Terms and conditions of use
The seeds of a guide to leaf tea (Senchi tebiki no tane)
1848
- Medium
- book
- Measurements
- 7.3 × 16.4 × 1.2 cm
- Place/s of Execution
- Japan
- Department
- Asian Art
- Credit Line
- Purchased with funds donated by Dr Pam Martin and Paul Martin, 2024
- Gallery location
- The Ancient World
Level 2, NGV International - About this work
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Katsushika Ōi was the daughter of Katsushika Hokusai, and although few works are credited to her, she is thought to have assisted or wholly created numerous works that are credited to her father. This rare ‘handbook’ for sencha leaf tea preparation was published by the Yamamotoyama tea company to promote its discovery of gyokuro-cha, a type of green tea grown in the shade, and other associated tea practices. This is one of the few published works that feature Ōi’s printed signature confirming her as the artist. Founded in 1690, Yamamotoyama is the oldest operating tea company in Japan and remains family-owned.