Japanese Tea Ceremony

The four basic principles of the Japanese tea ceremony:

harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility

Chado--The Way of Tea
www.art.uiuc.edu/tea/

also:

http://www.art.uiuc.edu/galleries/japanhouse
/classes/chado/university/project1.cfm
art 209 : tea ceremony and zen aesthetics : Final projects
CHADO INVITATION : VIKY CHI
Project description. You're Invited to Attend a Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
Please Join Us for a Cup of Tea.

The Japanese tea ceremony is a simple process in which the host serves the guest a carefully prepared bowl of tea. Within this process, you are given the opportunity to revitalize your spirit, identifying with your own true self, as well as with others sharing the tea experience.

The ceremonial aspects of Chado are simple, unadorned with any unnecessary objects or actions. The process consists of the host's careful preparation of a bowl of tea, showing great concentration with every movement. The tea utensils are revered with the highest consideration, with careful cleansing and handling. Powdered green tea is measured into a specific tea bowl chosen for the occasion. The host adds hot water and, with a tea whisk, blends the tea until it is fit to serve to the guests. The tea is then served and received in a manner that communicates respect and gratitude from both the host and the guest.

Every component of the tea ceremony is prepared and performed with the greatest consideration-- with one's mind, heart and spirit. This pureness of the Way of Tea is the Zen approach to every aspect of one's life.

Please relax and enjoy yourself today as we share a bowl of tea.

Guest Procedures

The guests approach the host's home through a slightly open garden gate. A small, garden path called a roji leads to the tea hut. Roji, translated as "dewy ground", is where the guest is able to discard the unnecessary burdens of the outside world, clearing their minds for the tea ceremony.

A tsukubai is placed near the entrance of tea hut. At this low, stone water basin, the guests stoop down to wash their hands and mouth, symbolically purifying themselves.

The guests enter the tea hut by crawling through a small doorway called the nijiriguchi. The nijiriguchi is built at a size in which all who enter must crawl through at the same level, reflecting a sense of humility and connection with the other guests.

The guests perform toko-viewing before the tokonoma, where objects of art are displayed by the host. The guest approaches the tokonoma and bow, showing respect and appreciation. The objects in the tokonoma are usually: a hanging scroll, a floral arrangement, and an incense container which are chosen in accordance with the season and theme of the tea ceremony.

When the host strikes a gong, the guests seat themselves in the tea room and exchange formal greetings with the host by the act of bowing. The mood is quiet as the guests watch the host prepare the tea. The guests share this bowl of tea, offering and receiving the tea by bowing, to show respect and gratitude.

After the ceremony, the guests are welcome to examine the tea utensils and converse with host.

An important concept underlying all the aspects of the tea ceremony is Kokoro, meaning mind, heart and spirit. This is the extent to which the host and the guest are involved in the ceremony. Every effort made by the host is put forth with the mind, heart and spirit towards creating a wonderful experience for the guests. Every detail in the garden and tea hut and every movement in making the tea is performed with great concentration. The guests appreciate and show respect for these efforts with their entire mind, heart and spirit as well. With careful observance of the display in the tokonoma and bowing with respect to others, the guest also gives the most sincere effort in their part of the tea ceremony.

Reflecting on the various scrolls displayed throughout this semester, this concept, kokoro, has had the most impact on the way I view my life. I read this and thought about all the experiences I have encountered in the past. I realize that the ones the stand out and those that I am the most proud of are ones in which I have put my entire mind, heart and spirit into. This was most evident when I recollect on all the classes I've taken as an undergraduate. I realize that often I have received high grades in my courses, but I cannot honestly say that I learned the most from those classes and that they had much affect on me. Instead it was the courses that I put my entire efforts in, my time, my interest, and my will to learn, that I have learned the most from and I am proud of.