This classic monograph by Japanese tea ceremony art researcher Iwao Ikeda, centered on lacquer incense containers in the tea ceremony, deeply explores how Japanese traditional lacquer art integrates into the subtle aesthetics of tea rituals, serving as a precious guide for tea practitioners and collectors. As a senior tea utensil expert, Ikeda has long been dedicated to recording and inheriting traditional crafts. This book compiles the essence of his many years of research, classifying incense containers into Karamono (Chinese imported lacquerware), Yamato-mono (domestic lacquer works), and Konomi-mono (selections favored by tea masters), and through selected masterpieces, reveals the evolution of lacquer art from the Song and Yuan dynasties to the Edo period, along with its unique craftsmanship.
