Who is Tenshin Okakura?

Tenshin Okakura was a Japanese art historian, curator, and educator active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known as the author of the book “The Book of Tea,” which explores the cultural and aesthetic aspects of tea drinking in Japan and its influence on the development of Japanese culture. The book is considered a classic work on the subject and has been widely read and translated into many languages. Okakura was also a co-founder of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, which later became the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.

Tenshin Okakura was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1862. He was an important figure in the development of modern Japanese art and culture, and was known for his progressive views on education and art. He received his early education in Japan, and later studied art and art history in the United States, where he was exposed to Western art and culture.

Upon his return to Japan, Okakura became a curator at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where he worked for several years. He then returned to Japan to co-found the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, which was established with the goal of promoting a new, more internationalist approach to art education in Japan. The school was influential in the development of modern art in Japan, and many of its graduates went on to become leading artists and cultural figures.

Okakura is best known for his book “The Book of Tea,” which was first published in 1906. The book explores the cultural, social, and aesthetic aspects of tea drinking in Japan, and argues that tea played a central role in the development of Japanese culture and spirituality. The book is considered a classic work on the subject, and has been widely read and translated into many languages.

In addition to his work as an educator and art historian, Okakura was also a talented calligrapher and painter. He was an advocate for traditional Japanese art forms, and sought to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Japan in the face of increasing Westernization.