Japanese Tea Ceremony In 6 Steps That You Want To Know!

The Japanese tea ceremony has deep roots in the history of the country and is considered to be a massive part of the historical and cultural heritage by Japanese people. Even though tea and tea ceremony originated in China, they took on a new face in Japan and became apart of a very detailed and meticulous tradition. It would be safe to assume that no other country is as delicate and thorough when it comes to tea as Japan! In this article we will try to trace back the roots of the Japanese tea ceremony, as well as try to understand its essence step by step.

What is Japanese Tea Ceremony?

Essential Part Of Japanese Culture

The first mention of tea in Japanese sources date back to as early as the 9th century. If the legends are to be believed, tea itself was introduced to Japan by a Buddhist monk named Kukai. Introduced by monks, and practiced by monks, for quite some time tea was used as means of meditation by Buddhist monks. Nonetheless, with the flow of time, tea ceremony became an authentic, inherent and essential part of Japanese culture.

Ochashitsu And Chadougu

In its essence, the ceremony is the meeting between the tea master and their guests, which is accompanied by warm tea and sometimes even smalltalk. Of course, it is a given that traditional Japanese tea ceremony is being practiced in a special room called ochashitsu (お茶室), while using the proper utensils – chadougu (茶道具)→ Get Yours Here!

Japanese Tea Ceremony With Buddhist Philosophy

The art of tea ceremony is filled with Buddhist philosophy to its very core. It is meant to be performed for reaching peace of mind and soul. As any other part of Japanese culture, art and religion, tea ceremony also reflects the way of life of Japanese people: The utensils which are being used during the ceremony, the movements and behaviour of those taking part in it, as well as the symbolism of the event, all of which have been passed down from generation to generation.

Japanese Tea Ceremony’s Details

Every detail, every tiny movement even, is of great importance when performing tea ceremony. A slight misstep will not only be very embarrassing, but might even be offensive and disrespectful towards the hosts and others who are participating in the event. This goes to show how much Japanese people value the importance of details.

For example, even the way the guests sit may convey a lot of meaning. Sitting cross legged will show one’s bad manners, since doing this they would be conveying their disrespectful attitude towards the tea master. The accepted way of sitting during Japanese tea ceremony is seiza (正座) – kneeling on the floor, with your legs folded under your thighs.

Why Do People Love Attending Japanese Tea Ceremony?

Unique Aspects of Japanese Tea Ceremony

Japanese tea ceremony has many unique and interesting aspects which tend to attract the attention of not only the carriers of the culture, but also that of foreigners. What makes the whole experience even more appealing is how open Japanese people are about having foreigners experience their culture. These days many people might confuse curiosity and interest towards foreign cultures as cultural appropriation, but it is interesting to keep in mind that Japanese people do not see it this way in the least! If you get a chance to go to Japan, you may see how excited the people around you will get as soon as you list the things you love about their country, or the things you want to try in Japan. As a foreigner, this is one of the most inviting things about the Japanese tea ceremony.

The Willingness Of Japanese to share their culture!

Another reason for the popularity of the tea ceremony, as well as many other traditional customs of Japan is the following – the willingness of Japanese people to teach and spread the word about their culture all over the world. For example, if you are a foreign student in any Japanese university, be sure that one day you will be invited to a free tea ceremony by your support group. They will not only show and explain all the dos and don’ts of the ceremony in extreme detail, but will also offer you to try preparing tea yourself!

Japanese Tea Ceremony Brings Peace And Serenity

Finally, the most appealing thing about Japanese tea ceremony is its ability to bring peace and serenity to your state of mind. In other words, if you practice the art of tea ceremony, sado (茶道), and decide to master it, be sure that you will be given the chance of reaching your own state of nirvana. The Japanese tea ceremony will help you understand yourself and the world around you much better, it will also give you a chance of understanding and appreciating a foreign and very old culture.

Japanese Tea Ceremony In 6 Steps

As in any other traditional Japanese art, the tea ceremony also has many tedious steps. Memorizing all of these to a point of perfection and performing them with grace is what makes one a master of the tea ceremony. While these steps might seem like a huge hurdle, it should be kept in mind that these steps are exactly what makes the tea ceremony the serene experience it is. So without any more further ado, let us dive into the details of the wondrous art of Japanese tea ceremony!

