Etiquette for Guests

Etiquette for Guests

The standard number of guests for a small meeting is between 4-5 Shokyaku means guest of honor or the first guest while the the second guest is called a Jikyaku  and  Kyaku are all other remaining guests. The Tsume, or  last guest have a special rank and designated seating  in the Chashitsu  (tearoom) Because of  their […]

Chashitsu Tea Rooms

Chashitsu Tea Rooms

Different sizes of rooms are named based on  the number of Tatami mats inside the room or how they are laid out.  A Koma (small room) has  four-and-a-half Tatami mats. Features of a tea room: Tatami mats cover the floor. Usually there is an alcove or Tokonoma in the room, but its size may vary. […]

Room Preparation for tea ceremony

Room Preparation for tea ceremony

Cleanliness before the Tea Ceremony The Chashitsu must be cleaned. Sweeping is done and wiping of  the Tatami floor mats. The Roji garden and the stepping stone path leading from the Koshikake-Machiai to the Chashitsu is also cleaned and swept. Evergreen trees, bushes and plants are cut and trimmed to be at their best. Weed and fallen leaves are removed from the […]

Rank of Tea Ceremony Utensils

Rank of Tea Ceremony Utensils

Choosing which utensils are to be used during a particular tea ceremony would depend on various factors including the season it is to be held and occasion of the gathering  which was earlier explained in the topic of seasons of tea.   The manner these utensils are handled depends on the occasion and ranking of the […]

Tea Ceremony Equipment for Guests

Tea Ceremony Equipment for Guests

1.  Youji (sweet forks in stainless steel) 楊枝 2.  Sensu ( folding fan) 扇子 The Sensu is a very traditional Japanese folding fan used during  summer. 3.  Kaishi 懐紙 (paper dish or napkin) Kaishi paper is brought by all guests and sometimes by the Teishu (host) himself.  A stack of Kaishi paper is also placed at chest level […]

Equipment used during a tea ceremony (temae)

Equipment used during a tea ceremony (temae)

Dōgu  refers to equipment used during the tea ceremony. A wide range of dōgu is considered necessary even during a very simple tea ceremony. Following are essential equipment used during a tea ceremony :   1. Chabako ( 茶箱 ) (a box used to keep tea utensils)  Chabako utensil box is used when a tea ceremony is […]

Preparing tea

Preparing tea

The ritual of  tea preparation is very simple; simplicity is one of the defining principles in preparing a bowl of green tea for guests. However, each step of the preparation involves standard movements, and utensils have to be placed at pre-determined locations on the Tatami mat. Preparation styles vary according to the season or the […]

Types of Japanese Tea Ceremony

Types of Japanese Tea Ceremony

There are several kinds of tea ceremonies  held during the year depending on the time of the ceremony, the occasion for holding the tea ceremony and the current season. The Hatsugama 初釜,  meaning  “first kettle.” which happens in  January This is a unique occasion being the  only time that a tea teacher would serve tea […]

History of Japanese Tea Ceremony

History of Japanese Tea Ceremony

 Serving of tea in China dates back to as early as the third century but it was in the 17th century A.D. that tea seeds were brought to Japan where they were grown in Buddhist temples and drank by monks for medicinal purposes. Green tea remained a rare and expensive commodity in Japan for centuries. […]