ALTHOUGH the foreigner may be unaware of it, the walk to and from the tea ceremony forms
no less a part of the experience than the tea ceremony itself. The essence of the tea ceremony
is harmony, and the tranquility unfolds with each step the guests make toward the appointed
place for this unique event. The garden path is first swept clean and then leaves or
pine needles may be strewn along the path to the teahouse in order to add naturalness to the
setting.
The classical tea ceremony had its origins in the thirteenth century when Zen Buddhist
monks, in an effort to remain alert for their religious duties, passed the tea cup among
themselves. However, it was the sixteenth-century devotee Sen no Rikyu (1522-91) who
raised the ritual to a fine art. His influence on the ceremony was profound. Essentially a man
of the Momoyama culture, Sen no Rikyu carried the tea ceremony to its austere limits. The
ultimate setting for this master was a stark twomat teahouse (chashitsu) that could accommodate
only two or three people. Humility and poverty were the standards passed down by Sen no Rikyu.
Chanoyu, the tea ceremony, is uniquely Japanese. Perhaps no encounter with Japanese
culture leaves the foreigner more impressed, and less informed than the tea ceremony.
In the teahouse the guests kneel in silence on the tatami mats facing the kama (tea kettle)
and the furo (brazier). The room is a hallmark of simplicity of taste. Perhaps a few flowers are
arranged in an unassuming manner that adds to rather than accents the room. An appropriate
scroll may be hanging in the room as a refined reminder to all present that their thoughts
should be focused on what is about to occur.
The host then enters with the tea ceremony utensils and arranges them in an artistic and
harmonious pattern. The motions of the performer are silent and remarkably economical.
As the host proceeds to clean the implements the observer is aware that the scene itself and
the chashaku (bamboo teaspoon), natsume (tea caddy), and tea bowl are immaculate. With
these careful motions the cares and concerns of the outside world are left behind. It is at this
stage that the Western visitor has either entered into the spirit of the ceremony or has found that the kneeling position is a rather uncomfortable distraction.
The sight of the finely ground tea is augmented by the swishing sound of the chasen
(bamboo whisk) blending the water and the tea into a froth. All these ritual movements
aid the participants in focusing their attention on the ordered movements of the ceremony.
The same bowl is shared by all the participants, adding to the effect of a shared event. When
the tea bowl is passed, the guest raises it and drinks all of the liquid. Here the foreign guest
may not be aware that one is supposed to be attentive to the bowl as well as to the tea. A
gentle compliment by the guest regarding the bowl is a normal part of the tea ceremony.
A simple ceremony may last only twenty minutes. The foreign visitor should try not to
become lost in the formality of the ceremony and in so doing miss the simplicity of the tea
ceremony's closing. Later, the host quietly departs from the room leaving the guests to reflect
on their experience.
0 comments:
Post a Comment