茶筌 （Chasen）
“Chasen” is a tool to make “抹茶 （Maccha）” that is a Japanese traditional green tea. “Chasen” is used for disperse “Maccha” powder to hot water. “Maccha” looks like creamy due to forms created by fine tip of “Chasen”. Amount and shape of the forms are depends on “Chasen”. It means that “Chasen” plays a important rule to create deep taste of “Maccha”. Therefore, the way of producing “Chasen” had been keeping secrecy for a longtime.
“Chasen” was devised more than 500 years ago form now in Muromachi Period (A.D. 1338-1573) by son of the load of Takayama Castle. It is before “千利休 （Sen no Rikyu）” start “茶の湯 （Cha no Yu）”
Nowadays, “Cha no Yu” is famous as “Japanese tea ceremony” all over the world. Japanese tea ceremony is strongly connected with, so called, “Omotenashi” spirit. Beauty of heart is shown through tea time in Japanese tea ceremony. Nobody is able to interpret Japanese tea ceremony in written words and all I can express is that Japanese Tea Ceremony is held in “茶室 （Tea Room）” by using “Chasen” and “茶道具 （Tea Tool）”.
Most of the manufacturing process of “Chasen” is made by hand. The raw material of “Chasen” is selected from 3 years old bamboo. Remove oil of bamboo, and then dry completely by solar. Furthermore, such bamboo has to be in storage at least one year to be a raw material of “Chasen”. Number of tip of “Chasen” is from 60 to 120 and each tip is made by hand.
You can see how each tip is created through above pictures.
Type of “Chasen” is deferent for each “流派 (School)”. For example, left of above picture is for “裏千家 （Uea Senke）” and right of able picture is for “表千家（Omote Senke）”. Both are mainstreams but different tea ceremony school and “Chasen” is also created upon each style of school.
When Japanese tea ceremony is held, people pass a bowl with drinking “Maccha”. I was surprised but above large “Casen” and bowl is also for practical use in Japanese tea ceremony.
Everything to produce “Maccha” is done inside “Chasitsu”.
Beautiful sight seeing from Tea Room is also one of the important factor of Japanese tea ceremony.
“高山 （Takayama）” area has been a produce center of “Chasen” since “Chasen” is devised in Muromach Period. In winter, a lot of bamboo are lined for solar drying and it is one of the things reminds of winter season in Takayama area
Various Tea Tools are produced In Takayama area as well as “Chasen”. The way of some tools are still keep in secret.
Above photos are taken at “高山竹林園 （Takayama Chikurinen)”. http://takayamachasenkumiai.com/takayamat.htm
You can learn “Chasen” and Tea tool and various kinds of bamboo as raw material at Takayama Chikurinen.
In Takayama Area, you can meet with “Chasen” Craftmen. I also met with a great craftsman in “翠竹園 （Suichikuen）”
Nowadays, “Chasen” is used more casual than before. You can also meet with various commercial “Chasen” and Tea tool.
Above photos are taken at “Suichikuen”.
