| The Japanese tea ceremony is a traditional ritual | | | | traces) and is admired by each guest in turn before |
| influenced by Zen Buddhism in which green tea | | | | being seated seiza style on the tatami mat floor. |
| known as matcha is prepared and ceremoniously | | | | If a meal is not served the host will present each |
| served by a skilled practitioner to a small | | | | guest with small sweets eaten from special paper |
| group of guests in a tranquil setting such as a | | | | known as kaishi, which each person carries in a |
| garden tea house. Chanoyu which means | | | | decorative wallet tucked in the breast of the kimono. |
| "hot water for tea" refers to a single ceremony | | | | All utensils to be used in the ceremony such |
| that involves only tea, while the longer | | | | as tea bowl, tea scoop, and whisk, are |
| version known as Chaji "tea meeting" entails a full tea | | | | ritualistically cleansed in the presence of the guests in |
| ceremony in which a light meal is also | | | | a precise manner and order before being fastidiously |
| served, and can last up to four hours. Mastering the | | | | arranged according to the ceremony being |
| art of the tea ceremony includes years of study that | | | | performed. Upon completion of cleaning and preparing |
| can last a lifetime, as the student must be familiar | | | | the utensils, the host will place a carefully |
| with several interrelated disciplines such as | | | | measured proportion of green tea powder in |
| flower arranging, calligraphy, ceramics, incense, and | | | | a bowl along with the appropriate amount of |
| the proper technique for wearing kimono. Guests | | | | hot water, and then whisk the tea using a precise |
| who participate in the ritual must also be aware of | | | | set of movements. Guests relax and enjoy the |
| the proper conduct in regard to utilizing certain | | | | atmosphere of the simple surroundings and |
| phrases and gestures required to maintain the | | | | conversation is kept to a minimum. The host then |
| integrity of the ceremony. | | | | serves the bowl to the guest of honor, bows are |
| If tea is to be served in a tea house guests will | | | | exchanged, and the bowl is raised to the host in a |
| initially be shown to a waiting room | | | | gesture of respect. The bowl in then rotated by the |
| called a machiai, which is usually a separate structure | | | | guest to avoid drinking from it's front, a sip is taken |
| such as a simple gazebo. After being summoned by | | | | followed by a prescribed phrase, the bowl's rim is |
| the host they purify themselves by rinsing | | | | wiped and rotated back to its original position, and is |
| their mouths and hands with water from a small | | | | then passed on to the next guest with a bow. The |
| stone basin known as tsukubai, and then continue | | | | protocol is repeated until all guests have tasted |
| through the garden to the tea house. Removing their | | | | the tea from the same bowl, and it |
| shoes they proceed through a small sliding door that | | | | is then returned to the host who rinses it. |
| is only thirty six inches high, thus symbolizing that all | | | | The scoop and tea container are then offered to the |
| who enter are equal in stature irrespective of status | | | | guests for examination, each item being treated with |
| or social position. The roomis not decorated | | | | extreme care and reverence as they may be |
| save for a scroll painting called | | | | irreplaceable handmade antiques passed down for |
| kakemono, which has been selected by the | | | | generations. The host then collects the utensils, and |
| host and reveals the theme of the ceremony. The | | | | as the guests leave the tea house bows as a sign |
| Buddhist scripture on the scroll is called bokuseki (ink | | | | that the ceremony has officially come to an end. |