THE JAPANESE TEA

CEREMONY

By: Samar Allibhoy

Austin Ho
Shania Mashhoud
Due Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Table of Contents

Introduction
Origin
Materials
Procedure
Video
Pictures
Bibliography

Introduction
The tea ceremony is based around four principles: wa
(harmony), kei (respect), sei (cleanliness), and jaku
(tranquility). They are carried across by preparing a
special tearoom that avoids any clutter. This allows the
feeling of tranquility and harmony to be perceived.
Respect comes from accommodating the needs of tea
guests. Moreover, topics that lead to arguments are
avoided to maintain a tranquil atmosphere.

Origin
The Japanese Tea Ceremony, (also known as the Sado,
Chanoyu, or the "Way of Tea"), was influenced by the Zen
priests. In AD 1187, a Zen monk named Eisai brought tea
plants to Japan from China. He often meditated through the
nights. He created the tea ceremony in order to stay alert. The
caffeine present in tea helped the monks to stay awake. It
then became a ritual of the court. Later, many rules in
carrying out the tea ceremony. A whole new culture grew from
tea drinking. For example, nobles came up with games based
around tea drinking. One of these games involved guessing
the type of tea they were drinking.

Materials Needed
Materials used for the tea ceremony include tea bowls
(Chawan), tea containers or caddies (Chaire and Natsume),
tea scoops (Chashaku), whisks (Chasen), dippers (Hishaku), a
small brocade mat (Kobukusa), Fukusa (11 inch square cloth to
symbolically clean or purify utensils), Chakin (a small cloth
used to wipe tea bowl), a tea kettle (Kama), a teapot, some
flower vases, fresh-water containers (Mizusashi), waste-water
containers (Kensui), Futa oki (object where the tea kettle is
placed when the kettle is open), trays, and kaishi (a book of
white papers, which are used as plates for sweets). The types
of tea bowls and the shape is based on the seasons. For
instance, summer bowls are shallower to spread heat and give
impressions on coolness (vice versa for the winter bowls). On
the other hand, winter bowls are deeper to provide the look of
heat and warmth.

Procedure

The way each tea ceremony is performed depends on the

time of day.
People participating in the ceremony go through an inner
stone garden. The stones form a basin with water. Here,
the guests rinse their hands and their mouths and remove
their shoes. They then continue walking into the tea
house.
The guests can then crawl through the tiny door, about a
foot high, which is the entrance to the tea house. The last
person entering the tea room closes the sliding door. This
is a signal to the host that s/he may light the charcoal fire
in the fire pit.

Procedure (continued)

Once a person walks into the alcove, s/he can see a single
line of Japanese calligraphy drawn by a Zen priest. Guests
would observe this word, which clears the mind before the
actual ceremony. Then, the host of the alcove enters to
serve a light meal before serving the tea. After eating, the
host collects the dishes in silence and brings the guests
feelings into harmony.
The host then makes a thick green brew using hot water
and powdered tea. The group then holds a brief, formal
conversation while sipping the tea. When finished, a thin
frothy tea is served, drawing the tea ceremony to a close.

Pictures

Top left: Various tea bowls used

for different seasons
Bottom left: Guests in a Japanese
tea
ceremony
Above: Sweets usually eaten in a
typical tea ceremony

Pictures Continued
Left: interior of tea
room
Right: exterior of tea
room

Video

From: http://
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pi1jdg_4MXo

Bibliography
Book Resources
New York, NY:

Collcutt, Martin, et al.

Cultural Atlas of Japan.
Andromeda, 1988.
2. Green, Jen.
Japan: Nations of the World. Austin, TX: Walter
Kossmann, 2001.
3. Leonard, Jonathan Norton.
Early Japan. Canada: Rhett Austell,
1968.
4.Kalman, Bobbie. Japan, the Culture. Toronto: Crabtree, 1989. Print.
5.Sat, Shz, Alice Ogura Sato, and Masturah Jeffrey.Tea Ceremony.
Boston: Tuttle Pub., 2005. Print.
Encyclopedia Resources
6. New World Encyclopedia, The, 2011, vol. 11, Japan.
7. Pictorial Encyclopedia of Japanese Culture: The Soul and Heritage of
Japan, 1987, vol. 1, Tea Ceremony, Tea
Ceremony and Flower
Arrangement.
1.