Japanese Women, Class and the Tea Ceremony by Kaeko Chiba - 9780415837927

Japanese Women, Class and the Tea CeremonyThe voices of tea practitioners in northern Japan\nAuthor(s): Kaeko Chiba\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd, United Kingdom\nImprint: Routledge\nISBN-13: 9780415837927, 978-0415837927\nSynopsis\nThis book examines the complex relationship between class and gender dynamics among tea ceremony (chad?) practitioners in Japan. Focusing on practitioners in a provincial city, Akita, the book surveys the rigid, hierarchical chad? system at grass roots level. Making critical use of Bourdieus idea of cultural capital, it explores the various meanings of chad? for Akita women and argues that chad? has a cultural, economic, social and symbolic value and is used as a tool to improve gender and class equality. Chad? practitioners focus on tea procedure and related aspects of chad? such as architecture, flower arranging, gardening and pottery. Initially, only men were admitted to chad?; women were admitted in the Meiji period [tel] and.