Chashaku carving!

[blairswhitaker]

Today I has a lesson with Shibano Sensei on chashaku carving. Like nearly everything in tea, it's a simple concept that proves much more challenging to execute than one would have imagined.

I very humbly present to you the fruit of my labors...








It's hard to express the importance of a chashaku in Chado, they are one of the two items included in every heikan (viewing of tea ware). A chashaku is to be treated nearly as if you were dealing directly with the person who made it, as one if the Sensei had said. "you don't bow to (the chashaku) it's an object, you are bowing to the person who made it. You are honoring them."

[bonescwa]

Beautiful as hell!

[茶藝-TeaArt08]

Congratulations on the new piece and the further deepening step in your tea practice. Thank you for sharing!

Blessings!

[JBaymore]

Nice job.

best,

...................john

[debunix]

How does the Chasaku get bent? Bamboo grows so straight, I'm presuming it's steamed or otherwise bent deliberately? And do you start with a bunch of rough-shaped pieces already bent, or work on a flat smooth piece and bend it just before final polishing?

[blairswhitaker]

Debunix, it works like this. A straight section of bamboo is soaked in water for three to four days then the section you want to bend is carefully heated over a alcohol burner. At the right moment you make your bend then dunk it in ice water. After this you tie a string so that your piece of bamboo looks like a little bow. Let it dry for about three days and then you are ready to start carving.

[blairswhitaker]

Here are the three I have created so far. These are all naka-bushi or center node chashaku featuring a maru-dame bend and a maru-gata "scoop". The ones that are straight from the side view are called sakahi chashaku and the one with the "notch" or curve at the node is a junhi chashaku.

[Pig Hog]

Middle one is lovely!

[JBaymore]

Did you cut the bamboo? (A while ago,... cause they are not green.)

best,

...........john

[blairswhitaker]

No, the Sensei provided with "blanks" cut bamboo to roughly the correct length. It has been ages for many years. He said if we cut our own green bamboo to age it at least one year.

[blairswhitaker]

Latest chashaku, susudake, junhi chashaku.

[debunix]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I've mostly done very small-scale woodworking--barettes--that involved soaking/heating and bending the wood, and pressing it around a form while it dries. Never thought of an ice bath to 'fix' the form. Might try that sometime.

[blairswhitaker]

Also if you start with green bamboo you need to plunge it in boiling water and then buff it before you let it dry and cure. This forces the oils to the surface that would otherwise slowly seep out and cause an unattractive appearance as the piece is used over time.

[blairswhitaker]

Here's a new one. "Ichi-shin"

[Pig Hog]

Is that quite short or is it me?