A natsume is the container that holds matcha for thin tea (usucha). It takes its name from the jujube fruit, whose shape it resembles. Most are turned from wood and lacquered, and the colour of the lacquer, any decoration, the size, and the swell of the body all contribute to the character of a gathering. It is the counterpart to the ceramic chaire used for thick tea, and the container a beginner meets first.
History
The form derives from Muromachi-period medicine and incense containers and entered tea practice around the Momoyama period. Rikyu favoured plain black lacquer in keeping with wabi taste. In the Edo period, court and warrior patronage produced showier work — gold and silver maki-e, and mother-of-pearl inlay. The Nakamura Sotetsu family, one of the ten hereditary crafts serving the Sen houses, has made lacquerware to each generation's taste.
Types
Sizes run large, medium, and small; medium is standard for lessons. Large containers suit formal gatherings or a display of maki-e, small ones a lighter mood. Shapes include hira-natsume (low, for summer), fubuki (scattered-snow decoration), and nakatsugi (cylindrical). Beyond plain black there is vermilion, tame, and washu lacquer, with maki-e and inlay chosen to match the season and the formality of the occasion.
In practice
The natsume is placed in front of the bowl at the start of the thin-tea procedure. The host wipes the lid and body with the silk cloth before taking out tea. The sound of the lid closing and the way it is set down after removal both register, which is why some schools begin a student's training with this object specifically. At a full gathering it is offered for examination, and guests pick it up to look at the lacquer and any inscribed name.
Sources
- 棗（デジタル大辞泉） / コトバンク
Supports: 薄茶器の棗が木製漆器で果実の棗に形が似ることに由来し、古くは棗形茶入れといったこと
About this article
Edited by the operator of Chaen (a one-person operation) / Last updated:
Tea ceremony descriptions can vary by school and source. Where interpretations differ, this glossary avoids definitive claims and focuses on broadly shared understandings. If you notice an error, please let us know viaContact. To learn about our organization, seeAbout Chaen.
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Related terms
- Usuchaki (thin-tea containers, collectively)usuchaki
The general category of containers for thin tea, of which the natsume is the representative form.
- O-natsume (large thin-tea container)o-natsume
A larger, higher-ranking natsume, used at formal thin-tea sittings and where maki-e is the point.
- Hira-natsume (flat thin-tea container)hira-natsume
A low, flattened natsume used to build cool-feeling arrangements for summer thin tea.
- Chashaku (tea scoop)chashaku
A slender bamboo scoop for measuring matcha, often carved by the host and given a poetic name.