What is the Japanese Traditional Culture “Tea Ceremony”?

In this issue, we will introduce the tea ceremony, a traditional Japanese culture that is very popular among foreigners.

The tea ceremony is a great way to experience the spirit of Japan and its many charms, such as Japanese hospitality and wabi and sabi.

This article will briefly introduce the history and methods of the tea ceremony.

At the end of the article, we will introduce facilities in Tokyo where you can actually experience the tea ceremony in a casual setting, so if you are interested, please read the article to the end.

What is the Tea Ceremony?

In the tea ceremony, there are rules for how to serve and receive tea, how to sit, how to bow, how to stand, and how to walk, etc. These are called manners.

These rules are called manners, and they do not merely mean, “I’m going to make you some tea, so drink it and take your time,” but are also intended to encourage a spiritual exchange between the master and his/her guests.

In those days, there were tea rooms for this purpose and gardens to create the atmosphere, as well as the selection of utensils for the tea ceremony and things to appreciate, which shows how much importance was placed on the spiritual exchange through the tea ceremony.

Origins and History of the Tea Ceremony

It is said that tea spread in Japan during the Kamakura period (around 1185-1333). A monk called Eisai brought back Zen Buddhism (a form of Buddhism that involved sitting meditation, etc.) from China, and tea was also brought back with him.

Later, in the Muromachi period (1392-1491), “Wabicha” was established by a monk named Murata Shuko, who introduced spirituality and the interaction between the host and the guest through tea.

From there, during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573-1603), Sen no Rikyu, a very famous tea master in Japanese history, refined the “wabicha” and spread it throughout the world.

This is the history of “chado” or “chanoyu” as we know it today.

The Way of Tea Ceremony

Here is a brief introduction to the tea ceremony procedure.

1. A guest enters a guest room.
2. Sweets are brought in
3. The master brings the utensils out to the guest room.
4. The master purifies the utensils and serves tea, which the guests then enjoy.
5. The master puts away the utensils and finishes the tea service.
6. The guests leave the tea room.

This is how the tea ceremony is conducted.

Important Principles of the Tea Ceremony: Sen no Rikyu’s Words “Four Rules and Seven Regulations

Sen no Rikyu, the Japanese master of the tea ceremony, taught an important lesson to be gained from the tea ceremony.

They are called the Shiki-Seven Rules.

What is the four disciplines called shiki?

Shikki is the spirit of “harmony, respect, purity, and solitude.

What the hell, I can’t read Kanji”. Here is what each Kanji means.

Wa（和） means a harmonious mind.

Kei（敬） means mutual respect.

Sei（清） means to be pure.

Sabi/jaku（寂） means to have an unmoved mind.

These are the four important spirits gained in the tea ceremony.

What are the seven rules?

The seven rules are the seven attitudes one should have when entertaining guests.

1. Drew tea with all your heart
2. Discern the essence of the tea
3. Respect the seasons
4. Respect life
5. Have a relaxed mind
6. Have a soft heart
7. Respect one another

These are the principles of the tea ceremony as advocated by Sen no Rikyu.

Are there different schools（ryu-ka） of tea ceremony?

For all you aniwota Japanese lovers out there who hear the word “ryu-ka” and think of all kinds of Japanese anime!

Of course, there are many Japanese anime that have their own schools, but since we are talking about the tea ceremony now, please concentrate on that.

In fact, there are schools of tea ceremony as well.

It was Sen no Rikyu who introduced the culture of the tea ceremony to Japan, and his descendants created various schools.

Here are some representative examples.

Urasenke school of tea ceremony（裏千家）

A school that actively adopts the trends of the times.

Omotesenke school of tea ceremony（表千家）

A school that faithfully follows ancient manners.

Mushanokoji Senke school of tea ceremony（武者小路千家）

This school is characterized by its streamlined mannerisms and streamlined manners.

There is also a cool name for this school in the tea ceremony, so please shout out this school loudly like a special move while preparing tea.

Places to experience the tea ceremony in Tokyo

Japanese cultural experience Iori an Tokyo（庵an東京）

Iori An is a place where anyone can experience Japanese culture, which is often said to be too expensive in Tokyo, in a casual manner.

Of course, you can also experience the “tea ceremony” introduced here.

In the tea ceremony experience, after a brief lecture, you can make your own powdered green tea and enjoy delicious, heartwarming tea and Japanese sweets.

Three plans are available

1. Otemae (tea ceremony) experience (with a demonstration of Hikicha)
2. Matcha 3-point tea ceremony (tea preparation and making dry confections and wagashi)
3. 2-dish experience (tea preparation and wagashi making)

Each of the Iori An Tokyo facilities offers daily events.

You can also try your hand at making hana-gashi (flower confections) and dried confections at this facility, and learn more about Japanese culture and experiences on the website.

web site	https://tokyo.nipponbunkan.com/ （Available in English）
Address	201 Nomura Building, 39 Kandakonyacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access	3 minutes walk from East Exit of JR Tokyo Metro “Kanda Station”.

Lastly

In this issue, we have introduced the traditional Japanese culture of the tea ceremony.

We hope that you have gained some understanding of the origins, history, and spread of the tea ceremony.

We have also introduced the flow of the tea ceremony and the spirit of the tea ceremony.

What is surprising is that there are different schools of tea ceremony.

There are many Japanese who have never experienced the tea ceremony.

It is a culture that is difficult to experience, but when you visit Japan, why don’t you try a tea ceremony experience based on what you have learned in this article?

Well, thank you again for your patience until the end of this article.