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A book that explains the medicinal effects of drinking tea. It consists of two volumes. It is the oldest tea book in Japan. The author was Zen Master Eisai, the founder of Kenninji Temple. The first edition was compiled in 1211 (Kenryaku 1), and the second edition in 1214 (Kenpo 2). The first volume describes the "Five Organs Harmony Gate," which explains the physiological effects of tea, and the second volume describes the "Exorcism of Demons Gate," which explains the pathological effects of mulberry leaves in driving out demons. Since it explains the medicinal effects of tea and mulberry leaves together, it was also called the "Chasokyo" (Tea and Mulberry Sutra) during the Muromachi period, which coincided with the establishment of the tea ceremony, and it is interesting to note that this book attracted attention as a tea book. Furthermore, in February 1214, when Shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo was suffering from a hangover, there is an entry in the Azuma Kagami in which this book is presented to him along with a cup of tea as "a book praising the virtues of tea."

[Kouichi Tsutsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

喫茶の薬効を説いた書。上下2巻。茶書としてはわが国最古のもの。著者は建仁寺(けんにんじ)開山栄西(えいさい)禅師。初治本は1211年（建暦1）、再治本は1214年（建保2）に成立。上巻には茶の生理学的効能を説く「五臓和合門」を叙し、下巻には鬼魅(きみ)を駆逐する桑の病理学的効能を説く「遣除鬼魅門」を叙す。茶と桑の薬用効能をあわせ説いたところから、室町時代には「茶桑経(ちゃそうきょう)」ともよばれ、それはおりしも茶の湯成立期にあたり、本書が茶書として関心をもたれたことを例証して興味深い。なお1214年2月、将軍源実朝(さねとも)が二日酔いで苦しんだとき、茶一服とともに「茶徳を誉める書物」としてこの書が献じられた条が『吾妻鏡(あづまかがみ)』にみえる。

［筒井紘一］

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