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How to Host a Japanese Tea Ceremony

January 21, 2011

“The tea ceremony requires years of training and practice… yet the whole of this art, as to its detail, signifies no more than the making and serving of a cup of tea. The supremely important matter is that the act be performed in the most perfect, most polite, most graceful, most charming manner possible”.

~Lafcadio Hearn

I love to travel.  I love to see new places and meet new people — and experience their culture. And even though I’ve never been to Japan, I’m fascinated by their culture. And one of the things I’ve really enjoyed taking part in (a few times!) is The Japanese Tea Ceremony.

Here’s a bit about the ceremony—or should I say, ceremonies—to perk your interest. (Yes, that was a tea-ism…and corny, I know, but had to do it.)

The Scoop

One of Japan’s most honored customs, the Japanese Tea Ceremony is a traditional ritual, influenced by Zen Buddhism, in which powdered green tea, or matcha, is prepared by a skilled practitioner and served to a small group of guests in a tranquil setting.

Throughout the year there are various kinds of ceremonies–each one with specific names according to the time of day, the occasion of the tea ceremony, or the season in which the ceremony is held. No matter when, or where the ceremony is held, this common thread remains: the tea ceremony involves the preparation and serving of tea to a guest or guests.

Each tea ceremony has a host or hostess who will customarily wear a kimono. The ceremonies may be held either inside and outside and can last from one to five hours, depending on the type of ceremony.

If the tea is going to be served in a separate teahouse, the guests will wait outside until they are summoned. When invited inside, guests will remove their shoes and enter the teahouse through a small door, where they will proceed to the “tokonoma,” or the alcove.

A simple meal, called a “kaiseki,” may be served, followed by sake. When the meal is finished, the guests usually leave the area where the tea ceremony is being held until the host or hostess calls them back once more. It’s at that time that the tea ceremony truly begins.

Next, in the Japanese Tea Ceremony, the instruments – used to make the tea – are cleaned. Each utensil—including the tea bowl (chawan), whisk (chasen,) and tea scoop (chashku)—is ritually cleaned in front of the guests in very precise ways. This process is a time where guests remain silent, observing the process.

The Japanese tea is much more than “serving tea,” it’s about being present in the moment. The quiet rituals within the ceremony lend to the overall experience of slowing down time. It’s all very peaceful.

Once the instruments are cleaned, the host will make the tea – with a measured amount of green tea powder, whisking it with hot water. The host will bow to the guest in attendance who is the most honourable, who will drink from the bowl first and then return the bow to the host.

When the guest of honour (the first guest) passes the bowl to the next guest, he must turn the bowl so that when it is presented the second guest’s lips will not touch the same place on the bowl as the first guest.

After all the guests have had tea, the host will clean the utensils. As part of the tradition, the guest of honour will request that the host allow the guests to examine the utensils. Each guest will admire each item, treating them as though they were invaluable treasures. Then, the host will collect all the utensils and the guests will exit the teahouse. The host will bow from the door …signaling the end of the tea ceremony.

A Japanese Tea Ceremony, to me, is an event far removed from my afternoon Pot-O-Red-Rose. It is delightful, peaceful…meaningful. Perhaps we could incorporate some of these traditions within our own culture? Modified slightly to fit our Western way of life?

What do you think? In a world so intent on getting as much done in a 24-hour period as we can, can you see yourself setting aside 4 hours for a reflective time of quiet and green tea?

Bonus! Etiquette Tip: When seating guests in a Japanese-style room, the correct etiquette is to seat the most important guest with his or her back facing the tokonoma. This is because of modesty; the host should not be seen to show off the contents of the tokonoma to the guest, and thus it is necessary not to point the guest towards the tokonoma.

And now the answers to Tea Trivia!

Last week i posted these trivia questions for readers, and thought it only fair to share the answers!

1. The Boston Tea Party
2. Earl Grey.
3. 180 degrees F or 82.
4. Low tea..because it was served on low tables, such as coffee table
5. The leaves are pan fried.
6. See above!
7. Darjeeling tea, grown in India.

How many did you get right?

images: Amy Otoko

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Posted by Margaret in International Etiquette and tagged tea etiquette, grace, honor, Japanese Tea Ceremony, rituals, tranquility.