About

Welcome to The Wooden Mirror. Here, amidst the pores and pith of the grain, I will be reflecting on my apprenticeship in Sashimono: the traditional Japanese art of wood joinery. I will focus my joinery studies on Kyoto-style sashimono and the construction of kiribako (Paulownia boxes) especially as they relate to The Way of Tea.

My name is Shen Su (聖素). I am a student of tea, woodworking, and kintsugi. I have been accepted to study this traditional woodcraft of sashimono for one month in Japan under the guidance of two masters as a small group of us do our best to learn and preserve this beautiful joinery technique.

Every day, I will focus my time on meditation, tea, and sashimono. Outside of the program, I will be exploring the beautiful, rural area of Keihoku where this program is nestled, meeting many of the other wood craftspeople of this town.

I wouldn’t be on this adventure without the support of so many of you. So thank you, and please join me as I document my month-long apprenticeship.