In the tea ceremony, the roji, the garden space leading up to the tea room, is an important element that has a deeper meaning than a mere passageway.
This space functions as a boundary between the everyday world outside and the extraordinary world inside the tea house, and serves to prepare the minds of the guests. Various elements are placed in the roji, such as the koshikake-waiting area, stepping stones, and tsukubai (stone wash basin), each of which serves the role of preparing for the tea ceremony.
By passing through the open space, guests leave their daily routines and turn their minds to the world of tea. This is not merely a physical journey, but a spiritual one as well.
By enjoying the atmosphere of the open air and purifying themselves with water, the guest gradually becomes immersed in the spirit of tea.
In learning the tea ceremony, it is very important to understand the meaning and role of this dew ground. It is not only to know the manners of the tea ceremony, but also to experience the spatial awareness, aesthetic sense, and even spirituality unique to Japanese culture.
The dew ground is a space that symbolizes the depth of the tea ceremony and the essence of Japanese culture.
The word “dew ground” is derived from a Buddhist term. The word “dew” was said to represent the teachings of the Buddha and “chi” the foundation of the mind, symbolizing the state of enlightenment. With the adoption of this word, the path to the tea house became more than just a physical journey, but a place of spiritual practice.
With the development of the tea ceremony, the roji has evolved from a mere passageway to a spiritual space. It became a space that reflected the “wabi-sabi” aesthetic sense unique to Japanese culture and the Buddhist worldview, and is still recognized as an important element of the tea ceremony to this day.
The various ideas of Zen are concentrated in the dewdrops. By studying the tea ceremony, we naturally come into contact with these profound ideas and experience the spirituality of Japanese culture.
