The final lecture in the Masterworks of Japanese Tea Tradition lecture series will explore the aesthetics of daimyo tea master Furuta Oribe. Considered a bit of an eccentric in his time, Oribe is known for having taken the wabi teachings of his master Sen no Rikyu to further extremes. This session will highlight famous tea wares that are representative of Oribe's taste and will consider them against the wabi aesthetic of Rikyu that was discussed in the previous lectures.

​The series "Masterworks of Japanese Tea Tradition" is presented in conjunction with the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre. All lectures are presented by Maiko Behr of SaBi Tea Arts. 

​Recordings of all sessions are currently available for viewing to registered participants until November 30th. Please contact us for more information. 

live via Zoom on
Sunday, September 20, 1 pm
OR access recordings through a weblink afterward
single session $10 / six-session series $55 (CAD)

The second session of our series will examine the central role of the humble iron kettle in traditional tea gatherings through a number of well-known examples. Drawing on historical episodes surrounding the use and transmission of these treasured kettles and their associations with famous tea masters, this session will focus more closely on better understanding the differences between the complementary but distinct aesthetics of wabi 侘 and sabi 寂 in Japanese tea culture, with particular attention to understanding ​the concept of ​sabi through specific visual examples.

The series "Masterworks of Japanese Tea Tradition" is presented in conjunction with the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre. All lectures are presented by Maiko Behr of SaBi Tea Arts. 

Above image: Ashiya iron kettle with hailstone pattern, shinnari type. Muromachi period, 15th century. The Gotoh Museum, Tokyo.

Hosted by the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre 
September 10 & 20, October 8 & 18, November 12 & 22
​CAD$10 / session (+GST & fees)

This virtual lecture series will explore the aesthetic of wabi, one of the defining characteristics of the major streams of Japanese tea tradition, from the vantage point of the material culture of tea in Japan. Each of the six 75-minute talks will focus on one famous tea object and the stories surrounding it as an entry point for thinking about the broader development of wabicha -- the humble style that is associated with the most common forms of tea practice in Japan today. Presented online via Zoom, these lectures will include slides and photographs providing context for the topic of the day and will be followed by a question-and-answer period.
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This series is intended for anyone interested in traditional Japanese arts, aesthetics, ceramics, history, visual culture, and more. All sessions are held in English only. No prior knowledge of tea ceremony is necessary.

Participation in the live session requires use of Zoom. Don't have Zoom? Can't attend live? Registrants will also receive access to recordings of the sessions viewable on a web browser.

For more information, please feel free to contact us through our contact page at the link below.
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Due to the current public health advisory, all scheduled classes, programs, and events are postponed until further notice. Please follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sabiteaarts/ or join our mailing list to be notified when activities resume.

Sunday, March 29, 2020
11:00 am, 12:30 pm &  2:00 pm
maximum of 8 guests per session
$35 +GST ​

Kick off the sakura cherry blossom season with a special guided tea ceremony at the Ichiboan tea house in UBC's Nitobe Memorial Garden. The Someiyoshino cherry at the center of the garden should be in bloom at this time, so be sure to take a stroll around the garden and enjoy the blossoms while you are there!

Guests will first be invited to sit in the "waiting arbour" (soto-koshikake), where their guide will greet them and lead them through the multiple stages of the roji path that offers a gradual approach to the tea space. Once inside, the host will explain various aspects of tea house architecture by way of introduction before guests enter the outer tea room, where they will participate in an usucha tea ceremony with hand-made traditional sweet. 
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Ticket price includes a hanami (cherry blossom viewing)-themed gift bag.
**Ticket price does not include admission (by cash donation) to Nitobe Garden.**