The Japanese tea ceremony
Fans of Japan will probably already have some knowledge of the tea ceremony. In mangas and animes, in films and on old drawings, this refined and formal ceremony does not lack representations. But what are his codes really? Here we give you the outline.
THE ART OF ZEN
There are two major terms to know about Japanese teas and ceremonies. First, chanoyu: it's the art of the ceremony, the tea service according to the Japanese codes. Then chado (or sado). The "chado way" represents the way of tea. The idea is to look at the tea ceremony from a spiritual angle - after all, the tradition comes from Zen Buddhism. It is no wonder that the tea master and his guests see the tea ceremony with much more spirituality than the English set their own tea time.
THE DOMAIN OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE
The practitioner of chanoyu should not be good to prepare and pour the tea! The knowledge needed to fulfill this role is vast ... and varied. Indeed, the tea master must know calligraphy, kimonos, floral arrangements, ceramics, incense ... and that's not to mention the knowledge of tea! Practitioners need to understand the origins of producing the tea they serve - as well as all other types of tea! Like the masters of sushi, tea masters study and refine their practices and knowledge throughout their lives. We do not become tea master in one night!
Moreover, guests must also have some knowledge base to participate in formal ceremonies. The polite phrases, the recommended gestures, the correct ways to stand and drink your tea - these are all points to know and apply to honor the tradition.