The last lesson in December was successfully completed.
This year the coronavirus pandemic has continued, and the tea class was closed from January to March of the new year and August to September in summer. It resumed in October when the state of emergency was lifted, and I am relieved that it finished safely.
The hanging scroll is "開門多落葉 (If you open the gate, there are many fallen leaves)" written by Kyoto Daitoku-ji Obai-in Kobayashi Taigen. The autumn leaves are over now, and the fallen leaves of maple and ginkgo have been spreading.
In addition to the seasonal atmosphere, in Zen, it is said that "I thought it was raining at night, but when I opened the gate in the morning, I realized that there were fallen leaves all over, and in fact it was the sound of fallen leaves. Opening the gate represents the moment of spiritual awakening". It is difficult to interpret, but the thick brush on the calligraphy is impressive.
The tea bowl is from this year's poetry theme "Fruit" named "Three types of fruit" (Mino ware). Looking back on the 3rd year of Reiwa, I used it at the end of year to pray for good luck next year.
The three types of fruit are the mandarin orange, the pomegranate, and the peach. Oranges represent "money luck," pomegranates represent "healthy luck," and peaches represent "preventing evil."
The Natsume (thin tea container) is Wajima lacquerware "Snow Flowers". Snowflakes shine in jet-black, and it looks like a glittering snow scene.
In Tokyo it was below freezing this week with a minimum temperature of -2.5°in the morning for the first time in 45 years in December.
It is likely to continue a calm sunny day on New Year's Day.
We wish you all a healthy and happy new year.
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