| |
home
Tea
Around the World
Tea Time
The
English Tradition
The
Japanese Tradition
Tea in the
City
|
The Japanese Tradition
In Japan, it all boils down to Zen Buddhism. Tea initially
became popular because monks realized that it could enhance their meditative
practices. Later it was elevated to an art, really just an extension of
the Zen philosophy’s purity of form. Called Chanoyu (literally “the
hot water for tea”), the tea ceremony consists of one simple act
that is carried out through an elaborate set of procedures: making and
serving a cup of tea. Every movement is prescribed, and requires great
skill, poise, and charm. It takes years of dedication and training to
be a true tea master and to carry out the highly formalized tradition
of the tea ceremony.
Traditionally, guests at a tea ceremony take off their
shoes and enter a special tearoom, where they sit on the floor to receive
tea and engage in light conversation. A frothy green tea called matcha
is served. It is made by mixing tea powder and hot water with a bamboo
whisk. A sweet snack such as a sweetened rice cracker may also be eaten.
From carrying the teapot to cleaning the dishes, the host’s graceful
presentation is quietly observed – and appreciated – by each
guest.
|
