The Japanese tea ceremony is more than just the act of brewing and serving tea. It is a highly sophisticated culture that sublimates the entire process into a ritual with beautiful gestures and deep meaning, while aiming to provide the guest with the best tasting and most fragrant tea.
The etiquette of the tea ceremony closely incorporates a wide range of elements, from the technical aspects of bringing out the full flavour of the tea to the communication between the master and his guests, the expression of a sense of the seasons and the pursuit of spirituality.
For example, the choice of tea leaves, the temperature of the water, the selection of the tea bowl and other factors that directly affect the taste of the tea, as well as the set-up of the tea room, the arrangement of the utensils and even the behaviour of the master, are all calculated to create the best tea experience.
Furthermore, in the tea ceremony, even the timing of the guest’s entry into the tearoom is carefully considered as part of the overall experience.
From the moment the guest enters the tearoom until the end of the tea ceremony and the aftermath, everything is structured as one large work of art.
In this way, the tea ceremony can be described as a comprehensive art form that beautifully harmonises the practical objective of serving delicious tea with the artistic objective of expressing the process as a beautiful and meaningful experience. It embodies the essence of Japanese culture and at the same time symbolises the search for universal beauty and harmony.
The background to this meticulously calculated, beautiful and meaningful tea ceremony etiquette is a long history and cultural development.
Learning the tea ceremony is an effective means of enriching your life, both physically and mentally. It is more than just a hobby; it is the power to create a better you and a better life. Through the study of the tea ceremony, you will experience the deep philosophy and aesthetics contained in a cup of tea and enrich your daily life.