simple enjoyment that can come from drinking a beverage is a pleasure that we often experience without much thought. We might remember a nice drink associated with a special situation, however. A warm cup of hot chocolate may be especially wonderful after coming inside from playing in the snow, and a cold glass of lemonade may be nice on a hot summer day. These occasions are even more enjoyable and memorable when the setting is comfortable and we are able to share the moment with someone special.
In Japan, a special tradition was developed to create a calm and wonderful atmosphere for drinking tea. This tradition is called the tea ceremony. It is based not just on sharing a cup of tea with a friend, but on experiencing a special moment in a very relaxing kind of place.
This may sound like a strange idea, but it might be similar to something you already do. For example, imagine the following situation:
Your friend comes over on a warm summer day and you decide to have some orange juice. You ask your friend to sit at the dining room table. Perhaps you set out a nice vase containing a flower, or at least remove the newspapers and clutter from the table. You go to the refrigerator and take out the pitcher of juice with the simplest movements of your hands and body, without spilling a drop. With care and grace that you aren't even aware of you place the juice container on the countertop.
You know that the juice is orange, so perhaps you pick glasses that will complement the color of the juice. You pour juice into the glasses, being careful not to splash juice on the counter. You might even wipe the pitcher with a napkin after you've finished pouring Without thought, as if its the most obvious thing in the world, you return the container to the refrigerator.
When you place the glass of orange juice in front of your friend, it's like you're telling him or her to "please enjoy" the juice. Your friend will probably thank you for the juice, but even if nothing is said, you know that your friend appreciates your thoughtfulness. And if you've taken the time to enhance your experience-by adding ice to the glasses, or clearing the clutter off the table-you and your friend will share a pleasant, refreshing moment.
This sort of act is performed often. We're so used to this conduct that we do it almost without thinking.
The tea ceremony focuses on how people can find pleasure, peace, and companionship in a simple and beautiful way-but in a more organized way than when you and your friend enjoy glasses of juice on a warm day. This spirit of the tea ceremony is the essence of Japanese culture.
This book first presents a short history on the tea ceremony and then takes you through all of the steps for making a bowl of tea to share with friends. Children both in Japan and in the United States have experienced and enjoyed the tea ceremony, and perhaps you can, too.
Japanese children enjoy a tea ceremony.
I will present the tea ceremony as it is traditionally performed, using the traditional tools. You may need to modify some of the steps with what is available to you. The traditional ceremony calls for matcha, which is a powdered green tea. You must also have a whisk for the powdered tea.
Serving brewed tea is another kind of ceremony. Brewed tea is often served in very casually, but there are also more formal ways to serve it. Steps will be included so that you can serve brewed tea in more formal ways.
I take great pleasure in presenting the tea ceremony to you. I sincerely hope that you will share what you learn in this book with your friends, as sharing is the spirit of the tea ceremony.
School children enjoy tea at the Japan House at the University of Illinois.
Trieste practices the tea ceremony in northern California.
introduction
Tea, or cha, is a beverage that people in Asian countries have been drinking since ancient times. The earliest tea trees were found growing along the borders of southern China and in a country known today as Myanmar. During the sixteenth century, Dutch and Portuguese traders introduced tea to the European countries. Today people all over the world drink tea.
For many generations in Japan, tea has been enjoyed in a specially arranged artistic setting and served in an artful manner. The tea ceremony is a way for people to come together, not necessarily to talk or play, but to find calmness and peace of mind. The host and guest come together to appreciate the offering and the receiving of the bowl of tea in a small room. Only a few pieces of equipment are used, and everything is arranged in a way that creates harmony and beauty. Because the tea room has only a few things on display, one can enjoy the beauty of each object. One can also fully appreciate the taste, fragrance, and sounds of the tea. In a tea ceremony, tea is served in a way that will bring pleasure to all five senses of both the person serving tea and the person drinking it.
Left to right: wa, kei, sei, jaku
What Is a Tea Ceremony?
The spirit of the tea ceremony is based upon four special ideas: wa, which means "harmony"; kei, which means "respect"; sei, which means "cleanliness" or "purity"; and jaku, which means "tranquility." When you include all four elements, you can fully enjoy the beauty of simply drinking a bowl of tea.
In creating a setting of this harmony, it is important to think about what wa, kei, sei, and jaku mean. To start, what kind of setting gives you a sense of harmony and peace? This would probably be a place that is without clutter and is very clean. In a tearoom, there is often just a simple flower arrangement. The flowers are used only to enhance or honor the vase or container, which is often a work of art in itself.
Next, respect comes when everyone and everything is treated with thoughtful consideration. For example, if you are having a guest who has very special needs such as a physical disability, you will make special arrangements. In the tea ceremony, this is called kokoro ire (kokoro means "heart" and ire means "putting in"), which means that you are putting your heart into the activity. You are being thoughtful and considerate of your guests. You will then have a setting that is very peaceful. These are things you can do in any social situation.
In a tea ceremony, you do not discuss things that can lead to arguments, such as which sports team is best. Only such things as the tea equipment or the meaning of the calligraphy are discussed. This helps to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. The pouring of cold water into hot water, the placing of a bamboo dipper on a stand, the gentle sound of a bamboo whisk whipping tea, and even the gentle sipping of hot tea are all sounds to be appreciated.
How the Tea Ceremony Developed
The history of the tea ceremony began when Eisai, a Buddhist monk, brought tea plants from China to Japan in A.D. 1187.
Eisai, who studied Zen Buddhism in China, learned that the monks practiced a ritual of drinking tea as a way to stay alert while meditating and stay healthy. When Eisai returned to Japan, he brought back tea seeds and seedlings from China and shared the tradition of drinking tea with the Japanese monks.
From the tea plants Eisai planted grew a whole culture of tea in Japan. As time passed, tea was enjoyed not just by the humble monks but also by the very wealthy. During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, a special tea drinking game was developed by the