• Step 1 -Prepare all the necessary materials: Before getting started you will need to prepare everything that you will use, that is, the proper utensils, the tea and of course the sweets, wagashi (和菓子)if you have decided to serve them during your tea ceremony experience. While performing this step, it is important to reach internal harmony, because this way you will be able to fully enjoy the upcoming tea ceremony. The set of the utensils necessary for the tea ceremony is called chabako (茶箱). It will include a pot, a bowl-cup, a special whisk, a scoop, a measuring spoon for the tea, and several other items.
• Step 2-Prepare the state of mind, and start with a bow: Not only the tea master but also the guests should get ready for the upcoming tea ceremony. They should prepare their state of mind, by clearing out unneeded thoughts and by trying to distance themselves from their daily chores and worries. After the tea master calls the guests in, each and every one of them will be greeted with a bow. At first the wagashi will be served, and only then the Japanese tea ceremony will commence.
• Step 3 -Clean all the tools: The whole process will start with the cleansing of the tools that are to be used during the tea ceremony. The tea master will clean out the bowl-cup, the pot, the scoop and the whisk. All of this will be performed with grace and utmost respect towards the items. This is followed by the process of preparing the tea.
• Step 4 -Make hot water: At the very beginning, the bowl-cup should be heated up with hot water. Afterwards, the whisk should be dipped into hot water, so that the powdered tea doesn’t stick to it.
• Step5 -Add flavor into the bowl-cup: The tea master will scoop some matcha and add it into the bowl-cup. The hot water will be added and the tea will be mixed with the special whisk until it starts foaming.
• Step 6 -Pass around the bowl-cup: When the tea is ready the tea master will pass the bowl-cup to the guest who is sitting first in line, who after tasting the tea will pass it to the person next to them, and so on. These are some of the most basic steps of Japanese tea ceremony. If you know these, then you can be sure that you will not lose face, or show any disrespect to the people who are participating in the event of tea ceremony together with you. Of course, keep in mind that people who practice Japanese tea ceremony for years will perform an event in much more detail, which usually will take many years of effort and tireless practice to memorize.

What to Prepare Before Japanese Tea Ceremony?

While preparing the items and utensils which will be used during Japanese tea ceremony is undeniably important, there are some other things that you might want to look into.

To understand and appreciate Japanese tea ceremony, it is very important to learn more about its philosophy and rules. Here are some facts that might come in handy if you are planning to practice this very unique ceremony of great cultural heritage.

1. You can never serve tea to yourself: In Japanese tea ceremony, there is always a tea master and their guests. The tea master creates a special world for their guests, and this world is likely to change from one tea ceremony to another. This world is to show and reflect the master’s state of mind and soul.
2. The mood and the atmosphere of the tea ceremony can change depending on the seasons, the date, and even the time of the day.
3. During a tea ceremony, only green tea, in this case matcha (抹茶), is being served. The utensils for performing Japanese tea ceremony are unique and cannot be replaced by unrelated items.
4. One of the main goals of Japanese tea ceremony is for the participants to reach harmony, show their respect towards each other, cleanse their mind and soul and finally achieve peace.

However, what is most important, as someone new to Japanese tea ceremony, is the willingness to learn, not being afraid of making mistakes or being told how to act and perform properly. Being a very old, and a very detailed ceremony, it is a given that getting used to it will take some time.

5 Recommended Tea Ceremonies in the United States

Nowadays, many people are interested in the Far Eastern cultures. Japan has also been in the spotlight for quite a few decades. Obviously, the interest towards Japan is not limited in just learning about the culture and the history of the country, but also in practicing many traditions.

As we have already established in this article, one of the most beloved, well preserved, authentic and intriguing Japanese traditions is the tea ceremony!

It is a given that many would want to try out the ceremony, learn all of its steps and details. Basically enjoy the whole ceremony. If you live in Japan, or if you are planning to visit then this is an easy task to fulfill. However, what to do if you do not have this opportunity, but desperately want to try out Japanese style tea ceremony?

Fret not! With the popularity of Japanese tea ceremony, countless schools have been opened all over the world to help non-Japanese people enjoy the authentic ceremony in the comfort of their own country!

In this article we will introduce some of our picks for where to experience Japanese tea ceremony with all of its glory in the US. Take a look at our list and pick the one that suits you the best from five of our favorite places!

NO.1 Urasenke Philadelphia

The school has a quite long history. What’s more, they have connections with Japan, and are an official Chado society! They offer not only lectures and step by step demonstrations, but also private lessons.

NO.2 Hakone Estate & Gardens

Here is another of our favorite picks. Now this place does not only offer its visitors Japanese tea ceremony, but also some amazing Japanese style gardens to enjoy the scenery and the traditional Japanese atmosphere.

NO.3 Japan House

Amazing place for honing your skills in the art of Japanese tea ceremony.

NO.4 Gen Sou En Tea House

Relaxing atmosphere, which you will find here, will help you forget about your daily stress and meanwhile enjoy tasty matcha!

NO.5 Seattle Japanese Garden

This one is our final recommendation. For a very reasonable price, you will be able to learn the steps of Japanese tea ceremony from practiced masters.

Japanese tea ceremony is an amazing means of getting to know the Japanese culture, history and traditions. By practicing or taking part in tea ceremonies one can not only learn more about this unique country, but also get to know its people. The tea ceremony in itself is a piece of cultural and historical heritage which has been preserved in its purest form thanks to being passed down from one generation to another.

Practicing Japanese tea ceremony gives us the opportunity to not only enjoy some amazing Japanese traditional sweets, wagashi, but also to sit back and relax. You could say that Japanese tea ceremony is a form of meditation and through it we can learn to understand ourselves, our surroundings and reach the uppermost levels of harmony and peace of mind.
If you have not tried out Japanese tea ceremony yet, and if you are up for some new, interesting and exciting experiences, then you should definitely give it a try!

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