Japanese Tea Ceremony

By Shirley with Rika's help

Implements for making matcha tea

This month we will be given a special opportunity to have a glimpse into Japanese culture when we are presented with the performance of a Tea ceremony, during April’s IN Day: Cherry Blossom Festival. 

The Tea ceremony is important in Japanese culture because it encompasses the summit of Japanese aesthetics, culture and philosophy. It symbolizes the ideal of hospitality, artistic purity, harmony and tranquility.

Evolved from principles of Zen Buddhism, the Tea Ceremony is ideally performed in a tea house. The architecture of the tea house reflects the culture and aesthetic of 16th century Japan in its use of wood for the house frame and tatami floors. The tea room, known as a chashitsu, is connected to the outside world through a garden called roji. The roji is designed to separate guests from the outside world, guiding them through a simple, natural path to encourage contemplation and prepare them for the tea ceremony. 

The room in which the tea ceremony is performed is visually clean - there is no furniture, nick nacks or other personal possessions. What it does have is a focus - a painting, a calligraphy piece or a flower arrangement, which will reflect the theme of the ceremony (a sprig of a blossoming cherry tree in an ikebana arrangement to celebrate cherry blossom season or a snowy view in a painting during winter, for example). The room will also contain the implements for the preparation of the tea: drinking bowls, tea whisk, tea kettle, etc.

Host and guests perform the ceremony wearing a traditional garment, a silk kimono.

The ceremony is performed in silence during the symbolic cleaning of the implements, preparation and serving of the tea, as well as the appreciative response by the guest(s). Imagine that the host is performing on a show on the best way to prepare and serve the tea with stylized ritualistic movements as in a dance or the theater. The host will use the most beautiful cups for the occasion and provide special sweets that go along with the theme of the tea ceremony. The guest(s) participate in the ceremony responding with equally stylized movements and actions.The silence lets the guest(s) appreciate each stage and detail of the ceremony: the art on focus in the tea room, the preparation of the tea, the appearance of the cakes and even the artistic choice of the host in picking the tea bowls. Even the slightly bitter taste of the matcha tea, which serves as a contrast to the sweet cakes. All the details of the ceremony are carefully curated to create a special experience that will give guests nourishment for all their senses.