In what ways does the Japanese tea ceremony reflect Japanese Culture?
Introduction
The Japanese have an ancient tea practice in which they take tea in a ritualized manner. The tea in Japanese is called Chanoyu which simply stands for hot water for tea. There are a number of conditions to be met in order for the ceremony to achieve the name of Japanese tea ceremony. The room for holding the ceremony is specialized in that it is given a code and special procedures of arrangement. The room is made only for four people and it is given a touch of intimacy.
The tea ceremony is organized in a hermit’s hut which is surrounded by a garden in order to cut off participants from the rest of the world. The setting of this hut is rather intimate and can only accommodate a maximum of five people. The entrance to the hut is a small entrance by the name nijiriguchi which mostly requires for the participants to squeeze in order to fit. Interaction between the host, guest and the utensils is a great factor in the tea ceremony. Utensils that are used in the ceremony have to have a high value to the society. The tea is made using ground tea leaves known as matcha which were believed to have medicinal value. The utensils used in the ceremony include tea bowls, flower vessels, water jar and water caddies. As with almost every other tradition, there is a certain form of behavior expected from both the guests and host which is known as tea etiquette to which all participants of the tea ceremony should adhere to .
There are three important aspects in the room. These aspects are the host, the tea utensils and the guest. The utensils are picked prior to the event and they are handpicked by the host; meaning that they are specifically picked so as to fulfill the tea ceremony. Tea preparation rituals are performed in the watch of the guest. The tea ceremony is conducted with the use of powder tea leaves which are known as matcha. The tea ceremony is a special ritual for the Japanese and it is considered an art which requires years of learning to master .
Tea ceremonies cannot be repeated since they involve a unique gathering and unique utensils for every tea ceremony. There are no two matching pieces in the same tea ceremony. The tea ceremony has a certain code of tea etiquette in which guests need to commend the utensils and the color of the matcha before they can drink the tea. Matcha was initially used by the Japanese for its medicinal properties of preserving five major organs of the body which include the heart, the lung, the kidney, the spleen and the liver. It was believed to bring its users spiritual, physical and emotional health. The utensils are objects of art that have a certain representation and an aesthetic sense .
History and Origin of the tea ceremony
The tea ceremony was invented during the sixteenth century by the elite who used these gatherings to form and strengthen their social bonds. Tea in japan was brought in from china into the country through trading activities since it was not grown in Japan. It introduced the concept of ground tea leaves discarding the earlier concept of submersing tea leaves in boiling water to prepare tea. Religion was also another basis that led to the invention of the tea ceremony. The tea ceremony was first used by monks who believed it had a certain impact on a person’s spiritual health. The tea was to be served in special bowls which were unique representations of art. The first utensils to be used were ceramics which traced their origin in China and had been in Japan for many generations.
Chinese art was held in high regard in the Japanese culture. Korean and Japanese utensils were later added to this collection by great tea masters of their time in the mid sixteenth century, giving these utensils similar value to that of the Chinese ceramics. Powdered tea was first brought to japan by a monk named Eisai from China. Monk Eissai was known to grow tea based on his religious beliefs. He was a Buddhist and the reason why the ceremony is linked to Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism is an important part of the ceremony which induces meditation which is necessary for a true experience of the ceremony. A tea master by the name Sen no Rikyu, invented the entrance to the tea ceremony which is known as the nirijiguchi.
Impact of the tea ceremony
The tea ceremony is a significant religious and historical event. The tea ceremony is considered a sacred event that is highly significant to all the participants. The host should remember to prepare the tea with certain principles in mind; purity, reverence, calm and harmony. The set up should also be done carefully in order to allow the guest to admire the utensils and are brought one by one in order to achieve the element of surprise. After arranging, the utensils are then wiped carefully to signify cleansing of both mind and heart. All this is done in absolute silence which allows the participants the time to reflect and meditate. The host’s interaction with the utensils and the preparation of the tea is done in perfect harmony to invoke harmony. Purification of the utensils is either done with silk or water and is done in order to represent purity.
The host should display calmness throughout the ceremony. The tea ceremony was used by merchants in Japan to unifying them. A unifier by the name Nobunaga would organize such ceremonies and hand out articles at the ceremony which would help him win the trust of his participants. A politician by the name Hideyoshi used these ceremonies for the purposes of diplomacy. He used these ceremonies for the purposes of creating political alliances. The tea ceremony unifies the Japanese of all socio-economic classes as this tradition is upheld in all Japanese households. It represents the Japanese culture and their religion. Women are also encouraged to become tea masters and as a result the tea ceremony across the barriers of culture. The tea ceremony is also an avenue where art can be revered . After invention of the tea ceremony, many artists came up in attempt to produce their own utensils. It led to the rise of new ware which include raku, Shine and Oribe. These wares required a finesse in order to produce regular thin walls and was the first collection of Japanese art of pottery. Later artist such as Nonomura Ninsei began signing their work. This new form of art was passed on to younger generation and Japanese art continued to evolve.
The objectives of the ceremony
Every ceremony has its own objectives and the tea ceremony’s key objective is based on Zen Budhism – living in the moment- and as a result the whole ceremony is primarily focused on having full concentration. This ensures that all participants are engrossed and fully involved in the moment with all their senses. This way, one eliminates or blocks out all mundane thoughts and as a result achieves complete calm .
The current state of the tea ceremony
All traditional practices tend to adjust over time from one generation to another. One would therefore wonder what the state of the tea ceremony currently is in the Japanese modern cultural practices. The full-length official or formal tea ceremony is no longer done in Japan as it was regularly done for relaxation. The main hindrance to carrying out the full formal ritual in the modern society is that owning a tea house has become a luxury for many. Additionally, people also lack the necessary level of motivation to entertain in a tea house. This luxury and entertainment element of the Japanese ceremony has been left primarily being practiced by the priests of the Buddhist religion. Other than that group of individuals, the other people that enjoy the entertaining aspect of the practice are the elites of the Japanese society as the practice is now a complete luxury .
Conclusion
The Japanese tea ceremony is deeply ingrained in the Japanese culture. It has for a long time been practiced in the Japanese society and it celebrates craftsmanship and an appreciation of art. The ceremony advocates for calmness and being in the moment – all of which are fundamentals of Buddhism. The ceremony is no longer celebrated as widely as it used to a few decades ago although millions of Japanese men and women from diverse backgrounds continue to learn the craft week in week out.
Works Cited
Anderson, Jennifer Lea. An Introduction to Japanese Tea Ritual. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1991. Print.
Oxtoby, Willard G and Roy C. Amore. World Religions: Eastern Traditions. Ontario: Oxford University Press, 2010.
Sadler, A. L. The Japanese Tea Ceremony: Cha-No-Yu. Tuttle Publishing, 2011. Kindle.
Sasaki, Sanmi, Shaun McCabe and Satoko Iwasaki. Chado: The Way of Tea. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2002. Print.
Web Japan. Tea Ceremony: Way of Tea. n.d. Web. 17 March 2016. <http://web-japan.org/factsheet/en/pdf/28TeaCeremony.pdf>.
