The tea ceremony is one of the most representative traditional cultures of Japan. As the concept of "wabi-sabi" and Japanese tea became popular, the tea ceremony also became known worldwide.
There are also many hands-on tea ceremony classes for foreigners in Tokyo and other cities.
In this issue, we will explain the basic concepts and specific manners of the tea ceremony in an easy-to-understand manner.
What is the Tea Ceremony?
The tea ceremony is an act (ritual) in which the host invites guests into the tea room and serves them tea in accordance with certain manners.
Invited guests are also expected to behave according to etiquette.
The purpose of the tea ceremony is not the etiquette itself, but the spiritual exchange. Manners are merely a means to that end.
The meaning of manners cannot be understood without knowing the purpose and fundamental ideas of the tea ceremony.
Therefore, before introducing detailed manners, we will first summarize the purpose and concept of the tea ceremony in an easy-to-understand manner.
The Roots and Purpose of the Tea Ceremony
The best way to learn about the purpose and philosophy of the tea ceremony is to learn about its roots.
The roots of today's tea ceremony can be found in "Wabicha" (tea ceremony with tea leaves), which was greatly developed by Sen no Rikyu.
And Sen no Rikyu's "Wabicha" has its roots in the tea ceremony of Murata Shuko.
During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), when Murata Tamamitsu lived, "chanoyu," or tea ceremony, in which tea (powdered green tea) was served in a certain manner to entertain guests, was popular among the nobility (court nobles and warriors).
The tea ceremony of the nobility was held in a building built in a corner of a nobleman's mansion, where tea was served in expensive Chinese tea bowls and gorgeous banter was enjoyed.
The tea master Murata Shuko, who was also a monk, disliked this approach.
He created and practiced the "chanoyu" method, in which he lived in a crude hermitage built in a remote area, served powdered green tea in crude tea bowls, and quietly interacted with his guests.
This method was developed through his disciples, and was later refined into "wabicha" (tea ceremony with tea leaves) by Sen no Rikyu.
While Murata Tamamitsu retired to a secluded place, Sen no Rikyu built a tea house in the city that resembled a hermitage, where he practiced the tea ceremony.
Sen no Rikyu's tea room was quite small, about 2 to 3 tatami mats, with no ornate decorations, and the utensils for serving tea were simple.
The light shining into the tearoom was controlled by a special design, and the path leading to the tearoom (i.e., the open space) was also elaborately designed to create an extraordinary space.
Murata Tamaki and Sen no Rikyu valued simplicity and simplicity.
He believed that the glamorous world full of things and people was noisy and vain, and that genuine beauty and spiritual satisfaction could be found only through a simple life and interaction in a simple tea house.
The tea ceremony is a tradition inherited from Sen no Rikyu, in which working people gather in a special space called a tearoom to hold a tea ceremony (chakai), with the host and guests acting as the tea masters.
Its purpose is to lift each other's spirits through extraordinary exchanges.
Wabi and Sabi" and "Wajei Seisabi
Murata Shuko and Sen no Rikyu avoided material abundance and glamorous interactions, pursuing a modest lifestyle and the elegance that can only be found in a simple environment.
This way of life and state of mind is called "wabi.
Newly built houses and tools become old with time, and places that were once lively become deserted, but with them comes a calm, serene, and deep atmosphere.
Such an atmosphere is called "sabi" (rust).
The tea ceremony emphasizes the "wabi" or "sabi" style of the tea ceremony. Many elements of the tearoom and tea ceremony are constructed based on "wabi and sabi," and exist for the pursuit of "wabi and sabi" by the pavilion owner and guests.
Along with "wabi and sabi," the tea ceremony emphasizes the concept of "harmony, respect, and purity.
- Harmony: to be at peace with one another and harmonize
- Respect: to honor one another.
- Sei: to keep the mind and the space of the tea room pure.
- 寂: to be quiet minded and unperturbed by anything
These represent the state of mind that one should always be aware of during the tea ceremony, and are necessary elements to make the tea ceremony meaningful, and are goals that should be pursued along with "wabi and sabi".
Isseki-ken" and "Ichigeki Ichigeki."
