Everything seems to matter in Japan, even a simple tea party boasts a rich history and tradition. The Japanese tea ceremony is rooted in the deep Middle Ages to Buddhist monks who spread it throughout the land of the Rising Sun. What is this art and what are its features?
Tea ceremony
You can say that this is a ritualized form of sharing tea. It was created in the Middle Ages, when tea appeared on the territory of the country and Buddhism began to spread. The Japanese tea ceremony is still cultivated today. Every self-respecting Japanese or Japanese woman attends special courses that teach this art. Also in Japan, the so-called tea houses have been preserved, which are several centuries old and are inherited in the family.
Initially it was a peculiar form of meditation, but after a while it became an integral element of culture, closely linking itself with other socialcultural phenomena. It is held according to certain rules: the tea master meets with the guests, together they contemplate the beauty hidden in ordinary things, talk on high topics. The Japanese tea ceremony itself takes place in a special room and represents actions that are carried out in a certain order. But first, a little history.
History
Tea was brought to Japan from the mainland around the 7th-8th century AD. It is believed that the Buddhists brought it, they considered tea a special drink. Not a single meditation took place without it, and it was the best offering for the Buddha.
As Zen Buddhism began to spread in Japan, and the priests began to influence the culture more and more, so did the consumption of tea. Already in the XII century, tea drinking began to be used at court. The monk Eisai presented the Minamoto shogun with the book "Kissa Ezeki", where it was written how one can maintain he alth with the help of tea. A century later, tea-drinking became common among the samurai.
The system of spreading traditions in Japan is quite simple: as soon as the ruler adopts something, his subjects will repeat after him.
Tournaments and baths
After some time, the practice of "tea tournaments" penetrated into the aristocratic environment. These were special meetings, the participants of which tasted different types of tea and had to determine the variety and origin by taste. Very quickly, such a name for the Japanese tea ceremony as "furo no cha" (風呂の茶), which means tea drinking with a bath, came into fashion.
Participants of this event take turnstook a bath and drank tea in it. Both men and women participated in such tea parties, sometimes the number of participants was about a hundred people. The furo no cha ceremony ended with sake banquets in the open air. In such gatherings, little attention was paid to the medicinal properties of tea and its "uplifting qualities."
Ordinary people began to use tea a century and a half after its appearance in the country. Everything happened much easier for them than for the nobility. All family members gathered for tea drinking and had a leisurely conversation.
Ultimately, the sequencing of tea tournaments, the aesthetics of furo no cha, and the simplicity of philistine tea drinking became the main ingredients of the classical tea ceremony.
Distribution
The original form of the ritual of ceremonial tea drinking was developed and introduced into use by the monk Dae. The first masters of tea ceremonies studied under him. A century later, around the years 1394-1481, the priest Ikkyu Sojun taught the tea ceremony to Murata Juko. He, in turn, transformed the tea ceremony and taught the new direction to Shogun Yoshimitsu, thus giving the tradition an impetus for development.
In a new direction, the Japanese tea ceremony combined four main principles: harmony - "wa" (和), reverence - "kei" (敬), purity - "sei" (清), peace - "jaku" (寂).
Jeo Takeno contributed to the development of the tea ceremony. He was the first to suggest the use of tea houses. In many photos of the Japanese tea ceremony, you can see how peoplegather in a simple peasant house with a thatched roof. Behind the open shutters in the backyard, a tyaniva garden and a roji stone path can be seen.
Their use was proposed by Sen-no Rikyu, he also formalized the etiquette of the tea ceremony, fixing the sequence of actions for the participants and defining the topics of conversations. All innovations were aimed at creating a calm mood, rest from worries and striving for beauty.
Together with master ceramist Tejiro, a service standard for the Japanese tea ceremony was developed. The overall setting of the tea ceremony was aimed at creating the hidden beauty that is stored in simple things.
Master's Tragedy
By the 16th century, the tea ceremony had evolved from a simple event into a miniature performance, which began to be considered a form of spiritual practice, where every detail, object and action had a symbolic meaning.
The tea ceremony took root well in Japan, but the one who brought it to a modern look was less fortunate. The aesthetic principles of Sen no Rikyu came into conflict with the tastes of the great feudal ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who preferred rich receptions and precious utensils. Therefore, in 1591, by order of Toyotomi, the tea master was obliged to commit ritual suicide. But this did not stop the principles of Sen no Rikyu from transforming into the leading school of the tea ceremony.
At the beginning of the 18th century, a whole system of tea schools appeared in Japan. At the head of each of them was a senior tea master - iemoto. His mainthe task was to maintain the canonized traditions of the tea ceremony. This is true today.
How to have a tea ceremony?
Because the Japanese tea ceremony is called "cha no yu" (茶の湯), which means "the way of tea," tea participants must know the procedure thoroughly.
