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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. KOU-AN Glass Tea House in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan by TOKUJIN YOSHIOKAOctober 23rd, 2016 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA “Tracing the origin of cultures peculiar to Japanese by reinterpreting the culture of tea ceremony” Japanese conception of nature is often characterized by its distinctive spacial perception involves the sensory realization of the surrounding atmosphere through what may be described as signs of energies or aura. Such way of sensual appreciation of nature’s intrinsic and beauties can be recognized in Japanese tea ceremony practice.  Image Courtesy © Yasutake Kondo
 Image Courtesy © Yasutake Kondo This project originates in the architecture plan of the Transparent Japanese House, first presented in 2002. The idea has been developed into a transparent teahouse, an architectural project incorporating a symbolic Japanese cultural image. The design of the project was presented at Glasstress 2011, the collateral event of the 54th La Biennale di Vennezia.  Image Courtesy © Yasutake Kondo  Image Courtesy © TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA In the spring 2015, after 5years from the presentation of the design, “ KOU-AN-Glass Teahouse ” is finally unveiled at the stage of Seiryu-den which is in a precinct of Tendai Sect Shoren-in Temple designated as one of National treasures in Japan. This will be the first time that the completed full-scale work of ” KOU-AN ” is exhibited in the world. Originally, the culture of Tea Ceremony was generated in the closed microcosmic space.  Image Courtesy © TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA  Image Courtesy © TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA This ” KOU-AN Glass Tea House ” is not just a modernized teahouse that was evolved from traditional style teahouse but a project that traces origin of the culture which is peculiar to Japan. ” KOU – AN ” does not have a scroll nor flowers that all the traditional tea houses have. However, glitters that reminds of ripples on surface of water spreads out on the floor. Also, at some point in the afternoon, there will be a rainbow light that is sunlight coming through a prism glass on the roof and it seems like a flower of light.  Image Courtesy © Yasutake Kondo  Image Courtesy © Yasutake Kondo Tokujin came up with the idea of tracing the origin of Japanese culture that exists in our unconscious sensation by perceiving the time that is created along with nature from the teahouse which is microcosmic space and by being released by superficial designs integrating with nature.  Image Courtesy © Yasutake Kondo  Image Courtesy © TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA In A.D.794, A Japanese emperor at the time visited Shogunzuka and he was convinced that Kyoto would be a right place to be a capital of Japan and started constructing the capital. Thus, Shogunzuka in a precinct of Shoren-in temple in Kyoto is a place where the city of Kyoto which symbolizes Japanese cultures. From Kyoto to all over the world, Tokujin is hoping to provide people new experiences through the project and by producing works that make us think of the origin of Japanese culture.  Image Courtesy © Yasutake Kondo  Image Courtesy © TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA About Shogunzuka Seiryu-den and Blue Cetaka The Tendai Sect Shoren-in temple in the city of Kyoto was built in Heian era (BC 794 – 1192). This temple has been considered in its long history as one of three major Monzeki temple; the head priest at these temples originally belonged to the imperial family. Also the Blue Cetaka is designated as National treasure, which is a blue guardian deity of the Shoren-in temple dedicated inside Seiryu-den. Shoren-in received “Heian Ashram” which was originally located at Kitano Tenmangu shrine from Kyoto city and rebuit it on Shogunzuka mound, having a vocation to hand over the expertise and skills to the next generations. Seiryu-den was built on a platform that enables us to look down the whole cityscape of Kyoto.  Image Courtesy © TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA Seiryu-den worships the Blue Cetaka that has been considered as one of three major Cetakas in Japan. This painting of the Blue Cetaka which is placed inside Seiryu-den is particularly well-known as the most elegant and refined work among all the Heian buddhist paintings. In the light of historical source, it is important fact that this painting has been a model for all the buddhist paintings of the coming generations and is still extant. Cetaka is basically categorized by their colors such as Red Cetaka, Yellow Cetaka, Black eyed Cetaka. Among all the colors of Cetaka, Blue Cetaka has been considered the most-significant and the central role.This Cetaka was gifted from Japanese imperial palace and has been succeeded by the priests in Shoren-in. After 3 years of restoration since 2010, it was finally unveiled in the public in Autumn 2014.  Image Courtesy © TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA  Image Courtesy © TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA  Image Courtesy © TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA  Image Courtesy © TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA
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Tags: Japan, Kyoto Prefecture Category: Teahouse |
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