Millions of people around the world enjoy sipping on tea. However, in Japan, drinking tea is not just for visiting with friends, but also an important element of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, a lavish and symbolic ritual.
While some people look at the Japanese Tea Ceremony as a time when friends gather, in truth, it is more of a sacred ritual that has long been a part of the Japanese culture. The symbolism of this ceremony has long been connected with the Japanese people and even today, it still adds charm and mystic to this country.
Elements of the Ceremony
The Japanese Tea Ceremony takes place in a Chashitsu, a special room inside a teahouse. Stone jars, known as Mizusashi are inside the room and filled with pure water. The only person that can touch this water is the host of the ceremony. Then, the herbal tea, called Matcha, is stored inside a small ceramic container called a Chaire, which is covered with a Shifuku, otherwise known as a beautiful silk pouch. The herbal tea is then placed in front of the jar of water. In some instances, tea bowls are beautifully displayed on stands called Tana, which adds to the overall experience.
Next, the tea bowl, or Chawan, would be carried into the room by the host. Inside is a Chasen or whisk, along with a Chashaku or tea scoop and Chakin, which is a bleached white linen cloth. All of these items would be lined up and next to them, a water jar, which represents the sun, referred to as yang along with the bowl that symbolizes the moon, otherwise called yin.
At this point, the waste water bowl or Kensui is carried in by the host, as well as the bamboo water ladle called the Hishaku and green bamboo rest used for the lid of the kettle, which is called a Futaoki. The host would then purify the exotic tea container and scoop used in the ceremony using the silk cloth.
The host then ladles hot water into the tea bowl, the whisk is rinsed off, and the bowl empted and wiped out. To serve guests during a Japanese Tea Ceremony, the best green tea or other special teas are placed into the bowls, three scoops per guest. The host then uses the whisk to create a fine paste along with the hot water. If needed, more hot water would be added with the goal of whisking the tea until it is thick.
The primary guest of the ceremony would then be handed the tea bowl, drinking some of the tea. This guest then wipes off the bowl’s rim, followed by passing the tea bowl to the next guest. The same ritual would be followed by each guest until each has sipped tea from the bowl. When done, the bowl is returned to the host of the ceremony, the bowl is rinsed, along with the scoop and tea container.
After all this, a fire is built so thin healthy tea called Usa Cha can be brewed. The thin tea is to help cleanse the guest’s palate, which represents guests leaving the spiritual world of tea so they can reenter the physical world. To enhance the experience further, guests are offered some type of smoking device, which usually occurs outside of the tearoom.
Thanking the Ceremony Host
To complete the Japanese Tea Ceremony, cushions called Zabuton and hand warmers, or Teaburi are provided to the guests. Once seated and comfortable, various dry sweets called Higashi are served. Every guest will thank the guest and show appreciation to the host prior to leaving the tearoom. As you can see, serving tea in a traditional ceremony such as this is a form of art.
If you ever visit Japan, we highly recommend that you participate in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This experience shows you the heart and soul of the Japanese people but it also gives you a chance to understand the love they have for herbal green tea.
