Cha-no-yu（Tea Ceremony）is one of Japan’s mosttraditional arts. In a simple, though beautiful teahouse, the teisyu（ host or hostess） makes finearomatic tea and serves it to the guests. Both thegiver and receiver are expected to follow the rules ofthe ceremony, which have been developed andrefined over hundreds of years.Cha-no-yu has many interesting aspects. Concern fortaste and flavor is the first priority as serving anddrinking a bowl of fine aromatic tea is the core ofCha-no-yu. Sweets or sometimes meals accompanythe ceremony.Cha-no-yu is often called a multiple art. Exquisitetraditional arts and crafts such as tea-bowls, hangingscrolls, flowers, tea-room and garden are allessential parts of the ceremony. During theceremony, reflecting the seasons, these implementsare thoughtfully selected and utilized to show theteisyu’s mind. O-temae, the procedure for makingtea in the company of guests, is often so elegant thatthe first time a viewer will doubtless be deeplymoved.

Notwithstanding external grace, it is important torecognize the internal aspects of the ceremony,partly because Cha-no-yu comes from thebackgrounds of Zen Buddhism and Samuraimanners. Through exchanges of hospitality andappreciation, the teisyu and guests can share aquiet, heartwarming, peaceful time and reach a state ofspiritual enlightenment so called Wa-Kei-Sei-Jakuand Ichigo-ichie. Since the complexity and forms of theceremony are so sophisticated, some people feeltroublesome and keep away from Cha-no-yu.Nonetheless, the internal aspects and manners ofCha-no-yu are typical and provide the foundation of theJapanese life-style. Indeed, Cha-no-yu, which hasintegrated both spiritual and material aspects ofJapanese culture, is often called a symbol of Japan.

Cha-no-yu (Tea Ceremony)

Introduction

In chaji, the formal ceremony, small tea-room isused. The entrance for guests, called nijiri-guchi isso narrow that you have to crawl to pass through it.This is said to represent that a tea-room is a space toshare the same enjoyment regardless the socialclasses.In all type of ceremonies, the tea-room isdecorated with a hanging scroll andflowers. They often represent the theme ofthe ceremony, so the guests appreciatethem.

When attending an ooyose - chakai, somepreparations are necessary. It is recommended thatyou bring a sensu（folding fan）, kasikiri（sweetcutter）and kaishi（pocket paper）.

Tea Room

Ro

Chakin

KensuiHishaku

Chashaku

Mizusashi

KamaNatsume

Chasen

Chawan

Kasikiri

Kaishi

Sensu

⑥ HishakuLadle, often made of bamboo or wood.

⑦ ChakinMoist napkin made of linen or cotton to wipe thebowl

⑧ KensuiSlop bowl to discard water used for washing.

① Ro（hearth）and Kama（kettle）They are used in winter （ November toFebruary）. From March to October, the hearth isset on tatami-mats（called Furo）

②Mizusashi（Water container）Water in mizusahi is used to wash chawan （teabowl）and chasen （bamboo whisk）, or pouredinto Kama to make hot water.

③ ChashakuA spoon, often made from bamboo, use forshovel up Matcha .

④ Natsume（tea container）Standard usucha container.“Natsume”is namedafter jujube because of its shape.

⑤ ChasenBamboo whisk to beat the mixture of Matcha andhot water in a tea bowl.

Tea utensils

Guest’s belongings

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The formal style of tea ceremony, called chaji. Ithas a number of stages. First, the teisyu issuesinvitations to guests. The guests are served a meal,called cha-kaiseki, and then the sweets and finallytwo different kinds of tea. One type of tea is rather thin,called usu-cha, and the other is stronger and isreferred to as koi-cha.The ceremony is conducted in a solemn andritualistic manner, taking about 4 hours. Chaji isactually unfamiliar to the majority of people,because it is“by invitation”and participants arerequired be familiar with the manners and customs ofthe ceremony.

■1 The Seating Order of Guests

Shokyaku, the main and most important guest, isoften the eldest or the most experienced guest,since Shokyaku represents all the guests in manyscenes. It is recommended to a beginner to take thesheet at the middle of the guests（Jikyaku）. Thus abeginner can learn how to take sweets or how todrink tea by watching the former.

■2 Sorei

（host/hostess and guests bow together）

The teisyu appears at thesado-guchi, the preparation-room door（A）, then bows.At the same time, all theguests also bow, too（B）.Then the teisyu brings tea-utensils into the tea-roomand begins to clean them up.

■3 Hanto Serves the SweetsHanto, an assistant to the host, comes from themizuya（preparing room）and serve the sweets inthe bowl with a pair of chopsticks to shokyaku.When there are so many guests, some more bowls aredistributed. Bowing the hanto, the guest receivesthe bowl（C）. Sometimes the sweets are distributed individuallyon small plates（D）.

Cha-no-yu(Tea Ceremony)

A Closer Look at the Tea Ceremony

A

B

C

D

Shokyaku

JikyakuO-tsume

■4 Guests take the Sweets

Receiving a bowl of sweets from the higher guest,the guest bows to the next. Takes a sweet onto the kaishi with chopsticks andwipes the tip of chopsticks with a corner of thekaishi（E）. Then replaces the chopsticks on thebowl, and places it between the next guest andhimself / herself （F）,bows to the next guest（meaning“please”）,and then begins to eat.The guest should keepused kaishi.

■5 The Host /Hostess makes Tea

After cleaning up the utensils, the teisyu begins tomake tea（G）; Puts two scoops of matcha, and pourshot water into the bowl with ladles. Then teisyu stirsthe tea into froth up with the chasen（bamboowhisk）, and hanto serves it to the guests（H,I）.

■6 The Guests Partake of Tea

The guest bows to the teisyu. Put the bowl on the leftpalm, raises it slightly in thanks, and turns it slight ina clockwise direction, to show the respect to theteisyu. Then drinks the tea. After finishing, wipesthe lip of the bowl with fingers at the place the guestdrank. Wipe the fingers with kaishi, turn the bowlcounterclockwise, twice, and back to facehim/herself. Puts the bowl in front of him/herselfand appreciate teisyu. Later, the hanto comes tocollect the bowl.

After confirming that all other guests have a takenthe tea, syokyaku says to the teisyu,“ Thank youvery much for serving tea. Everyone has already ataken tea, please put the utensils back”. Then theteisyu begins to clean up and put back the utensils.

G

I

H

E

F

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