It seems that everything matters in Japan, even a simple tea party boasts a rich history and traditions. The Japanese tea ceremony has its roots in the Middle Ages of the Buddhist monks who spread it throughout the land of the Rising Sun. What kind of art is this and what are its features?
Tea ceremony
We can say that this is a ritualized form of joint tea drinking. It was created in the Middle Ages, when tea appeared on the territory of the country and Buddhism began to spread. The Japanese tea ceremony is still being cultivated. Every self-respecting Japanese or Japanese woman attends special courses at which they teach this art. Also in Japan, the so-called tea houses have survived, which last several centuries and are inherited in the family.
Initially, it was a peculiar form of meditation, but after a while it became an integral element of culture, closely connecting itself with other socio-cultural phenomena. It is carried out according to certain rules: the tea master meets with guests, together they contemplate the beauty hidden in ordinary things, talk on high topics. The Japanese tea ceremony itself takes place in a special room and represents actions that are carried out in a certain order. But first, a little history.
History
Tea was brought to Japan from the mainland, around the 7th-8th centuries of our era. It is believed that Buddhists brought it, they considered tea a special drink. Without him, not a single meditation took place, and this was the best offering for the Buddha.
As Zen Buddhism began to spread in Japan, and priests began to influence culture more and more, the consumption of tea spread. Already in the XII century, tea drinking began to be used at the court. Monk Eisai presented the Shogun Minamoto with the book Kissa Edzeki, which described how tea can be kept healthy. A century later, tea drinking became common among the samurai.
The system of spreading traditions in Japan is quite simple: as soon as the ruler adopts something, his subjects will repeat him.
Tournaments and baths
After some time, the practice of "tea tournaments" penetrated the aristocratic environment. These were special gatherings, the participants of which tasted different types of tea and had to determine the variety and origin according to taste. Very quickly, the name of the Japanese tea ceremony came to fashion, such as "furo no cha" (風 呂 の 茶), which means tea drinking with a bath.
Participants in this event took turns taking a bath and drinking tea in it. Both men and women participated in such tea parties, sometimes the number of participants was about a hundred people. The furo no cha ceremony ended with outdoor banquets with sake. In such collections little attention was paid to the healing properties of tea and its “exalted qualities”.
Ordinary people began to drink tea one and a half centuries after its appearance in the country. Everything was much easier for them than for the nobility. All family members gathered for tea drinking and had a leisurely conversation.
Ultimately, the sequence of actions in tea tournaments, the aesthetics of “furo no cha” and the simplicity of philistine tea drinking became the main components of the classical tea ceremony.
Spread
The original form of the ceremonial tea ritual was developed and introduced by the monk Dae. The first masters of tea ceremonies studied with him. A century later, around the years 1394-1481, the priest Ikkyu Sojun taught the tea ceremony of Murat Juko. He, in turn, transformed the tea ceremony and taught the Shogun Yoshimitsu a new direction, thus giving tradition the impetus for development.
In a new direction, the Japanese tea ceremony united four basic principles: harmony - “wa” (和), respect - “kei” (敬), purity - “this” (清), peace - “jaku” (寂).
Further development of the tea ceremony was contributed by Zeo Takeno. He was the first to use tea houses. In many photos from the Japanese tea ceremony, you can see how people gather in a simple thatched house with a thatched roof. Behind the open shutters in the backyard is a traction garden and a stone road of roji.
Their use was proposed by Saint-No Rikyu, he also formalized the etiquette of the tea ceremony, securing the sequence of actions for the participants and determining the topic of the conversation. All innovations were aimed at creating a calm mood, rest from worries and the pursuit of beauty.
Together with ceramic master Tejiro, a service standard was developed for the Japanese tea ceremony. The general atmosphere of the tea ceremony was aimed at creating hidden beauty that is stored in simple things.
The tragedy of the master
By the sixteenth century, the tea ceremony from a simple event turned into a miniature performance, which began to be considered a form of spiritual practice, where every detail, object and action has a symbolic meaning.
The tea ceremony took root perfectly in Japan, but the one who brought it to a modern look was less fortunate. The aesthetic principles of Saint-no-Rikyu came into conflict with the tastes of the large feudal ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who preferred rich receptions and precious utensils. Therefore, in 1591, by order of Toyotomi, the tea master was obliged to commit ritual suicide. But this did not prevent the principles of Saint-no-Riquet from transforming into the leading school of the tea ceremony.
At the beginning of the 18th century, a whole system of tea schools appeared in Japan. Each of them was headed by a senior tea master - iemoto. His main task was to maintain the canonized traditions of the tea ceremony. This is true today.
How to conduct a tea ceremony?
Since the Japanese tea ceremony is called の 湯, (茶 湯), which means “the path of tea,” tea parties should be thoroughly familiar with the ceremony.
