Tea House known as the Tycoon's Halting Place, Harra
Photograph
Tea House known as the Tycoon's Halting Place, Harra
From the album Photographic Views and Costumes of Japan
ca. 1868
Albumen silver print
20.8 x 27.3 cm.
Purchase
1979.0059.0032
Inscriptions (applied label, printed, opposite page):
TEA HOUSE KNOWN AS THE TYCOON'S HALTING PLACE,
HARRA.
There is little to distinguish the Tea Houses which are sometimes used as halting places by the Tycoon from others which are the resort of less aristocratic visitors. The mats may be of finer texture, and edged with a choicer pattern, and there may be more care and finish in the style of the paper and internal decoration, but there really is so little difference between the cottage of the wealthy merchant and the residence of the Daimio, that to a casual observer there is nothing strikingly noteworthy.
In the countries where architecture is an acknowledged science, and where buildings of imposing exterior and lofty apartments mark the presence of wealth, or the abode of Princes, the halting place of a Sovereign is a prominent object of attraction in a town, but in Japan the same single floored house, and the same materials of wood and paper, are universal.
The garden is sometimes more extensive, more minute in detailed attractions of tiny lakes, tortured trees, small bridges, rockeries, gold fish, and shady nooks, and in this particular tea house this is the case, but one requires to go inside to find these things out, and would never discover such attractions from the outward appearance of the tea house itself.
TEA HOUSE KNOWN AS THE TYCOON'S HALTING PLACE,
HARRA.
There is little to distinguish the Tea Houses which are sometimes used as halting places by the Tycoon from others which are the resort of less aristocratic visitors. The mats may be of finer texture, and edged with a choicer pattern, and there may be more care and finish in the style of the paper and internal decoration, but there really is so little difference between the cottage of the wealthy merchant and the residence of the Daimio, that to a casual observer there is nothing strikingly noteworthy.
In the countries where architecture is an acknowledged science, and where buildings of imposing exterior and lofty apartments mark the presence of wealth, or the abode of Princes, the halting place of a Sovereign is a prominent object of attraction in a town, but in Japan the same single floored house, and the same materials of wood and paper, are universal.
The garden is sometimes more extensive, more minute in detailed attractions of tiny lakes, tortured trees, small bridges, rockeries, gold fish, and shady nooks, and in this particular tea house this is the case, but one requires to go inside to find these things out, and would never discover such attractions from the outward appearance of the tea house itself.
