"The Tea Ceremony of Nobunaga and Hideyoshi": The intersection of silence and staging, beauty and authority

Part 3: "The Tea Ceremony of Nobunaga and Hideyoshi" - The Intersection of Silence and Staging, Beauty and Authority

Preface: Tea Ceremony: Telling or Showing?

The tea ceremony is something that is spoken about in silence.

However, the meaning of silence differs between those who speak and those who show.

Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi - two great rulers who ruled the country during the Warring States period - used the tea ceremony in their own ways.

Nobunaga excelled in the "beauty of silence," while Hideyoshi excelled in the "beauty of direction."

These differences extend to the handling of tea utensils, the design of the space, and even the sense of distance from Rikyu, raising the questions of "what does the tea ceremony say?" and "for whom?"

1: The purpose of the tea ceremony: order or performance?

perspective Oda Nobunaga Toyotomi Hideyoshi

The purpose of tea ceremony Reconstruction of authority and control of vassals Display of authority and popular unity

Handling tea utensils Rewards worth a territory A luxurious production tool

The nature of the tea ceremony Closed political rituals Open cultural events

For Nobunaga, tea ceremony was a "reconstruction of order."

Famous tea utensils were a reward for vassals, and tea ceremonies were a ceremonial occasion to demonstrate authority.

On the other hand, for Hideyoshi, tea ceremony was an "aesthetics of performance."

The Golden Tea House, the Kitano Grand Tea Ceremony - these were performances that involved the people and the Emperor, and were a stage on which to discuss "what it means to be a ruler of the country."

2. Spatial Design: Silent Stage or Narrative Device?

Nobunaga's tea room is a tranquil space located within Azuchi Castle.

The arrangement of the utensils, the seating arrangement of the guests, and the quietness of the space spoke of "Nobunaga's worldview."

Hideyoshi's tea room is a portable golden tea room.

The structure, which allowed tea ceremonies to be held anywhere, was a device for spatially portraying "Hideyoshi's presence."

• Nobunaga's space: Beauty spoken through silence. The space itself expresses authority.

• Hideyoshi's space: a stage for storytelling. The space becomes part of the production.

This difference is directly related to the question of what the tea ceremony says in silence.

3. Relationship with Sen no Rikyu: Technician or Master?

Nobunaga appointed Rikyu as the tea master.

For him, Rikyu was a technician who embodied beauty, not a spiritual teacher.

Hideyoshi looked up to Rikyu as his teacher and became devoted to the spirituality of the tea ceremony.

However, before long, differences in aesthetic sense create tension and lead to a rift.

• Nobunaga and Rikyu: A practical relationship with a sense of distance. Rikyu embodied Nobunaga's intentions.

• Hideyoshi and Rikyu: From a spiritual master-disciple relationship to a clash over performance aesthetics.

This difference raises the question of whether the tea ceremony is a place of spirituality or a place of performance.

4. Differences in aesthetic sense: How to handle wabi-sabi

Nobunaga did not seek "wabi-sabi" in the tea ceremony.

His tea ceremonies were forums of order and authority, emphasizing structure and meaning over simplicity.

Hideyoshi used "wabi-sabi" as part of his performance.

Placing simple tea utensils in a golden tea room creates a beautiful contrast.

• Nobunaga's beauty: silence and structure. Meaning resides in space.

• Hideyoshi's beauty: contrast and direction. Meaning is contained in the way it is presented.

This difference leads to the fundamental question of "what is beautiful" in the tea ceremony.

Conclusion: Who is the tea ceremony for?

Nobunaga's tea ceremony speaks of order in silence.

Hideyoshi's tea ceremony tells a story through its performance.

Both used the tea ceremony as a "political tool," but their methods and aesthetic sense were very different.

And this difference gives us today room to think about what beauty is, what space is, and what narrative is.

Who is the tea ceremony for?

Is it for the rulers of the world or for the people?

Or maybe it's a way to face yourself in silence.