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Japanese Tea Ceremony
A Ceremony About Tea?
Before I was introduced to the Japanese tea ceremony, I also wondered how there could be a ceremony based around tea.
Although it is an art form and people do study for years to perfect the art, you don't need to study for years or be a trained geisha to enjoy the tea ceremony.
You just an appreciation for how it came about and the general philosophy behind it.
How was green tea introduced to Japan?
The Japanese tea ceremony really began in 1191 Eisai a Buddhist monk, recognized the health and meditative benefits of green tea and brought it across from China.
Eisai brought back some tea seeds from China and planted them in Kyushu 1191. Eisai had been studying Zen Buddhism in China, and had observed the monks’ practice of drinking green tea as a way to stay alert during meditation.
He shared this practice with Japanese monks on his return to Japan, and so the practice of drinking matcha was born.
Eisai wrote two books on the
health properties of drinking powdered green tea,
which also helped to spread the practice tea drinking throughout Japan.
And then came tea tournaments came along...
The early 15th century marked the beginning of tea tournaments in Japan.
As tea plantations gradually spread during the fifteenth century, the practice of holding tea tournaments or ‘tocha’ also spread. Tea tournaments were held among the wealthy and warrior (Samurai) class.
In the tea tournaments many bowls of tea were served, and the object of the tournament was to guess which province each tea came from. Large bets were placed on being able to determine which place each tea came from. The rewards were often beautiful art pieces brought over from China.
Sen no Rikyu - the man who shaped the foundations of the tea ceremony.
In the 15th century, the tea master Sen no Rikyu helped to develop the steps which turned the Japanese tea ceremony into a ritual which is still practiced hundreds of years later.
The Japanese tea ceremony evolved over the centuries, many tea masters contributing to what it is today. Sen no Rikyu (1521-1591) is one of the most influential tea masters.
He emphasized the spirituality and simplicity of the art of drinking green tea. He developed all the steps in the Japanese tea ceremony, and passed on his knowledge to his students.
What is the philosophy behind the Japanese tea ceremony?
The philosophy behind the tea ceremony has been shaped by its origins in Zen Buddhism. It revolves around:
‘Wa’ – harmony
‘Kei’- respect
‘Sei’- purity
‘Jaku’- serenity
Today there are many different styles of tea ceremony but they all follow the above philosophy.
The aim of the tea ceremony is to create a tranquil atmosphere, where the host and guests forget about the outside world, and focus on building a harmonious relationship with each other.
What does a Japanese tea room look like?
A Japanese tearoom is a simple room with tatami floors. It is simply but elegantly decorated with a Japanese hanging scroll and a flower arrangement(ikebana).
It is placed in the small raised alcove (tokonoma) which sets the mood and occasion for each tea ceremony. Each guest observes them on entering the tearoom.
The Hanging Scroll
The hanging scroll has a short poem written on it in Japanese calligraphy. The scroll is specifically chosen by the host to help set the mood of each tea ceremony. Sometimes there is a small painting which complements the poem.
The Flower Arrangement
There is also usually a flower arrangement placed on the raised alcove. The flower arrangement should complement the vase. It is very important that the beauty of both the flowers and the vase be appreciated. Vases are often made from bamboo, basket ware, pottery or copper.
Japanese Sweets - One of my favourite parts of the Japanese Tea Ceremony
Guests are usually served some traditional
Japanese sweets
once the tea ceremony begins, and before the bowl of green tea is served.
Often the sweets served are ‘mochi’, these are sweets made from glutinous rice. The rice is often mixed with azuki (sweet red bean) beans which are pounded into a small round flattened ball.
Often the sweets are coloured and shaped to represent the season. For example in Spring when cherry blossoms are in bloom, you will often be served pink sweets shaped into a cherry blossom leaf.
Eating sweets before
drinking matcha,
also helps to balance the bitterness of the matcha. Just as certain foods are complemented by a nice wine. The same is true of matcha and mochi. They are the perfect combination.
So what actually happens in the Japanese Tea Ceremony?
- Once the host has greeted the guests and served them sweets.The host will bring all the tea utensils needed to make the tea, into the tearoom.
- The host will then tell the guests to relax, and enjoy their sweets while the tea is prepared.
- The host prepares the bowl of matcha using a series of steps, which are very graceful and fluid.
- Once the matcha is made it is served to the guest.
- After the first sip is taken, the host asks the guest, “How is the tea?”. The guest replies, “It’s delicious”. And each bows to each other as a show of respect.
- Once the guest has finished the tea, they can admire all the tea utensils used to prepare the tea, including the tea bowl. The guest might ask the host about the
pottery style
the tea bowl was made in.
- The guest will often ask the host questions about the tea utensils or the hanging scroll hanging in the alcove. This way the host and guest can enjoy others company.
Although there is certain etiquette used during the tea ceremony, the most important thing is for the guest and host to appreciate each others company, the occasion and of course- the tea!
Utensils Used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony
CHASEN BAMBOO WHISK
The chasen is a bamboo whisk used to make tea in the Japanese tea ceremony. It is made up of an outer ring of fine bamboo strands, and an inner ring of fine strands. It is very effective in whisking the matcha powder into a frothy texture.
CHAWAN TEA BOWL
The chawan is the tea bowl used in the Japanese tea ceremony. There are various kinds of tea bowls, in which the size, design and colour vary. Often different tea bowls are chosen according to the different seasons.
CHASHAKU BAMBOO SCOOP
The chashaku is a bamboo scoop used to measure and put the matcha powder into the tea bowl. It is very useful when preparing a bowl of green tea. The usual measurement is 3 heaped scoops per bowl of tea (this equals 1 level teaspoon).
FUKUSA TEA CLOTH
The fukusa is a square silk cloth used to purify all the utensils used in the tea ceremony. The host folds it in various ways during the tea ceremony using graceful movements. The fukusa comes in various colours and designs.
NATSUME TEA CADDY
The natsume is the tea caddy used in the tea ceremony to hold ‘usuicha’, or thin matcha tea. They are usually made from wood which is lacquered. It is often black or red and is embellished with a simple or ornate design in gold.
CHAIRE CERAMIC TEA CONTAINER
Chaire are used when making ‘koicha’, or thick matcha tea. The container is usually ceramic, and it has an ivory lid.
Learn how to make your own bowl of matcha tea.
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