Chanoyu (Tea Ceremony)

Tea, or Camelia sinensis, was known in China since emperor Shen Nong period. From China, tea spread to all over the world.

Tea came to Japan, brought by Yeisei, a Buddhist monk, who knew tea when studying Buddha in China. Now, Yeisei known as “Japan’s father of tea”.

Tea became Japanese favorite quickly because has relation to religion. And then, tea ceremony was appeared, named chanoyu, means “hot water for tea”. Famous tea in Japan is maccha tea, made from green tea powder.

This ceremony – in beginning – used as discipline or the way to serve tea in front of emperor. There were so much difficult rules. Because of it, Lafcadio Hearn – a Ireland-greece journalist and historian – make a book of this ritual.

Chashitsu (Tea room) was very sacred, and then become the room where geisha waiting and geisha become tea steeper. Three Buddhist monks tried to made the ceremony holy again.

Chashitsu

Ikkyu (1394-1481) was a prince and a monk and become the one who tried to take back the holy in tea ceremony. And then been continue by his student, Murata Shuki (1422-1502) and he introduced again the right way in tea ceremony. And then, Sen-no Rikkyu (1521-1591). From those three monks, Sen-no Rikkyu was the most succeed. His standard in tea ceremony keep used until now.

First, guest accompanied to waiting room and served hot water in a cup. When in this room, guest will praise the home owner. And then, all people go to garden to wash their hand and mouth.

Guest go inside tea serve room. In go inside this room, guest must leave shoes and things outdoor. In this room, guest enjoy the decoration and ikebana while drink sake.

Then, guest go to garden and wait the house owner finish make thick tea. When the owner finish, they bell the gong in order to let guest come inside in Chashitsu. In Chashitsu, guest drink thick tea and some various of food. Usually, tea ceremony held about 4 hours.

Tea cup

This tradition have good values, as reflection of owner knowledge and personality, like life goal, the way of thinking, religion, and art knowledge, according to tea ceremony ideology.

And for the guests, before come to the ceremony, they must study the rules, habits, good manners, ethics, and how to enjoy served snack. Guests also admiring the garden, decoration, architecture, ceramic, and flowers inside the rooms.