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What Is A Japanese Tea Ceremony?
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In some Far Eastern
countries like Japan and China, drinking tea is a ritualistic
ceremony. The root of the practice lies in the Zen philosophy
and the idea is that one learns to enjoy the beautiful in the
midst of daily chores and routine. Tea drinking is a ritual that
follows a set of prescribed rules. The ceremony is also said to
be an aesthetic way of entertaining guests.
Origin
The ritual of tea drinking is said to have originated in China.
It was first practiced in Japan, by Zen monks, during the
twelfth and fourteenth centuries. The Japanese monks used to drink tea to
keep themselves awake during long hours of meditation. Later, it
became an active part of the Zen ritual of honoring the first
patriarch, Bodhidharma. |
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In later years, that is during the
fifteenth century, the ritual of tea drinking ceremonies began to
gather shades of social interaction, when friends gathered in an
isolated atmosphere. While consuming tea, they would discuss issues
like the aesthetic appeal of paintings, calligraphy or the flower
arrangements in the tea room. They would also discuss the merits of
the utensils used in the tea ceremony!
The tea house
The Japanese ritual had to be conducted in an appropriate place. The venue
for the tea drinking ceremony was called a cha shitsu or tea
house. This was a small structure outside the main house or a
special room within the house itself. |
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A Japanese tea ceremony |
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Constructing the Japanese tea room is a great exercise, again with stipulated
rules (instructions). The material to be used for constructing the tea house should
lend it a rustic yet refined atmosphere. The tea room would usually
be a square, about nine feet in length and breadth, or sometimes
smaller than that. There would be an alcove, known as the
tokonoma, at one end of the room, housing a lovely flower
arrangement or a hanging scroll. A fireplace is also planned in the
room, so that tea may be heated in a kettle during the winter
months.
The doorway to the room is interesting, consisting of a small low
door. The idea is that the guests are reminded about the importance
of humility.
The Japanese tea ceremony
The ritual begins with the host bringing all required paraphernalia
connected with tea making into the room. The guests are then offered
special sweets as a prelude to the ceremony. Then begins the ritual
of preparing and serving tea made of pulverized tea leaf stirred in
hot water. The tea is usually thin and frothy.
Before entering the tea room, the guests are required to wash their
hands and rinse their mouths as a symbolic of cleansing. Prior to
the sweet and tea, a light meal is served to the guests. After
drinking the tea, the guests get down to the business of discussing
various aesthetic issues. Towards the end, the guests are free to
ask the host about the implements used for the tea ceremony. The tea
utensils and implements are carried out of the room to the main
house and the ceremony concludes.
It is said that the ceremony was aimed at the following things –
bringing harmony between the guests and the implements used; showing
respect not only to other fellow beings participating in the
ceremony, but also the inanimate utensils used for the ceremony;
cleanliness; and, tranquility.
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