The Japanese tea ceremony is another unique Japanese way of spending time aesthetically. Sado, with its formality, developed under the influence of Zen Buddhism. The purpose of this ceremony is to purify the soul by becoming one with nature. It uses the concept of beauty in simplicity and tranquility. For example, tea utensils such as kettles and teacups are simple. Furthermore, in order to find beauty in the imperfections of rough bowls, Japanese tea ceremony is a unique ritual with deep-rooted values.
Sado also plays an important role in the Japanese arts, involving the appreciation of the ceremonial room, its interior, tea utensils, ceremonial decorations such as hanging pictures or flower arrangements, Japanese architecture, gardening, and ceramics. These are influenced by the tea ceremony, and the formality observed in the tea ceremony has influenced the development of Japanese etiquette in a fundamental way.
Rikyu, a master of the tea ceremony, surprised those around him by proposing a new idea about the use of tea bowls called “koma,” or darkness. He used black tea bowls, handmade by Japanese artisans, instead of imported Chinese vessels, to convey the simplicity at the heart of “wabi-cha,” the peaceful and simple way of tea.
Many people may already know the steps of the Japanese tea ceremony. They may feel that it is a complicated ceremony with many steps, such as spinning the bowl and bowing. But if anyone has the opportunity to watch the Japanese movie at the end of last year , Every Day a Good Day, Heart, Tea Leaves, Love, they will absorb the charm of the art of tea making and understand thoroughly that making tea is not something that is rushed and requires time to understand the essence. It is related and integrated together with Ikigai, the meaning of life. It implies that the tea ceremony has small details that must be practiced repeatedly every day in the same way, starting from
- Small Beginnings: In the tea ceremony, the room is decorated with great care and attention to detail, such as the types of flowers used on the leather covers, the folding of the tea cloth used, and even the daily change of kanji philosophical phrases to suit the day. This also teaches us to think and examine our own minds.
- Self-liberation: A spirit of humility is the image of the officiant and the guests, even though they have many years of experience in organizing events.
- Consistency and sustainability : Decades-old tea ceremony vessels are selected to complement each other.
- Happiness in the little things: The goal of the tea ceremony is to relax, to find happiness in the little details, such as listening to the sound of water pouring into a teacup, the difference between the sound of warm water and cold water.
- Being here, now: One brings the mindfulness of the tea room into the mind of another.
If we truly learned the traditions of tea ceremony as seen in the movies, we would never be able to claim to be perfect. Tea ceremony is a never-ending learning experience, just like life itself. We all experience ups and downs until we begin to understand where happiness lies. The answer lies in our hearts, believing that everything is ordinary and will pass. Let go and go with the flow. Therefore, for those who consume a lot of news and online media, try slowing down and being mindful when brewing a cup of tea. It might just add a smile to your morning.
Article from: Fuwafuwa
