| The Japanese tea ceremony is a traditional ritual | | | | before being seated seiza style on the tatami mat |
| influenced by Zen Buddhism in which green tea | | | | floor. |
| known as matcha is prepared and ceremoniously | | | | If a meal is not served the host will present each |
| served by a skilled practitioner to a small group of | | | | guest with small sweets eaten from special paper |
| guests in a tranquil setting such as a garden tea | | | | known as kaishi, which each person carries in a |
| house. Chanoyu which means “hot water for | | | | decorative wallet tucked in the breast of the kimono. |
| tea” refers to a single ceremony that involves | | | | All utensils to be used in the ceremony such as tea |
| only tea, while the longer version known as Chaji | | | | bowl, tea scoop, and whisk, are ritualistically cleansed |
| “tea meeting” entails a full tea ceremony in | | | | in the presence of the guests in a precise manner |
| which a light meal is also served, and can last up to | | | | and order before being fastidiously |
| four hours. Mastering the art of the tea ceremony | | | | arranged according to the ceremony being |
| includes years of study that can last a lifetime, as the | | | | performed. Upon completion of cleaning and preparing |
| student must be familiar with several | | | | the utensils, the host will place a carefully measured |
| interrelated disciplines such as flower arranging, | | | | proportion of green tea powder in a bowl along with |
| calligraphy, ceramics, incense, and the proper | | | | the appropriate amount of hot water, and then |
| technique for wearing kimono. Guests who participate | | | | whisk the tea using a precise set of movements. |
| in the ritual must also be aware of the proper | | | | Guests relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the simple |
| conduct in regard to utilizing certain phrases and | | | | surroundings and conversation is kept to a minimum. |
| gestures required to maintain the integrity of the | | | | The host then serves the bowl to the guest of |
| ceremony. | | | | honor, bows are exchanged, and the bowl is raised |
| If tea is to be served in a tea house guests will | | | | to the host in a gesture of respect. The bowl in then |
| initially be shown to a waiting room called a machiai, | | | | rotated by the guest to avoid drinking from it's front, |
| which is usually a separate structure such as a simple | | | | a sip is taken followed by a prescribed phrase, the |
| gazebo. After being summoned by the host | | | | bowl's rim is wiped and rotated back to its original |
| they purify themselves by rinsing their mouths and | | | | position, and is then passed on to the next guest |
| hands with water from a small stone basin known as | | | | with a bow. The protocol is repeated until all guests |
| tsukubai, and then continue through the garden to | | | | have tasted the tea from the same bowl, and it is |
| the tea house. Removing their shoes they proceed | | | | then returned to the host who rinses it. The scoop |
| through a small sliding door that is only thirty six | | | | and tea container are then offered to the guests for |
| inches high, thus symbolizing that all who enter are | | | | examination, each item being treated with extreme |
| equal in stature irrespective of status or social | | | | care and reverence as they may be irreplaceable |
| position. The roomis not decorated save for a scroll | | | | handmade antiques passed down for generations. |
| painting called kakemono, which has been selected | | | | The host then collects the utensils, and as the guests |
| by the host and reveals the theme of the ceremony. | | | | leave the tea house bows as a sign that the |
| The Buddhist scripture on the scroll is called bokuseki | | | | ceremony has officially come to an end. |
| (ink traces) and is admired by each guest in turn | | | | |