At its most basic level, the Japanese tea ceremony is about gathering with friends to enjoy a bowl of tea. Participants enjoy pleasant conversation about seasonal beauty and art objects displayed in the Japanese tea house. They might comment on the freshness of the tea garden or the attractiveness of a particular Japanese tea cup. And of course they will all enjoy drinking the matcha green tea prepared by their host.
In Japan, however, the tea ceremony - also known as chanoyu - is much more than a simple tea party. It is an aesthetic, almost spiritual, experience. Tea gatherings are held in exquisite tea houses or Japanese homes that are surrounded by beautiful gardens. The stepping stone path up the the tearoom is lovingly cared for. And the Japanese carpentry seen in the teahouse is of the absolute highest quality. All of these visual details help to create a magical setting that is just as important as the Japanese tea, itself.
One of the participants will act as the host. Before the event he or she will carefully select the artwork to be displayed and the Japanese tea cups that will be used. Her goal is to create the perfect atmosphere for the guests. In Japanese, that perfect atmosphere is summed up by the phrase wa-kei-sei-jaku, which means "Harmony, Reverence, Purity, and Tranquility." The guests, in turn, will do their best to support the tea philosophy of Ichigo Ichi-e, which means "We only have one chance to enjoy this present moment. Let's do our best."
The Japanese tea ceremony thus becomes more than just a gathering of friends. It is a cultural aesthetic and a cultural attitude that is extremely influential in Japanese culture. JOJG is happy to publish at least one article per year about the Japanese tea ceremony and Japanese green tea. Posted below are a few articles for review: