Samurais: treasuries of the Japanese Daimyo
In the One-Pillar Chamber of the Patriarch's Palace

The section "Culture of Samurais" steps away from the battlefield and peers into samurais' life and the world of women in samurais' families. Noh performances and the tea ceremonies were the two most important parts of samurais' cultural life.

Noh is a major form of classic Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century - the Nanbokucho period. It revolved around theatrical play consisted of song and dance; by the Muromachi period (1332-1573) it was closely affiliated with the shogunal families. It became the official form of performance when Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603 and Noh was performed at his inaugural ceremony. The exhibition features costumes and masks that were treasured by samurai families.

Drinking tea, also known as "cha-no-yu," was first brought to Japan from China by a Zen priest during the 12th century. The purpose of the tea ceremony is not merely to drink luxury tea, rather, it provides an opportunity for a host and guest to converse and appreciate the aesthetics of the tea implements, tea bowl, and interior furnishings. Examples of Chinese tea utensils used for official tea gatherings of samurai families are on display.