South Court about upcoming tea programs.

黒釉褐彩平茶碗
1. Conical shallow teabowl, approx. 1050–1127, China; probably Hebei province or Henan province, Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), Northern ware of Cizhou type; stoneware with black and russet glaze, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P1160

利田竹芯作　紋竹茶杓　銘「錦雲」
2. Tea scoop (chashaku) entitled Brocade Clouds (Nishikigumo), 2006, By Kagata Chikushin (Japanese, born 1938), Japan; Kyoto, Leopard bamboo (monchiku), Gift of Kagata Chikushin, F2007.85.A [On display, Tea Room Spring 2008, Dec 2008, May 2009]

黒塗棗　
3. Tea container (natsume)*, approx. 2000, Japan, Lacquered wood, Museum purchase, F2003.32.2

茶筅
4. Tea whisk (chasen), approx. 2000, Japan, Bamboo, Gift of Richard Mellott, F2002.25.1 [On display, Tea Room Spring 2008, Dec 2008, Spring 2009]

青花飛鶴水族文水指（古染付）
5. Fresh water container (mizusashi), approx. 1625–1635, China; Jingdezhen, Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Kosometsuke type; porcelain with underglaze blue, The Avery Brundage Collection, B69P95L

6. 鉄製真形釜、唐銅製朝鮮風炉
Kettle (kama) and brazier (furo) for the summer season, approx. 1950–1960, Japan; Kyoto, Iron (kettle); copper alloy (brazier), Gift of Yoshiko Kakudo, T2003.100.1.a-.c

竹柄杓
7. Water ladle (hishaku) , Japan, Bamboo, Gift of Richard Mellott, F2002.25.2 [On display, Tea Room Spring 2008, Dec 2008, Spring 2009]

辻村史朗作　織部黒沓形茶碗
8. Teabowl, approx. 2003, By Tsujimura Shiro (Japanese, b. 1947), Japan; Nara, Oribe Black type; glazed stoneware, Gift of Koichi Yanagi, F2003.52.3

唐銅建水,
9. Waste water container (kensui), Japan, Copper alloy, Museum purchase. F2003.32.1 [on display Fall 2007, Spring 2008, Dec 2008, Spring 2009]

New June 23, 2006

The objects arranged near the kettle on the right side of the room are arranged as if a host were sitting there about to make tea. There are quite specific guidelines for the relationship of these objects to one another and we are trying to follow this placement as closely to actual usage as possible. Rather than talk extensively about individual objects, please use this display as a way to introduce the tea ceremony and this living art form. You might invite viewers to imagine steam rising from the kettle, ask them to listen for the gentle sounds of boiling water, and smell the fragrance of incense which has been placed in the coals.

Everything needed to make tea is there:
-tea in the black lacquered container
-a teabowl, tea whisk, and tea scoop as they are carried into the room by the host
-kettle for making hot water (raised braiser and kettle is called "furo" used only in summer May-October. Sunken hearth called "ro" opened in November and used through April)
-cold water jar for replenishing water taken from the kettle
-bamboo ladle for scooping water resting on a bamboo lid rest
-waste water container for dumping water used to purify the bowl

This particular arrangement with the teabowl centered between the cold water jar and the kettle and tea container in front of the tea bowl is a stage in making tea just before all the items are purified with a silk cloth worn on the belt of the host. We hope this arrangement will make it easier for visitors to see the teabowl at least.

The items in the tokonoma set the mood and become a conversation point or theme of the tea
-scroll with poetic phrase to begin the dialog between host and guest (see below for the text of this particular scroll)
-flowers of the season (May-October is "summer" November-April is "winter")
We plan to have actual flowers inside the basket through June 25. This basket is part of the museum's Cotsen Collection and was made by visiting AsiaAlive artist ABE Motoshi who demonstrated basket making Thursday-Sunday 12-4pm through June 25, 2006.

The guest will sit on the left with their back to the black bordered wall facing the host with the tokonoma on their left. The host sits in front of all the utensils facing the glass wall.

Press Releases

Tearoom Facts [2/3/03]

The Asian Art Museum's teahouse was designed by architect Osamu Sato as a functioning teahouse, as well as a display case. It is a sanjo-daime or three and three-quarters mat room. It is complete with an alcove for the display of a scroll and flowers (tokonoma), an electric-powered well for the hot water kettle (ro), and a functioning kitchen (mizuya) with fresh running water and drain. Its three interior ceiling levels display three different ceiling treatments. The teahouse will have a sliding glass front that will open fully when in use for live tea demonstrations, but will secure the space as a display case when not in use.

The teahouse was constructed in Kyoto by the distinguished firm, Nakamura Sotoji Komuten, long famous for refined traditional Japanese architecture built by specially trained, artisan carpenters and craftsmen. In September 2002, it was installed in the museum's second floor collections gallery devoted to Japanese art. Four carpenters came from Kyoto to construct the teahouse and apply the final wall finishes. They were supervised by Mr. Sato, who has worked in the United States with the firm of Pei, Cobb, Freed. Mr. Sato designed a similar teahouse for I.M. Pei's Miho Museum in Shigaraki, near Kyoto, which opened four years ago.

The elevation drawings below show views seen from inside the teahouse: A) the tokonoma on the left and the door to the mizuya on the right, B) the guest's view of the host's preparation area (temaiza), C) the view from inside the teahouse out to the gallery (this is covered by a sliding glass wall when not in use), and D) the wall with windows that extends from the guest's mat on the left to the tokonoma on the right.

Construction of the New Asian Teahouse (Press Release - 3/11/02)

The Asian Art Museum is preparing for the installation of an authentic Japanese teahouse in its second floor collections gallery devoted to Japanese art. The teahouse has been constructed in Kyoto by the distinguished firm, Nakamura Sotoji, long famous for refined traditional Japanese architecture built by specially trained, artisan carpenters and craftsmen.

The Asian Art Museum's teahouse is designed by architect Osamu Sato as a functioning teahouse, as well as a display case. It is a size called sanjo-daime or three and three-quarters mats, which will accommodate a tea master and three to four guests. It will be complete with a tokonoma, or special alcove for the display of hanging scrolls, flowers or objects, an electric-powered well for the hot water kettle, and a functioning mizuya, or kitchen, for the preparation of the tea ceremony. The teahouse incorporates a variety of woods, bamboo, and reeds. Its three interior ceiling levels display three different ceiling treatments. The teahouse will have a sliding glass front that will secure the space as a display case, but open fully when in use for live tea demonstrations.

The de-constructed teahouse will be shipped to San Francisco during June and July, 2002. Installation of the teahouse in the New Asian galleries is scheduled to begin August 12, 2002, and is expected to take two weeks. Three craftsmen will come from Kyoto to construct the teahouse and apply the final wall finishes. They will be supervised by Mr. Sato, who has worked in the United States with the firm of Pei, Cobb, Freed. Mr. Sato designed a similar teahouse for I.M. Pei's Miho Museum in Shigaraki, near Kyoto, which opened four years ago.