Japanese Tea Ceremony — Part 1

The Japanese are well known for their traditional tea ceremony and with good reason, for it exudes four elements which give tea drinking its relaxing reputation. The seemingly simple ceremony is rich in meaning with harmony (wa), respect (kei), cleanliness or purity (sei), and tranquillity (jaku) all created and depicted in every action from the preparation, to the actual drinking of the tea right through to the packing up of all the equipment.

It is something that all serious tea drinkers should aim to experience one day, and you won’t have to go to Japan to do it.

This article will explore the Japanese Tea Ceremony and its meaning in two parts, concentrating on the preliminary aspects first, which are by no means incidental. The introductory elements of the ceremony are equally important as they set the mood and tone of the whole ceremony. Come with me as we learn about this fascinating tradition.

Tea first came to Japan in around 1184 AD by the Buddhist monk Eisai. Eisai had visited China to learn from the Buddhists there and observed that their tea drinking habits helped them stay awake and alert while meditating. He took some tea plants back to Japan and from those humble saplings grew a whole tea culture that endures today.

During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, tea drinking had become very popular with the wealthy class of Japan, and the ceremony had become quite extravagant. However, near the end of this time the monks’ ways had won over again, and the ceremony had become much more simplified, discarding showiness and becoming more modest, in keeping with the four elements.

It is these elements that are the focus and the tea the medium by which to communicate them, which is important to remember if you want to appreciate the tradition. The value of tea itself is also heightened by the fact that it is prepared in front of the guests. The Japanese Tea Ceremony makes an important connection between tea itself and the four elements.

There are five places through which the guests proceed as the tea ceremony begins. Firstly, the guests are welcomed to the receiving room (Yoritsuki) where they can use the washroom or change their clothes, perhaps putting on a kimono. A pot of hot water is available for the guests to drink from to cleanse their palates. The purpose of the Yoritsuki is to make the guests feel welcome and relaxed in preparation for the tea ceremony.

Once preparations are made, the guests make their way to the garden (roji). This part of the garden is a specially designed pathway to the tea room (which is often separate to the main house). Flat stepping stones will have been swept and sprayed with water to give an effect of a recent gentle rain. Walking through the garden and appreciating the natural surrounds adds to the feeling of tranquillity and relaxation.

These stepping stones lead to the place of ‘squatting down’ or tskukubai in Japanese. This is usually a water feature specially designed so that the guest can crouch down, fill a dipper and wash their hands and mouths. The sound of gently running water also has a calming effect.

When all the guests have comleted the physical cleansing, they make their way to the machai or waiting area which is simply a covered area against a wall much like a small verandah. The guests seat themselves down and wait for the hostess to appear. They will stand and bow when she does, respecting the silence. The hostess returns to the tea room and sounds the gong which is the cue for the guests to make their way to the tea room.

Finally, the guests follow the stepping stone path to the tea room, which according to traditional Japanese architecture, is raised from the ground to aid the circulation of air. Here is where things get interesting. The entrance to the tea room is only about three feet high causing all who enter, of whatever station in life, to bow low as an act of humility.

These preliminary stages of the Japanese Tea Ceremony are designed to create an atmosphere of peace and calm and set the stage for a rather controlled and dignified social setting, yet still maintaining the sense of tranquility and respect. Join me in Part 2 for more on the Japanese Tea Ceremony.