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CHANOYU
"The Way of Tea"
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Matcha as we know it comes from Japan, and was first cultivated in Uji (Its roots come from China, and after a monk brought tea seeds to Japan in the 12th century, Japan fine-tuned the process).
At first, matcha was limited to the nobility class and not largely consumed by or available to the general population.
All that changed in the mid-1500's with Sen no Rikyu. He took the essence of the tea practice and distilled it down to the basics, making it accessible to everyone.
He began teaching Chanoyu and passed his practice down to his grandsons.
chanoyu: the way of tea
There are three main schools of Chanoyu that are direct descendants of Rikyu. He had three grandsons, and each formed their own tea school in Kyoto. Each one interpreted Rikyu's teachings slightly differently, so there are details of each school that vary, but the main focus is still the same.
- Urasenke is the most widely practiced and well-known school. It's trademark is a thick layer of frothed matcha that covers the tea in the bowl. When you think of matcha, this is probably how you view it.
- Omotesenke is less common, but still widely practiced. The telltale sign of a bowl of matcha in this school is the "pond", or area of tea soup that can be viewed through a hole in the foam.
- Mushanokoji is hardly practiced, even in Japan. Their school leaves half of the tea covered in foam, and half uncovered. It is the most difficult to achieve this (at least for an Omotesenke student like myself).
the four pillars
Beyond the physical health, we must also consider the role matcha plays in out mental and spiritual health.
Matcha is not only a beverage, but an art form, as practiced in Chanoyu (the Way of Tea). This ancient practice is based not only around making an exceptional bowl of tea, but by utilizing the four pillars in doing so:
- Wa (harmony),
- Kei (respect),
- Sei (purity)
- Jaku (tranquility)
Each of these pillars are utilized in every aspect of the Tea Ceremony.
The lifelong practice of Chanoyu is one that may not be for everyone, but the simple act of making a tea with purpose and intention can do wonders to help one's psychological health.
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
While it might seem like there is little room for variation in tea ceremony due to the strict rules, there are plenty of occasions that dictate the need for changes.
SEASONS
As the seasons change, so does the tea room. For warmer months, a Furo (elevated kettle) is used. For one month in the fall, the kettle is hung from a hook above the sunken hearth. And in the colder months, a Ro (sunken hearth kettle) is used. Each time the layout changes, so do the procedures.
TYPE OF TEA
The difference in process between making Koicha and Usucha is very obvious, but it's even more exaggerated when the seasons change. It can take years of practicing making usucha before you may start practicing making koicha with a Ro setup.
HOLIDAYS
There are several holidays in Chanoyu, with the most auspicious being Hatsugama (First tea of the new year). Every special occasion has different nuances in the tea and experience.
UTENSILS AND ROOM
The size and layout of the room plays a role in determining the layout of the ceremony, as does the utensils used.
For instance, using a Tana (table) with 3 legs vs. 4 legs will change the way the utensils are handled and displayed. A small 2-mat tearoom will have different layout variations compared to a larger 4-6 mat room.
All of these nuances make the learning process more fun and solidify the desire to practice regularly.
CONNECTING FURTHER
There are hubs of Chanoyu all over the world. If you are interested in attending a tea ceremony or would like to learn about practicing yourself, there are a few places to look:
BAY AREA
Places like Hakone Gardens and Green Gulch offer Tea Ceremony to the public.
If you are interested in practicing, you can look up your local Domonkai to see if there are teachers in your area accepting new students.
Keep in mind, there is a lot of consistent work that needs to be committed to if you decide to start practicing formally, so be sure you're ready to commit before reaching out.
OTHER AREAS
By searching locally for "Chanoyu" or "Japanese Tea Ceremony" you may be able to find tea houses near you.
This information comes from Ali and her personal experiences as a student of chanoyu since 2012. It is simply provided as a general reference
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