The translator of Dr. Sen's writings, Christy A. Bartlett first went to Japan to apprentice at a potter's studio in Kyoto. Research on the ceramic arts led her to a deep appreciation of the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Chanoyu, The Way of Tea.
Dr. Soshitsu Sen, fifteenth generation Head Master of the Urasenke Tradition of Tea, had recently created special classes for the serious study of Chanoyu by non-Japanese and Ms. Bartlett entered the study of tea at Urasenke Konnichian. Urasenke is one of the oldest traditions of Chanoyu in Japan, tracing its lineage directly back to the brilliant sixteenth century tea master Sen Rikyu (1522 -1591).
There, for nine years, she studied and eventually taught the Way of Tea. During that time, she was fortunate to have been brought into close contact with the Important Cultural Property tearooms of Konnichian, as well as historical utensils and the chabana of the highest ranking tea masters in Japan. In 1981 Dr. Soshitsu Sen sent Ms. Bartlett together with Michael Kane to establish a West Coast branch of the Urasenke Foundation in San Francisco.
The Urasenke Foundation of San Francisco is a non-profit foundation devoted to public service educational programs on Chanoyu and Japanese culture. The mission of the Urasenke Foundation is to promote understanding and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of Japan as expressed in the art of Chanoyu.
The purpose of the Foundation is threefold.
First, to serve as a research center for local and visiting scholars.
Second, to offer the general public an opportunity to learn more about Chanoyu and Japanese culture through direct participation in tea gatherings,lectures and workshops.
Third, to offer introductory through advanced instruction in Chanoyu.
For many years years the Urasenke Foundation in San Francisco has energetically served communities throughout the United States with master classes, lectures, and workshops provided to Urasenke Associations, museums, educational institutions, and numerous community groups, such as the Japanese Consulate. The core of the Foundation is a rigorous curriculum structured to serve all those whose hearts incline towards the Way of Tea. Instruction is provided by a dedicated group of men and women, in both English and Japanese. The student body represents all ages, multiple backgrounds, and all levels of understanding.
In the heart of North Beach, long the center of the artistic community in San Francisco, and within a modern gallery-like environment, the Urasenke facilities combine East and West, traditional and avant-garde, and include one of the few authentic eight-mat tearooms in the Bay Area. The tearoom was built by the master carpenter Makoto Imai from West Coast and Japanese materials.
Christy Bartlett regularly returns to Urasenke Konnichian to study under Zabosai Iemoto and Genshitsu Daisosho, who have recognized her commitment to education and study in the field of chanoyu with two of its highest degrees, the kyoju and seikyoju. Ms. Bartlett received her BA in Art History and MA in Asian Studies from UC Berkeley. She has continued advanced studies in the Graduate Division of East Asian languages at UC Berkeley, in addition to her work as Founding Director at the Foundation in San Francisco.
For more information please call 1-415-433-6553 or email.