Southern Record facts for kids
The Southern Record (called Nanpōroku in Japanese) is a special book. It was thought to contain the secret teachings of Sen no Rikyū. He was a very famous master of the Japanese tea ceremony.
The book was believed to be lost after its writer, Nanbo Sokei, passed away. Nanbo Sokei was a Zen priest and a top student of Rikyū. About 100 years later, in 1686, a man named Tachibana Jitsuzan supposedly found the book. He was an important helper for the Kuroda clan.
Tachibana Jitsuzan copied the book into five parts. Later, he found more papers and added two more parts. He then made a final, neat copy of all seven parts. This is when the book was first called Southern Record.
People highly valued this collection. They thought it was a direct record of Rikyū's lessons. It greatly influenced the idea of wabi-cha, a simple and quiet style of tea ceremony. However, today's experts think the book has information not from Sen no Rikyū. They believe it is a forgery.
Contents
What's Inside the Southern Record?
The Southern Record is divided into seven main parts, often called "scrolls" or "volumes." Each part covers different aspects of the tea ceremony and its teachings.
The Seven Chapters
- First Scroll: Memorandum (覚書) - This part likely contains notes or reminders.
- Second Scroll: Gatherings (会) - This section might describe tea gatherings.
- Third Scroll: Shelves (棚) - This could be about the shelves used for tea utensils.
- Fourth Scroll: Schools (書院) - This part might discuss different styles or schools.
- Fifth Scroll: Tables (台子) - This section could be about the special tables used.
- Sixth Scroll: Citations (墨引) - This might include quotes or references.
- Seventh Scroll: Memoirs (滅後) - This last part could be about events after Rikyū's death.
Why Is It Called Southern Record?
There are two main ideas about how the book got its name.
Origin from a Tea Classic
One idea is that the name comes from an old Chinese book. This book is called Chá Ching (or Cha-kyo in Japanese). It is also known as The Classic of Tea. Its writer, Lu Yu, started his book by saying, "Tea is a good tree in the south." Some believe the Southern Record got its name from this famous line.
Origin from the Author's Name
The other idea is simpler. It suggests the name came from the original author, Nanbo Sokei. His name, "Nanbo," sounds like "Southern" in Japanese. So, the book might just be named after him.
