Tea Ceremony in Japan

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Fancy a cup of tea or a cup

of fancy tea?

Seemingly there may be not much of a differencebetween a tea ceremony or a tea party but oh,there is. A tea party today is more of an event tojust get together and have a good timesocializing.

A tea ceremony however is a more solemn,symbolic and profound affair. Believe it or not, itis practiced to foster harmony in humanity,promote harmony with nature, discipline themind and quiet the heart.

While the tea ceremony is observed mainly insome Asian countries, it is the one in Japan that'smost known of.

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Japanese Style

Tea ceremonies are governed by a concept known as ichgio ichie, or one time, onemeeting.

Even though the same series of tasks is performed at every tea ceremony, there isan awareness of the fact that every moment that the host and guests spend togetheris a unique one that can't be duplicated.

It is considered sacred and practised widely in parts of Japan

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Roll of Events

Long before the guests arrive, the host of the

ceremony must devise a theme for the event,

such as an appreciation for sunrise or sunset

or an awareness of the changing of the

seasons.

To emphasize this theme, the host selects a

calligraphy scroll and creates flower

arrangements that will accent the tearoom

The host must be a master of many Japanesearts, from calligraphy to ceramics, and teamasters study for decades to stage one event.Guests are taken through a garden to the tearoom.

In a traditional ceremony, guests will bewearing kimonos, and they will sit or kneelon the tatami, or mat.

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First, the host performs a charcoal

ceremony, a special method of

building the fire that will heat the

water for tea.

Most tea ceremonies present the

guests with a meal, in the absence of

which they are served small sweets

which prepare their palates for the

tea.

Next, it is time for the host to make

tea, which is done with very

structured, practised, choreographed

movements.

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Roll of Events

First up is a thick tea made by whisking

the ingredients, which is shared by each

guest, sip by sip, from the same bowl.

After the thick tea, the host will make a

thin tea, which is the liquid version that

we're familiar with.

Some conversation after this, typically

about the utensils used and tea served,

marks the end of the tea ceremony.

Both host and guests use the ceremony

as a time to try to live fully in the

moment, meditating on these ritualized

actions and appreciating the aesthetics of

the room and the ceremony.

Roll of Events

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