Before starting tea, guests receive small cups of boiling water. They evoke the anticipation of a beautiful and cozy event. After through the tyaniva garden, along the roji stone path, they head to the chashitsu tea house. This procession means that a person leaves worldly worries and petty problems behind, and the contemplation of the garden helps to purify thoughts.
Near the tea house, the owner meets the guests. After the ceremonial greeting, the guests go to the well and perform a ritual bath.
Water is collected with a large ladle with a long handle, not only hands and face are washed, but even the mouth is rinsed. After washing the bucket handle and transfer it to another. This ceremony signifies that the person has established bodily and spiritual purity. After bathing, the guests enter the house, take off their shoes and bow. The fact is that the entrance to the ceremonial room is very small and everyone has to bend down to enter, which means the equality of participants at the time of the ceremony.
The Art of Tea
The photo from the Japanese tea ceremony shows how a fire burns in the hearth in the tea-drinking room, the owner kindles it before the guests arrive. A cauldron of water is placed above it. Next to the niche, where there is a scroll with a saying that asksthe theme of the ceremony (tokonomu), a censer is placed and a bouquet of seasonal flowers.
The host enters after the guests, bows, sits next to the hearth. Next to it is a set for the Japanese tea ceremony, consisting of a wooden chest with tea, a bowl and a bamboo stirrer. While tea is being prepared, guests can enjoy kaiseki, a simple, low-calorie, yet gourmet meal that will relieve hunger. Before the start of tea drinking, sweets for tea are distributed - omogashi.
When the food is finished, guests should leave the house for a while and take a walk in the garden, so to speak, work up an appetite before the main ceremony of drinking tea. While the guests are walking, the host puts an aesthetic bouquet of flowers and branches in a niche instead of a ceremonial scroll.
The main part of the ceremony begins when the guests return from their walk. The owner prepares tea in absolute silence, all his actions are precise and measured, the tea master moves in rhythm with his breath, and the guests are watching this sacrament with concentration. Perhaps this is the most meditative stage of the tea ceremony.
Drinking tea
Japanese ceremonial tea uses powdered tea. It is poured into a ceramic bowl, filled with boiling water, the tea is stirred with a bamboo stirrer until fully cooked.
After the tea is ready, the host passes the bowl to the senior guest. He should put a silk handkerchief on his left palm, take the cup with his right hand, put it on his left palm and take a sip. After that, the edges of the cup are wiped with a handkerchief, and it is passed to the next guest, and so on.queue.
Drinking tea from the same dish means the unity of the participants. During this activity, the host can play classical music for the Japanese tea ceremony.
Final action
When the tea is finished, the bowl will be passed around again so that each participant can remember its shape. After that, the host prepares a light tea for each participant and then it's time for a conversation. Her theme is a saying written on a tokonomu scroll.
As soon as the conversation is over, the host apologizes, bows and leaves the house, which means that the ceremony is over. The guests look around the room for the last time and follow the host. He stands next to the entrance and says goodbye to the ceremony participants.
Success of action
Many factors influence the success of a tea ceremony. Music, dishes, interior - all this has a direct impact on the quality of the ceremonial tea party. As for music, meditative instrumental melodies are usually used, for example, compositions by Uttar Kuru or melodies of bamboo flutes.
The interior of rooms in tea houses is created according to the “wabi-sabi” principle, which means naturalness and simplicity. There is nothing stand out and deliberate here, even during the time of Shogun Ashikaga, ceremonial tea parties were held in the smallest and most modestly furnished rooms, this principle has been preserved today, because the tea ceremony should take place away from earthly temptations.
Japanese tea ceremony. Crockery and accessories
The service for ceremonial tea drinking must comply with the rules of philosophy, tradition and aesthetics, and also unite a single artistic ensemble. Here the main idea is antiquity, as they say in Japan: "Dishes should have a memory of the past." In addition, the ceremonial service must follow the basic rules:
- Dishes should not be monotonous.
- It is important to keep the unity of the ensemble.
- Don't be frilly or have elements that stand out from the overall concept.
- Cookware should be modest, simple and antique.
The history and memory of objects are very important to the Japanese, so all the accessories for the tea ceremony can be new, but always antique. To hold a ceremonial tea party, the following items are needed:
- Chabaco - wooden tea box.
- Chaki - teapot or copper cauldron.
- Ceramic bowl for sharing tea.
- Small ceramic cups served separately for each guest.
- Bamboo spoon for pouring tea.
- Bamboo whisk.
- Hachi - a bowl for sweets.
- Kaishi - silk napkin.
Usually Raku pottery is used for the ceremonies, which is in keeping with the traditional Japanese style.
In the verses about the Japanese tea ceremony, you can find the saying:
The tea ceremony is the art of embodying the grace of Emptiness and the goodness of Peace
Only here you can feel the re altea magic, as if you find yourself in a parallel reality without problems, omissions and ambitions.
