In the Japanese tea ceremony, there is a custom called koicha (thick tea).
The custom of drinking koicha together symbolically expresses the spirit of Japanese people’s respect for harmony. The act of drinking from a single tea bowl together in turn embodies the uniquely Japanese value of sharing joy and gratitude together, transcending individual differences.
The ritual of Koicha, especially at festive occasions, has the effect of uniting the hearts of all participants and amplifying their joy. When each person drinks from the same bowl of koicha, it creates a sense of equality and shared joy for everyone present.
This custom of drinking koicha together reflects the high level of cooperation and group consciousness of the Japanese people, and is also deeply connected to the spirit of “ichiki ichikai,” or cherishing the moment and viewing it as a special opportunity that will never come again.
Studying the tea ceremony is an excellent opportunity to gain an experiential understanding of these traditional Japanese values and spiritual culture. By experiencing the moment when people’s hearts are united through thick tea, we can experience the depth of Japanese culture and rediscover the importance of human connections.
Furthermore, the traditional Japanese sense of community has influenced the values of the Japanese people.
In Japanese rural communities, there was a custom of communal farming, such as rice planting and harvesting.
This spirit of mutual support, called “yui,” is also believed to have influenced the tea ceremony.
In Japanese Shinto rituals, there is also the idea that drinking miki together connects gods and people, and people to people.
In Buddhism, too, there is the custom of monks eating from the same bowl.
This custom has been passed down to the present day as a symbolic expression of the Japanese spirit of respect for harmony.
Through the simple act of sharing a single bowl of tea, the profound teachings of Zen can be learned experientially.
Therefore, this custom is not just a cultural practice, but an important symbolic element of Japanese spirituality that has been passed down through the generations in the tea ceremony.
