| Japanese culture / Tea ceremony | ||
 wagashi and tea |
Chanoyu, tea ceremony, was brought by the Japanese priest Eisai (1141-1215) when he returned from Buddhist studies in China. Sen no Rikyuu (1522-1591) transformed its style. Until then tea was not made in the midst of guests. Common Japanese-made objects started to be used in stead of the rare and expensive Chinese tea utensils used previously. After that, tea ceremony was influenced by Zen Buddhism and tea ceremony schools like Omote Senke, Ura Senke, and Mushanokooji Senke were created by Rikyuu's descendents. How to drink Tea We can't gulp tea, there is the way to drink it. 1) Wagashi, sweets, are served before drinking the tea. The host says "Please help yourself to the okashi" , you place it on kaishi, a kind of paper and eat it. 2) When the tea is served, bow to the host and the other guests. Take the bowl with you right hand and place it on your left palm. Turn it clockwise with your right hand in your palm 2 to 3 times until the front is away from your lip. The front of the bowl usually has a distinct design. 3) Steady the bowl with your right hand and sips it with about three and a half sips, NOT gulp. 4) Wipe the edge of the bowl you sipped from with your fingertips and clean your fingertips with the kaishi. 5) Turn the bowl with your right hand in your palm counter-clockwise until the front of the bowl faces you. It might be quite complicated, but when you want to feel wabi of Japanese mind and enjoy tranquillity, give it a try. If you wan to have experience of tea ceremony in a casual way, try ocha seki, tea house like the pictures. No one frowns at you even if you gulp tea or eat wagashi with drinking tea, forget turning the tea bowl. You can be relaxed with the atmosphere of ocha seki and the sound of shishiodoshi. |
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 kettle for tea |
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 shishiodoshi |
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 ocha seki (inside) |
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 ocha seki (outside) |
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 entrance |