{"product_id":"horiuchi-sokan-tancho-susudake-chashaku-rare-spotted-bamboo-tea-scoop-with-box","title":"Horiuchi Sokan 'Tancho' Susudake Chashaku – Rare Spotted Bamboo Tea Scoop with Box","description":"Experience Authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony with this Urasenke Master Chashaku. This Susudake Bamboo Scoop serves as a Spotted Bamboo Art and Japanese Tea Utensil, featuring Wabi Sabi Aesthetic and Rare Matcha Scoop craftsmanship—a must-have for any Tea Ceremony Collector seeking a Museum Quality piece from Japan's finest tea tradition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ PRODUCT DETAILS ]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• **Artist**: Horiuchi Sokan (堀内宗完), also known as Kenchusai (兼中斎)\u003cbr\u003e• **Technique**: Traditional hand-carving using aged susudake bamboo\u003cbr\u003e• **Era**: Late 20th Century (Showa-Heisei period)\u003cbr\u003e• **Origin**: Urasenke tradition, Kyoto, Japan\u003cbr\u003e• **Poetic Name (Mei)**: 'Tancho' (丹頂) – Red-Crowned Crane\u003cbr\u003e• **Dimensions**: Length approx. 18.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e• **Materials**: Susudake\/Shimidake (spotted\/smoked bamboo)\u003cbr\u003e• **Box**: Tomobako with Soetsu (宗悦) seal, yellow silk cord\u003cbr\u003e• **Includes**: Bamboo storage tube with mei inscription\u003cbr\u003e• **Condition**: Excellent – pristine with protective wrapping\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ ABOUT THIS PIECE ]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis extraordinary tea scoop represents the pinnacle of Urasenke tea tradition. Horiuchi Sokan (堀内宗完), bearing the prestigious title Kenchusai (兼中斎), was a distinguished iemoto (head master) of the Horiuchi branch of Urasenke, one of the three main schools of Japanese tea ceremony.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe susudake (煤竹) bamboo—aged for decades in traditional thatched-roof farmhouses where smoke from the hearth created its distinctive spotted patina—brings an irreplaceable quality that cannot be replicated. Each spot tells a story of time and fire, embodying the tea philosophy of cherishing impermanence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ WHY CHOOSE THIS CHASHAKU? ]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe poetic name 'Tancho' evokes the red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), Japan's most sacred bird symbolizing longevity, fidelity, and good fortune. The crane's elegant silhouette mirrors the graceful curve of this chashaku—both embody the refined beauty central to tea aesthetics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHoriuchi Sokan's lineage traces directly to Sen no Rikyu through the Urasenke tradition. The Kenchusai title has been passed through generations of this distinguished family, each master contributing to tea culture. Owning a chashaku by such a figure is akin to possessing a piece of living tea history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Soetsu (宗悦) seal on the tomobako indicates authentication within the Horiuchi family system, confirming this piece's legitimacy and importance.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ THE BEAUTY OF SUSUDAKE ]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSusudake bamboo is increasingly rare as traditional thatched-roof buildings disappear from Japan's landscape. The bamboo must age 100-200 years in the rafters, absorbing smoke and developing its characteristic spotted pattern (shimi). This natural aging process creates a material prized above all others for tea utensils.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ PROVENANCE \u0026amp; AUTHENTICITY ]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eComplete with tomobako bearing the inscription \"竹茶杓 銘 丹頂 宗完\" (Bamboo chashaku, mei 'Tancho', Sokan) and the Soetsu verification seal. The bamboo tube features the mei inscription and additional calligraphy, providing comprehensive documentation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ SUGGESTED USES ]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Reserved for special tea gatherings (chakai) honoring important guests\u003cbr\u003e• New Year's celebration or crane-themed seasonal displays\u003cbr\u003e• Museum-quality display in collector's cabinet\u003cbr\u003e• Ultimate gift for tea masters, distinguished practitioners, or art collectors\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e**Q: What is Urasenke?**\u003cbr\u003eA: Urasenke is one of the three main schools of Japanese tea ceremony, all descended from Sen no Rikyu. It is the largest and most internationally recognized school.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e**Q: Why is susudake bamboo special?**\u003cbr\u003eA: Susudake is antique bamboo that has spent 100+ years absorbing smoke in traditional Japanese farmhouse rafters. This material cannot be artificially replicated and is increasingly rare.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e**Q: Is this piece functional or decorative?**\u003cbr\u003eA: While fully functional, pieces by iemoto-level masters are typically reserved for the most significant occasions or treasured as art objects.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ SHIPPING \u0026amp; PACKAGING ]\u003cbr\u003e• Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days\u003cbr\u003e• Carrier: Japan Post EMS \/ UPS (with tracking)\u003cbr\u003e• Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ EXPLORE MORE ]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDiscover our full collection of Urasenke master works, rare susudake bamboo art, and museum-quality Japanese tea ceremony utensils.\u003cbr\u003e→ Visit our shop for more treasures from Japan's finest traditions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e*The crane stands alone in winter marshes, its crimson crown a flame against the snow—nobility needs no ornament.*","brand":"The Modern Zen Archive","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":61566201659762,"sku":"260127_1833","price":1540.0,"currency_code":"AED","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/5680\/3698\/files\/m71930898847_1.jpg?v=1770108235","url":"https:\/\/checkout.themodernzenarchive.com\/products\/horiuchi-sokan-tancho-susudake-chashaku-rare-spotted-bamboo-tea-scoop-with-box","provider":"The Modern Zen Archive","version":"1.0","type":"link"}