Transcript The Way of Tea - UK College of Education

The Way of Tea
Japanese Tea Ceremony
The Origins of
Tea Ceremony
Zen Buddhist priest Eisai
brings Matcha (powdered
green tea) to Japan from
China in 1191.
Matcha gains its popularity
over the next 400 years
(samurai – Zen, Emperor
court – art complementary
to reading)
What is Matcha?
•10 glasses of green tea
(nutritional value) since you
ingest the whole leaf
•Strongest antioxidant
The tools used in making tea
Sen Rikyu (1522-1591) – founder of
Sadou (the Way of Tea)
Rikyu Accomplishments
• Design of the tea hut and the path (
the tea garden)
• Design of a small entrance
• Finding beauty in coarse, common
utensils
He has been Tea master for three
heroes-unifiers of Japan (Oda
Nobunaga, Toyotosmi Hideyoshi and
Tokugawa Ieyasu)
• Wa Harmony
The “Heart”
of Sadou
• Kei
Respect
• Sei
Purity
• Jyaku
Tranquility
• Harmony - between guests and host and it
extends to nature through tea utensils,
atmosphere
• Respect - all are the same rank in a tea
room
• Purity - open and kind heart
• Tranquility -selflesssness
A Japanese tea ceremony
• Tearoom Design
• Tea Garden
• Calligraphy
• Flower Arrangement
• Lacquer ware
• Ceramics
• Bamboo
• Ironwork
All are parts of Japanese culture and art
Five Elements
1.Tree
trim, door,
ceiling
2.Fire
light, fire from
coal
3.Earth
4.Metal
5.Water
vase, mizusashi
walls,tatami
the pot
flower
Tea Garden and Tea Room/
Hut
From the Gate to the Dewy Path
Perfection is in imperfection
Preparation Place
Middle Gate
Leave problems outside and focus on tea
ceremony
Stepping Stones on the Dewy Path
Stone Basin (Tsukudai)
Cleansing hands and mouthfor tea ceremony
Yūin tea hut
Entrance
Tea Room / Hut
Tenmoku
Tenmoku
Hakuiji (White porcelain ware)
Ido (Korea)
Ido (Kizaemon)
Ichigo Ichie
• If a person who plans to hold
the gathering considers it as
the only opportunity in his/her
life, he/she would carefully
prepare and perform. The
term ICHIGO ICHIE is linked
with Zen Buddhism. It
reminds us of transience of
our lives.
In my own hands I hold a bowl of tea;
I see all of nature represented in its
green color. Closing my eyes I find
green mountains and pure water
within my own heart.
Silently sitting alone and drinking tea,
I feel these become a part of me.
Sen Soshitsu
Grand Master XIV
Urasenke School of Tea