The owner of the tea house offers tea in a variety of elaborate ways to entertain the guests, and the guests, while respecting the owner and the other guests, take the initiative in creating the atmosphere of the occasion.
The resulting comfortable sense of unity in the tearoom space is called "ichiza kenritsu," and is one of the goals of the tea ceremony.
At a tea ceremony, everyone is expected to be attentive to the spirit of "Ichigeki Ikkai," or "One Life, One Meeting," and to be mindful of "Issa Kenritsu.
The concept of "once-in-a-lifetime encounter" is that each encounter is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter that will never happen again, and therefore, each encounter should be treated as if it were the last.
It is a basic tenet of the tea ceremony that both the master and the guest cherish each encounter as an irreplaceable opportunity to build a tea ceremony house.
Major Schools of Tea Ceremony
Sen no Rikyu's "Wabicha" was passed down to his disciples, including his descendants, but due to differences in their ideas, the tea ceremony has been divided into many schools up to the present.
It is said that there are currently more than 500 different schools, but the most representative are the "Sanzenke" schools: Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushanokoji Senke.
These schools were started by the sons of Sen no Rikyu's grandson.
The etiquette of the tea ceremony differs slightly from school to school.
Tea Ceremony and Tea Party
There are two types of tea ceremony meetings: "chaji" and "chakai.
- Tea Ceremony: A meeting where not only tea but also kaiseki cuisine is served to a small group of people to whom the proprietor invites those close to him or her.
- Tea party: A meeting where only tea is served, ranging from a small group to several hundred people, many of which can be attended on the day of the event without an invitation.
Beginners generally start with a tea ceremony.
Flow of a Tea Ceremony and Basic Tea Ceremony Etiquette
This section introduces the etiquette for the guest side, following the flow of the tea ceremony. The details of tea ceremony etiquette differ from school to school, but we will not cover them here, only the general rules.
Clothing and personal belongings
In the tea ceremony, kimono (Japanese traditional clothes and white tabi) is the basic attire, and for a tea ceremony, kimono is required, but for a tea party, Western clothes are often acceptable depending on the policy of the host.
If you are attending in clothing, be sure to wear formal attire in subdued colors.
Also, be sure to wear white socks.
Wearing white tabi socks and white socks is a rule that follows the "sei" of "harmony, respect, and tranquility.
No metal jewelry or watches may be worn.
This is to avoid damage to tea utensils and other items.
There are various tools that each person should bring to a tea ceremony, but for beginners, it is sufficient to prepare three items: a fan, kaishi paper, and kasagiri (some groups have basic tools provided by the organizer).
- Fan: Small fan used for greeting people, etc. (not opened and fanned)
- Kaishi: Paper used as a plate for serving sweets or for wiping tea bowls.
- Kashikiri (large toothpick): tool used to cut confectionery into bite-size pieces or to stick them into the confectionery and bring them to the mouth
Entering the Tea Room (Seating)
Visitors enter the tea ceremony room through an open area (garden) paved with stepping stones (paving stones). There is a water basin outside the entrance to the tearoom, so wash your hands there before entering.
There are two types of cases: the husband may have already entered the room, or he may not (e.g., he may enter and exit after the tea preparation has begun).
If the husband enters the room first, say "excuse me" before entering.
The entrance to the tea room is made so small that one must bow one's head to pass through.
This system was devised by Sen no Rikyu, and everyone (even the nobles of the samurai and court nobles of the time) had to bow their heads (and remove their swords if they were warriors) to enter the tea room.
This system incorporates the idea that "everyone is equal in the tea room.
Equality is the source of "harmony" and "respect" in "harmony, respect, purity, and solitude.
Viewing the hanging scrolls in the tokonoma (alcove)
Instead of taking a seat immediately after entering the room, sit in front of the alcove, place a fan in front of your knees, and bow before admiring the hanging scrolls, flowers, and flower vases (vessels in which flowers are placed) displayed in the alcove.
The alcove decorations, tea bowls, and other tea utensils are prepared by the teishu at each tea ceremony and are chosen according to a theme conceived by the teishu.
seat
The representative of the guests (the regular guest) sits closest to the host.
