The Book of Tea

by Okakura Kakuzo

£10.99

Explore all aspects of the Japanese tea ceremony with this beautifully clothbound pocket-sized hardback edition of The Book of Tea. Discover how the rituals of taking tea blend seamlessly with traditional Japanese life.

This charming compact book belongs to the Macmillan Collector’s Library, a collection of exquisite clothbound classics. It’s an ideal gift or a special indulgence for any book lover. This edition features an afterword by Anna Sherman and wonderful illustrations by Sayuri Romei.

This short book, written in English by Japanese scholar and artist Okakura Kakuzo, was first published in 1906 at a time when Japan was opening up to Western culture. In response to that, Kakuzo set out to explain the beauty and simplicity of Japanese daily life which was greatly inspired by 'teaism'. The book offers an in-depth look at various elements of the tea ceremony, including its origins, the responsibilities of tea masters, the design of the tea-room, and the steps involved in preparing and serving tea. It also explores the relationship between tea and the philosophies of Taoism and Zennism, along with chapters on art appreciation and the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging, known as 'Ikebana'.

This edition makes the perfect addition to any book lover's collection who appreciate or take an interest in traditional Japanese culture and history, or those who just love themselves a cup of tea!

Product Information

Hardback

Book contains 160 pages

Dimensions: 10.11 x 1.3 x 15.93 cm

FAQs

Delivery Information

Shipping to United States of America is currently suspended for the foreseeable future.

The de minimus exemption for orders under $800 going to USA ended on Friday 29 August 2025. Please bear with us while we update our systems to accommodate the new tariffs and duties. 

Our Pickup service is a convenient way for you to order online and collect your purchase in person at the Museum. Simply select the Pickup option at checkout.

Once you have received the collection ready email notification from us, we will hold your order for you up to 2 weeks. Please ensure that you visit the Museum to collect your order within those 2 weeks.

UK 1st Class: delivery 2-5 business days from dispatch

Europe: approximately 3-11 business days from dispatch (customs clearance may cause delays)

Rest of World: approximately 3-11 business days from dispatch (customs clearance may cause delays)

Please be aware that orders to International addresses may be subject to local customs duty or taxes. You will need to pay any additional charges for customs clearance, charges include local VAT and duty based on the value and origin of the product.

Weight Restriction

There is 5kg weight restriction for UK orders, and a 2kg weight restriction for International orders. If your order exceeds this weight, please contact the Online Shop team so that we can organise a quote for special delivery: onlineshop@ashmus.ox.ac.uk

Further information on our delivery options and returns policy can be found in Shipping & Returns.

Back to top