KATAGIRI SADAAKI
片桐貞昌
Katagiri Iwami-no-kami Sadaaki was the son of Shuzen-no-kami Sadataka, and received the fief of Koizumi in Izumi with an income of ten thousand koku.
片桐石見守貞昌は主膳守貞隆の息子で、大和和泉国の小泉を一万石で相続しました。
He was the pupil of Kuwayama Sosen for Cha-no-yu and took the titles of Sokan, Nokai-an and Fuhyoken.
彼は桑山左近の茶の湯の弟子、茶名宗閑を拝領し法号三叔浮瓢軒と名乗りました。
He is the founder of the school called Sekisyu-ryu.
茶道石州流の創始者でも有ります。
+ Usually called Katagiri Sekisyu, Sekisyu = Iwami.
一般には片桐石州として知られています。石州は石見の事。
He was a descendant of the great Master Tkakeno Sho-o, for his father Sadataka married the daughter of Imai Sokun who was a grandchild in the female line of Sho-o.
武野紹鴎の末裔とされ、彼の父貞隆が紹鴎の女系の子今井宗薫の娘と結婚しています。
Sokyu's daughter was very good-looking and was sought in marriage by Ono Shuri-no-suke Harunaga's younger brother Shume Harufusa, but he refused and married her to Sadataka.
宗薫の娘はとても美人で、始め小野しゅりの輔はるながの次男しゅめはるふさと結婚する予定でしたが破談になって貞隆に嫁ぐことになりました。
So Sadaaki was famous for his taste and the fineness of his discrimination in details.
それで貞昌は素晴らしい才能を受け継いだのでした。
There was once a question of cookery and he gave the pronouncement: “If you want a simple meal in good taste you will have to prepare an elaborate one and then make a selection from that.
If you begin by thinking that anything will do for a light meal the result is not likely to be very interesting.”
料理について一つの格言を残し「簡素な美味しい料理を作るには入念な準備と厳選が必要です。常に心がけていれば全ては素晴らしい料理となり、簡素に見えるのです。」
Sadaaki had a fine piece of Chinese pottery that he used as the firepot of his tobacco box, and one of his friends remarked that he thought it was a pity to treat it so familiarly and asked why he did not rather use it as an incense-burner.
貞昌は素晴らしい中国の焼き物を所持していました。それは、たばこ盆の火入に使われていました。ある時友人の一人が、この様な素晴らしい物をなぜ香炉として床に飾らないのかと尋ねました。
“That is just where the true spirit of Tea is shown,” replied Sadaaki, “for it is because it is used as a fire-pot that people admire it. It is a first-class fire-pot but it would be a second-class incense-burner. Why murder a utensil by taking away its right place in the scheme of things? The important things is to make things live as fully as possible. It is just the same as with people. A fool may be useful and a sage useless. It all depends on the suitability of their employment.”
「これこそ茶の湯の精神の神髄です」と答え彼は続けます、「これは火入として使われて来ました。火入としては逸品ですが香炉としては二流です。なぜ一流の物をわざわざ二流の用途とし使わなければならないのでしょうか？もっとも大切な事は、そのものの役割を最大限に引き出す事です。人間社会と同様で才能ある者は使われ、無いものは使われません。組織の適材適所と同じ事なのです。」
Katagiri Sadaaki was especially distinguished as a connoisseur of antiques as well as for his deep knowledge of Tea Philosophy, and was appointed Tea Master to the Shogun Ietsuna.
片桐貞昌は茶の湯精神の達人に加え古物鑑定家としても知られていて、将軍家綱の茶頭を務めていました。
Once when on his way to Edo from his fief of Koizumi he noticed in a posting inn where he was staying one night a chamber-pot of what seemed unusual quality.
ある時、国元の小泉から江戸へ出仕のさい立ち寄った宿での出来事です。寝室に置いてあった尿瓶（しびん）にふと目を留めました。
He had it cleaned carefully and then examined it and found that it was indeed a fine piece, so he intimated that he wished to buy it.
彼はそれをきれいに掃除して調べてみると、やはりとても良い物でした。早速、購入したい旨を宿主へ伝えました。
“It may be, as your lordship says, a fine piece,” replied the host, “but as it has been used for such a purpose it can have no value at all.
「殿は素晴らしいお品と申しますが」と宿の主人、「かのような使い方をしている物ですので、、。
If you wish to have it I shall be pleased to present it to you, but I could not think of taking anything for it.”
もしどうしても欲しいとおっしゃられるのでしたら、差し上げるしか方法がございません。」
“But it is quite unreasonable,” said Sadaaki, “to get things from people for nothing,” and so, after some pressing, he made him take something for it and then ordered his attendants to break it in pieces.
「それは常套ではない」と貞昌、「対価を支払わなくてはならない。」押し問答が何回か続いた後、彼は手に取り、家来に命じこの器物を壊すように命じました。
They were naturally a little surprised, so he explained, “This is a genuine piece of old Chinese pottery, and if a connoisseur happens to see it he will certainly buy it and in all probability say it was a water jar and sell it at a high price.
皆はもちろん驚きました。彼は理由を説明しはじめ「これは中国の古い名品である。もし他の鑑定家が発見すればもちろん手に入れるであろうし、水盤と称し高値で売りさばくに違いない。
And the buyers, having parted with a large sum for it, and quite unaware of its former uncleanness, will look on it as a great treasure and treat it accordingly, and it is to prevent a thing so unbecoming that I am now having it broken.”
そして商人が暴利をむさぼること必定、日の目を見る前にこの宝物を壊してしまうのが私の務めと心得る。」
There is a case of a curious old Chinese vessel dug out of the ground at a place where Gyogi Bosatsu lived and so called Gyogiyaki.
この珍品中国古物が掘り出された場所に行基菩薩があった所から、行基焼と呼ばれています。
It has a pointed bottom and will not stand up, so that it cannot be used as a Tea-caddy.
この器物、下の部分が欠けていて立たない為“茶花器”としては使えません。
It is said to be used as a hanging flower vase.
掛花入として使われたそうです。
+ A similar story is told of Matsudaira Fumai.
＋似た話が松平不昧候（石州流不昧派）にもあります。