The Shokugaku, representing the guests, converses with the host, asks questions about tea and tea utensils, and leads the tea ceremony together with the host.
Throughout the entire tea ceremony, all but the regular guests basically do not talk to the master, but only greet him or her.
From the conversation between the guest and the host, the theme of the day's tea ceremony is gradually revealed.
The person who sits farthest away is called the "suekaku," and has the important role of helping the tea ceremony progress, and is served by experienced tea masters.
The beginner sits between the regular and the youngest guest.
The basic rule is to sit on tatami mats in seiza, but for some meetings, sitting on the floor in agura or other seiza positions may be acceptable.
There is also a tea ceremony called "taterei-shiki," in which tea is served at a table on chairs.
a fine thing to say (used as part of a sarcastic response to a rude remark)
After being seated, greetings are exchanged between the host and the guests and among the guests.
The order of greeting will vary depending on when the husband enters the room, but beginners should be fine as long as they wait to be greeted and then answer.
When greeting, place the fan in front of your knees and bow.
receive sweets
While tea is being prepared, sweets will be served.
In some cases, a bowl with sweets for everyone is passed around in turn, while in other cases, a bowl with sweets for one person is handed out.
In the latter case, the recipient should bow and receive.
When the bowl with sweets is passed around, when it is your turn, say to the person next to you (the next person), "After you," then take out a piece of kaishi paper, take one of the sweets, and place it on the kaishi paper.
The main confectionery (fresh confectionery made of bean paste, rice cake, etc.) and dried confectionery (dry confectionery such as rakugan, sembei, kompeito, etc.) are served, and the fresh confectionery is taken by picking it up with chopsticks attached to the bowl, while the dried confectionery is taken by hand.
When you have finished taking the sweets, pass the bowl to the person next to you.
When the sweets have been passed around to all the participants, the owner of the house calls out, "Please take the sweets," and the participants bow before starting to eat.
The main confectionery is cut into small pieces with a pastry cutter.
have a cup of tea (usu. at tea ceremony)
There are two types of tea: koicha (thick tea) and usucha (thin tea). Koicha is a thick tea, and everyone drinks a little bit of it in turn.
Usucha is a thin tea made for one person at a time, and all the tea served to you is drunk.
At a tea ceremony, both are served, but at a tea party, in most cases, only either koicha or usucha is served.
When it is your turn to drink, greet both neighbors before drinking.
First, place the bowl between yourself and the person whose turn it is before you, and say, "I will accompany you," then move the bowl between yourself and the person whose turn it is next, and say, "I will take it after you.
Then, return the tea bowl to the front of the room and greet the master with "o-demae wo kudasimasu" (please give me the tea bowl), take the bowl with your right hand, place it on your left hand, and lift it up by placing your right hand on it.
The etiquette from this point on differs slightly from school to school, but beginners should especially keep the following points in mind.
- (The tea bowl is rotated slightly so that the front of the bowl is not in front of the mouth (drinking with the front of the bowl off is an expression of modesty and respect for the host).
- Drink only your portion of dark tea or all of light tea in a few sips.
- For light tea, wipe the mouthpiece with your finger; for dark tea, wipe with a piece of kaishi paper.
- Once the teacup is set down, it may be viewed (or picked up).
- In the case of light tea, the tea bowl is returned to the end of the tea ceremony, and in the case of dark tea, the tea bowl is passed to the next person.
Greetings and Leave of Absence
When everyone has finished drinking the tea and admiring the bowls, the tea ceremony ends with closing remarks from the master and regular guests.
About hands-on tea ceremony classes for foreigners
Many tea ceremony schools in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Kyoto, Osaka, and other areas offer hands-on tea ceremony classes for foreign visitors to Japan.
There are also classes available in English, Chinese, and Korean, as well as a classroom where you can sit in a chair and experience the tea ceremony.
Dress is optional, but it will be fun to participate in kimono rentals and dress up in kimono.
summary
Although the manner of making tea is not the purpose of the tea ceremony, it is useful to start with the manner (form) without thinking about the purpose or reason, in order to learn more about traditional Japanese culture.
If you visit Japan, I highly recommend participating in a casual tea ceremony or a hands-on tea ceremony class.
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