TEA CEREMONY

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Ichi-go Ichi-e

One time, one meeting

This Japanese expression was derived from the experience of early tea masters in Japan. Tea may have its origins in China but tea ceremony became a social institution peculiar to Japan.

The tea ceremony or “chanoyu” underscores the serving and the drinking of “matcha”.

Matcha is a powdered green tea. Uji, not far from the ancient city of Kyoto, is where the best grade of powdered tea is produced. The tea seeds were brought by the same man who introduced Zen Buddhism to Japan from his trip to China. Eisai Zenji attempted to use tea to propagate Zen.

Tea was originally drunk for its medicinal and stimulant properties. Priests drank it to counter drowsiness during their long hours of meditation.

By the 14th Century, under the influence of formalities and manners regulating the everyday life of the Samurai, procedures were introduced. The rules had to be observed by the participants in a tea party. At first glance, tea ceremony is seen as the serving of tea and sweets by host to guests but it is actually a ritual strictly governed by tradition and formal procedures.

Sen no Rikyu followed his master, Takeno Joo's concept of ichi-go ichi-e, so that in 1522 he codified tea ceremony in its present form. There is a set of rules prescribed on how to enter the tearoom, where to put the slippers, when to sit down and rise, how to bring utensils to the tearoom, how to serve and receive tea, how to handle and inspect articles, how to open and close sliding doors, among others. The etiquette in tea ceremonies may be viewed as burdensome and meticulous but is in fact calculated to achieve the highest possible economy of movement. The etiquette instituted by Rikyu has been taught in schools that sprung after his death.

Young ladies are encouraged to take up lessons before they get married to cultivate the poise and refinement that characterize tea ceremony etiquette.

But some ladies were far from being apprentices. The geishas became the descendants of the old tea masters. They learned the exact course of tea ceremony in special schools.

SYMBOLS

Tea ceremony is a symbol of the many things the Japanese appreciate in life. Tea ceremony does not just involve appreciation for tea but also for the room where it is being held, for the garden adjacent to the room, for the utensils used in serving tea and food and for the decorations inside the room - the hanging scroll and chabana.

Within the tea ceremony, guests admire the “chabana” or the flower arrangement used for this particular gathering. They contemplate on the flower’s short life as the flower symbolizes the transience of human existence.

History, in fact, shows that Japan's architecture, interior design, garden landscape, gardening and ceramics have been influenced by tea ceremony.

CUSTOMS:

The entrance to the tearoom is small requiring the guests to crouch on hands and knees symbolizing humility.

First thing that strikes a guest when entering the tearoom is the fragrance of incense. It is an occasion when all your senses come alive.

Instead of verbally informing the guests, the host sprinkles water around the gate to symbolize that preparations have been completed and that the guests could now enter.

The use or even the absence of words is governed by rules, much as their actions. Guests make sound to let the host know they’re inside the house or done eating by closing the sliding door with more sound or by dropping something.

Read more about tea ceremony here