Bokksu Snack Box
Harmony and Zen: An Insider's Guide to the Japanese Tea Ceremony
Today, tea ceremonies are synonymous with the Japanese cultural values of inclusivity and human connection. But did you know that, in the past, regular folks like us would have been unable to attend these ceremonies?
There are a lot of facts about Japanese tea ceremonies that most people don’t know. In this post, we’ll reveal everything there is to know about the cultural event and the green tea that features prominently in it.
Introduction to the Japanese Tea Ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony is a cultural event that involves the ritual preparation, presentation, and drinking of powdered green tea (matcha). This ceremony is also known as chanoyu or chado, which translates to “the way of tea” in English. It typically takes place in a traditional tea room, often featuring iconic tatami flooring.
Chanoyu means more than serving and enjoying green tea. It also offers an opportunity to escape the busy city life and enjoy traditional hospitality. By harmonizing elements of nature, aesthetics, and hospitality, Japanese people hold these events in high esteem.
Despite its seemingly prestigious nature, the tea ceremony is a hobby for many households in Japan. Different organizations also host the events. Some ceremonies are formal and follow all traditional rites, while others are a lot more casual but still maintain regard for certain traditional elements of the occasion.
Historical Origins of the Tea Ceremony
If we’re to recount the history of the tea ceremony in Japan, we need to go back to where it all began: the arrival of tea in the country. Tea was first introduced to Japan in the 9th century from China. At that time, it was used mostly for its medicinal properties. Eichu, a Buddhist monk, served the reigning Emperor Saga some tea, and this is the oldest historical record of the beverage in ancient Japanese texts.
The use of powdered matcha did not begin until the 12th century, when another monk named Eisai introduced a new preparation method he learned during his trip to China. So far, only monks, priests, samurai, and rich nobles could afford to drink matcha.
At some point during the Muromachi period (1336–1573), which was in the middle of feudal Japan, tea drinking rose in popularity and people from all social classes began to enjoy the drink. Members of elite society would often host tea-drinking parties and competitions. A new version of these parties soon developed based on Zen Buddhist principles of simplicity and spirituality.
These modest parties were the first ever tea ceremonies. By the 16th century, tea drinking was pretty common in the country. However, it was Japanese tea expert Sen no Rikyu who laid the groundwork for the modern tea ceremony through his books and teachings on “the way of tea.”
The Elements of the Tea Ceremony
In this section, we’ll go through all of the key components of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The following are elements you can expect to find at such events:
-
Tea room: This is the main room in which the formal tea ceremony takes place. Often called chashitsu, the main features here are tatami floor mats. The lines and demarcations on the mats help guests determine their sitting positions. The room also tends to contain a scroll alcove used for hanging calligraphy scrolls. These scrolls were written by Buddhist monks, and they contain sayings, poems, and powerful phrases. The tea room may also contain simple flower arrangements set up in the chabana style, a flower arrangement technique that originated from Ikebana.
-
Tea utensils: Japanese tea utensils are called chadōgu, and they come in a wide range of varieties. They’re made up of several individual items, including a white piece of cleaning cloth (chakin), tea bowl (chawan), tea whisk (chasen), and tea scoop (chashaku).
-
Cha-kaiseki meal: This is a multi-course meal adapted specifically for tea-drinking functions. Some people simply refer to it as kaiseki. It only uses seasonal ingredients, meticulous preparation techniques, and exquisite presentation. Dishes are served on small lacquered trays. In cha-kaiseki, the aesthetics of the meal are just as important as its flavors.
-
Tea: The tea served is a mixture of matcha and hot water. The first serving is called koicha or thick tea. It has a higher green tea concentration than the second serving, which is called usucha or thin tea.
-
Attire: Kimono is the traditional attire for Japanese tea ceremonies. In fact, a lot of the ceremonial motions and sitting positions were established with the kimono in mind. These days, some tea ceremony hosts allow guests to wear formal Western attire.
-
Procedure: The host must send out invitations to all guests before they can attend the ceremony. Before the guests arrive, the entire tea house and its surrounding garden are cleaned and prepared. Visitors must wash their hands in a stone basin at the entrance to the house when they arrive. When the ceremony begins, the guests bow and take their seats, beginning with the guest of honor. The host then prepares the tea in their presence. Everyone eats a Japanese sweet before drinking tea placed in front of them. The host asks the guests if they want more tea, and if they don’t, they end the ceremony.
