Have you ever participated in a Japanese tea ceremony? As for me, I took part in it during my eastern travel, and it was one of the most interesting experiences in my life.
In Japan I was staying in the house of a very kind Japanese couple. Once they invited me to take part in a tea ceremony. Since I had never been part of one I agreed immediately.
I learned that the tea ceremony in Japan is a traditional ritual, influenced by Zen Buddhism: years ago the tea ceremony was a part of the meditative practice of Buddhist monks, but then the ceremony became part of Japanese culture.
Each part of the ceremony conceals a certain meaning and symbols.
First of all, the guests gather and go to the teahouse where the ceremony will be held. According to tradition, they pass through a garden, and as they follow the narrow path between the trees and bushes, they admire the beautiful nature around them. This is a very important part of the ceremony, because it symbolizes the purification of the mind of any kind of side-thoughts.
The host is waiting for his guests on the threshold of the teahouse. But before entering, the guests should wash their hands and faces, and this ritual washing symbolizes the physical and spiritual purification of a person.
The entrance of a teahouse is usually rather low, so the guests take their shoes off and they have to stoop to enter. This symbolizes the fact that in some sense all people are equal, and everybody has to bow to tradition.
The host also enters the teahouse after the guests. The water is already boiling on the fire, and the guests kneel on the Japanese tatami (floor). First they should pay attention to Tokonoma (a niche where a scroll — Kakemono — with some writings is hung and an Ikebana — a nice flower bouquet — is set), an inseparable part of the traditional Japanese interior. The writings on the scroll usually have a certain meaning, and while the water is boiling , the guests have an opportunity to reflect on the words.
Before the tea is ready, the guests are served some light snacks. Those snacks should first of all look very beautiful, and their taste is less important (though, believe me, they are tasty as well).
Then the host starts to mix the tea, and when the tea is ready, he passes the cup to the first of the guests (usually to the oldest one). The guest takes a sip of it and passes the cup to the next guest. So, all the guests drink the tea from one cup, and this symbolizes the unity of people.
The empty cup makes one more circle among the guests, so that they can admire the beauty of the cup. Then the guests have a conversation with the host, but they shouldn’t speak about their daily cares. The tea, the cup, the Kakemono and Ikebana can be the topics of their conversations.
When the guests leave, the host stays in the teahouse for some time, reflecting upon the ceremony. Then he tidies the room. Nothing should be left in the room after the tea ceremony. Nothing in the room should speak about the ceremony. The ceremony should only continue existing in the minds and thoughts of the participants.
Photo © br1dotcom
No related posts.