1. What is Seifuso?

Before the Meiji Restoration, the Seifuso building was a Shingon sect temple called Hodoji.
Dewa Kokubunji Yakushido, which is famous in Ueki City, was relocated from the main hall of Hojoji Temple in 1890.

It is said that Mogami Yoshiaki, the lord of Yamagata Castle, deeply trusted the chief priest of Hodoji Temple (Sonkai).
It is said that successive generations of Yamagata castle owners after Yoshimitsu also worshiped this temple.

Seifuso is built in the style of Shoin-zukuri.
A house where the Shoin (study) is located in the center of the building.

By the way, the house with the Shinden-zukuri in the center is called Shinden-zukuri.
Byodoin Phoenix Hall is famous.

As shown in this photo, the upper and lower seats are provided to clearly show the status.
When you look at the historical drama, you can see the lord sitting on the upper seat.

2. What is Hokoan?

Hokoan is a public tea room * built in 1979, designed by Masao Nakamura.
Mr. Nakamura is a leading researcher in tea room research, and his achievements are enormous in Japanese wooden architecture.

Mr. Hisamasa Tatematsu, an editor of an architectural magazine, described that “Yamagata City Hokoan is the best among Nakamura’s works”, and this building, which pioneered a public tea room, shows the soul of Mr. Nakamura. increase.

The building is Sukiya-style, and you can feel the depth of Japanese architecture everywhere.

* Public tea room is a tea room that can be used beyond the school for the purpose of public use by citizens.

●Sukiya-style

Hokoan is a building called Sukiya style.

Compared to Shoin-zukuri, it is simple but free and sophisticated.

This style was later called “wabi-sabi” and became an indispensable element in talking about Japanese culture.

■ Tea room (4 and a half tatami mats)

There are two tea rooms, a hall with 8.5 tatami mats and a room with 4 and a half tatami mats.

The tea room of 4 and a half tatami mats was very quaint, and the lighting was wrapped in soft light like a candlelight.

Guests enter from the entrance of about 60 cm to 70 cm, which is called the crawl mouth.

In the days of Sen no Rikyu, he had to remove his sword to pass through this sword, and in the tea room, it meant equality beyond his status.

What kind of story did Hideyoshi and Rikyu talk about in this small space?
I don’t know now, but I’m very curious.

● Ceiling

The ceiling is Amiyo ceiling.
It is a ceiling with woven cedars that are woven in a staggered manner.

As a result, the shinobi couldn’t hide behind the ceiling, so the safety of the warlords who visited the tea party was ensured.

It is unique to the Warring States period.

4. Tea room (hall)

● Garden (outdoor)

The garden of Hokoan is called “Roji” and has a different taste from the “Ikezumi strolling style” garden of  the Momiji Park.

It is not a garden that has been created and arranged, but a garden that reproduces the natural scenery as it is.

When a tea party is held, each leaf may be carefully wiped to welcome guests.
This is the hospitality spirit behind the tea ceremony.

● Kyoma tatami

The tatami mat called Kyoma tatami is larger than the Edo-ma that we usually use.

The tatami mats in the tea room have a role, and the “tatami eyes” are important as a guide for placing tools and bowls.

It is said that the number of short tatami mats is 64.

It seems that good quality tatami mats do not hurt your legs even if you sit upright.
It may be good to experience what it feels like.

● Shoji

Miyama Japanese paper from Shirataka Town is used for shoji paper.
Unlike ordinary shoji paper, handmade Japanese paper has a great taste.

The seams of the paper look like patterns and are beautiful.
This is a special method called “stone wall pasting”, and it is said that only one person in Yamagata Prefecture can do this method.

You can see the precious arrangements up close.

●Fusuma (sliding door)

Fusuma (sliding door) paper with a water pattern is made of autumn leaves.

It seems to be derived from Momiji Park.

It looks like autumn leaves floating on the surface of the water.

●Column

The pattern of the columns is maple and pine.

Maple uses cedar trees and pine uses paulownia.

Two different types of wood overlap to give you a sense of depth.

● Pillars

Natural logs are used for the floor pillars.

The surface is a naturally created wrinkle-like pattern of cedar logs, which is said to be a valuable item that can only be obtained by natural growth.

I felt that the straight figure was very beautiful.

Even if you don’t go to Kyoto, it’s a luxury to see a “real” tea room made of special materials only here!

When you visit Hokoan, it may be fun to see the skill of this beautiful craftsman.

5. Citizen tea gathering

 Citizen tea gathering is held on the third Saturday of every month.

Feel free to join us even if you don’t know how to do it.
It is 600 yen per dose.

● Tea ceremony

You also have children.
It’s a valuable experience to come into contact with Japanese culture since you were a child.

If you don’t know how to do it, you may want to try to imitate the people around you.

At the tea party, there is a person who represents the invited guests, who are called regular guests.

The person who is bowing on the far left of the photo is the one.

Regular customers thank them on behalf of other customers and ask about the tools, Macha green tea, flowers, and axes that are available.

Please feel the thoughts of the host (hospitality side) such as the theme of today’s tea party.

6. Don-o tea ceremony gathering

For the construction of Hokoan, a set of modern tea master Masuda Takashi’s beloved sonkyo, lanterns, garden stones, etc. was donated by a person from Yamagata prefecture who lives in Odawara.

In June 1985, in commemoration of this, the first Don-o tea ceremony gathering was held with the full backup of Yamagata City and the unity that transcended the school.

After that, it is held every year during the cherry season (Saturdays and Sundays after June 20).

Today, it is one of the three major tea ceremonies in Japan, where many tea ceremony lovers gather from all over the country.

7. Summary

Rikyu Hyakushu said, “What is tea ceremony? You should know that it’s just a matter of boiling water and making tea.”
There is a phrase.

It’s not easy at all.
A bowl of tea is filled with hospitality.

I think that the spirit of hospitality that is still in use today has been passed down to the hearts of the Japanese people over time.

The encounter at the tea ceremony is once in a lifetime, and there are places where you can experience this kind of familiarity, so why not try the world of tea ceremony once.