How to Drink the Tea in Chado
The tea bowls are placed in front of guests during the ceremony. Remember to bow after receiving the tea. Next, gently lift it with your right hand and place it on top of your left palm. While still holding the bowl, turn your right hand in the clockwise direction by 90 degrees. Take several sips of the tea and gently put it back on the tatami mat when it’s finished. Bow once again in appreciation. You may lift and turn the tea bowl once more to admire and appreciate its craftsmanship and design.
The Architectural Beauty of Tea Houses
Traditional Japanese tea houses are more than just venues for tea ceremonies. They are the epitome of simplistic beauty. The term chashitsu can be used for both Japanese tea houses and the tea rooms they contain. In some cases, a tea house takes the form of a free-standing architectural building surrounded by a zen garden. Tea ceremony gardens don’t use bright-colored or strongly-scented flowers because they do not match the ritual’s tranquility.
The house also has a stone path leading to its main entrance. It may contain one or several tea rooms lined with tatami mats. The architectural design and aesthetics should put visitors in a serene and contemplative mood while awakening their senses.
Understanding Matcha: The Tea of Ceremonies
One of the most important aspects of tea ceremonies is the tea served at the venue. More often than not, this tea is matcha, a powder made from ground green tea leaves. This powdered green tea has been used exclusively in tea ceremonies for centuries and counting.
During the preparation, a tea spoon is used to pour the measured amount of matcha into a lacquer container. It’s then mixed with water pre-heated to about 85 °C. Next, a tea whisk is used to thoroughly mix the matcha and hot water, leading to the tea formation.
Matcha has close ties to Zen Buddhism, as it was a favored drink for monks and priests. It’s also revered for its many health benefits, including disease prevention, weight loss, and improvement of brain function.
Philosophical and Spiritual Aspects
The Way of Tea is the movement that governs most of the principles surrounding tea ceremonies in Japan. These principles are deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism. They include the following:
-
Harmony (Wa): Participants should feel at one with nature and other humans at the ceremony. It encourages positive interactions between guests, hosts, and the natural environment.
-
Purity (Sei): This refers to the cleanliness of surroundings as well as intentions. The principle is based on the fact that the process of cleaning up the environment helps to purify one's soul.
-
Respect (Kei): All participants should accept others, show kindness, and remain humble. They should also respect the utensils, tea rooms, and surrounding environment.
-
Tranquility (Jaku): This is considered the end result of harmony, purity, and respect.
-
Simplicity (Shibui): This refers to the use of aesthetics that are subtle and unobstructive in their beauty.
The Role of the Tea Master
The Tea Master (or Tea Mistress) is the expert in charge of sourcing, selecting, blending, and tasting high-quality matcha for the ceremony. They know all about tea grades, classifications, valuation, pairings, and serving styles. To attain the position of tea master, one must undergo rigorous training at a tea school for at least a year.
Seasonal and Artistic Influences in Tea Ceremonies
Tea ceremonies often reflect the natural beauty of each time of the year. They may do this by integrating art forms like calligraphy with texts about the changing seasons or arrangements of flowers that are in bloom. Others serve seasonal leaves and flowers that enhance the flavor of the tea and remind guests of the current season.
Where to Experience a Tea Ceremony in Japan
The two cities with the most undiluted tea ceremony culture in Japan have to be Kyoto and Uji. Nevertheless, other major cities like Tokyo and Osaka still practice the art, despite their modern settings. You can enjoy local tea ceremonies in Tokyo’s main tea houses, such as Kouyama Garden and the Yuian-Matcha Tea Ceremony. Historical tea houses include Ichiriki Chaya (Kyoto), Sakura Tea Ceremony (Kyoto), and Uji Municipal Tea House Taihoan (Uji).
Conclusion:
It would seem no amount of modernization can eliminate the practice of tea ceremonies in Japan. People from all over the world are seeking to experience this unique aspect of Japanese culture.
Visit Bokksu Boutique to share your interests in Japanese tea culture with those you care about. From tea sets to green tea boxes, we have everything you need for the ideal gift.
Author Bio
More from the blog
View all