Before starting a tea party, guests receive small cups with boiling water. They cause anticipation of a beautiful and cozy event. After pulling through the garden of the pull, along the stone path of the roji, they head for the chashitsu tea house. This procession means that a person leaves behind worldly concerns and minor problems, and contemplation of the garden helps to clear thoughts.
Near the tea house, the host meets guests. After the ceremonial greeting, the guests head to the well and perform a bathing ritual.
They draw water with a large bucket with a long handle, wash not only their hands and face, but even rinse their mouths. After washing the handle of the bucket and transfer it to another. This ceremony means that a person has established bodily and spiritual purity. After bathing, guests enter the house, discard their shoes and bow. The fact is that the entrance to the ceremonial room is very small and everyone has to bend down to enter, this means equality of participants at the time of the ceremony.
The art of tea
In the photo with the Japanese tea ceremony, one can see how a fire burns in the tea room in the hearth, the owner kindles it before the guests arrive. A pot of water is placed above it. A censer and a bouquet of seasonal flowers are placed next to the niche where the scroll with the statement setting the theme of the ceremony (tokonom) is located.
The owner enters after the guests, bows, sits next to the hearth. Next to it is a set for a Japanese tea ceremony, consisting of a wooden casket with tea, a bowl and a bamboo stirrer. While tea is being prepared, guests can taste the kaiseki - simple, non-nutritious, but delicious food that will relieve hunger. Before the tea party begins, sweets for tea - omogashi - are distributed.
When the food is finished, guests should leave the house for a short while and take a walk in the garden, so to speak, to whet their appetite before the main tea drinking ceremony. While guests are walking, the owner puts an aesthetic bouquet of flowers and branches in a niche instead of a ceremonial scroll.
The bulk of the ceremony begins when guests return from a walk. The owner makes tea in absolute silence, all his actions are precise and measured, the tea master moves to the rhythm with breathing, and the guests are watching this mystery intently. Perhaps this is the most meditative stage of the tea ceremony.
Tea drinking
Japanese ceremonial tea drinking uses powdered tea. It is poured into a ceramic bowl, filled with boiling water, tea is mixed with a bamboo mixer until fully cooked.
After the tea is prepared, the owner passes the cup to the senior guest. He should put a silk scarf on his left palm, take the bowl with his right hand, put it on his left palm and take a sip. After the scarf, the edges of the cup are wiped, and it is transferred to the next guest, and so on in turn.
Drinking tea from one dish means the unity of the participants. During this action, the host can play classical music for the Japanese tea ceremony.
Action finale
When the tea is finished, the cup will again be passed in a circle so that each participant can remember its shape. After that, the owner prepares light tea for each participant and then the time for conversation comes. Its theme is the dictum written in the scroll of tokonom.
As soon as the conversations are over, the owner apologizes, bows his bow and leaves the house, which means that the ceremony is over. Guests for the last time inspect the room and follow the owner. He stands next to the entrance and says goodbye to the participants in the ceremony.
Action success
The success of the tea ceremony is influenced by many factors. Music, dishes, interior design - all this has a direct impact on the quality of ceremonial tea drinking. As for music, meditative instrumental melodies are usually used, for example, the compositions of Uttar Kuru or the melodies of bamboo flutes.
The interior of rooms in tea houses is created on the basis of the “wabi-sabi” principle, which means naturalness and simplicity. There is nothing special and deliberate, even during the time of the Shikun of Asikagi, ceremonial tea parties were held in the smallest and modestly furnished rooms, this principle has been preserved today, because the tea ceremony should take place away from earthly temptations.
Japanese tea ceremony. Crockery and accessories
The service for ceremonial tea drinking must comply with the rules of philosophy, traditions and aesthetics, as well as combine a single artistic ensemble. Here, the main idea is antiquity, as they say in Japan: "The dishes should have a memory of the past." In addition, the ceremonial service must follow the basic rules:
- Dishes should not be monotonous.
- It is important to maintain the unity of the ensemble.
- Not to be fanciful and not have elements that stand out from the general concept.
- Dishes should be modest, simple and antique.
The history and memory of objects is very important to the Japanese, therefore all accessories for the tea ceremony may be new, but must be made antique. To conduct a ceremonial tea party, the following items are needed:
- Chabako - a wooden casket for tea.
- Chucky is a kettle or copper pot.
- Ceramic bowl for tea drinking together.
- Small ceramic cups that are served separately for each guest.
- A bamboo spoon to sprinkle tea.
- Bamboo whisk mixer.
- Khachi - a bowl for sweets.
- Kai-shek is a silk napkin.
Usually for ceremonies, Raku ceramics are used, which corresponds to the traditional Japanese style.
In verses about the Japanese tea ceremony you can find the saying:
Tea ceremony is the art of embodying the grace of the Void and the goodness of Peace
Only here you can feel the real tea magic, as if you find yourself in a parallel reality without problems, omissions and ambitions.