The Japanese Tea Ceremony: A Ritual Meditation

In ritualistic ceremonies practiced by myriad cultures throughout the world, the imbibing of a potable plays an important role. Consider the wine used to symbolize the blood of Christ in the Catholic communion rite. Or, imagine the clan gatherings on the Micronesian island of Ponape, where the mildly narcotic drink sakau is sipped communally from a coconut shell. In Japan, as well, a drink plays an important--and in this case, central--role in a spiritual gathering known as the tea ceremony.

Chado, the Japanese name for tea ceremony, is rooted in Taoism, a Chinese system of thought dating back to the third century B.C., and its predecessor Zen Buddhism, a philosophical system whose main tenet is the practice of meditation. Zen Buddhist monks, whose school of thought endeavors to recognize greatness in life's quotidian events, brought the tea ceremony from China to Japan in the 15th century. The ritual of tea ceremony stems from the Zen monks' practice of drinking tea before a depiction of Bodhi Dharma, the founder of their religion; although intended as a show of worship, the tea may have also been used to help the monks stay awake and alert throughout their meditation. There are variations in the practice of the ceremony, a practice that continues into the present day, but since its beginnings the renowned masters of the ritual have aimed to adapt the spirit of Zen into everyday living. All practices are centered on the serving of tea to guests, and some include the consumption of a light meal, of cakes or other sweets, or of sake.

Although tea ceremony can be practiced anywhere, it is typically performed in homes, teahouses, and community centers. All aspects of the ceremony--from the size and layout of the rooms designed for the practice, to the ritual itself--are founded on the doctrine of Zen. Guests invited to partake in tea ceremony wait in a shelter until they are summoned to enter the main room, or cha-shitsu. The guests decide among themselves the order in which they will make their way down the roji, or garden path, into the room. The path itself is meant to sever ties with the outside world, offering a new experience that will prepare the participants for the meditation that is to take place in the sanctuary of the tearoom.

Upon approaching the room, guests must crouch down in order to pass through a door that is less than 3 feet (0.9 meters) high, a design meant to encourage the guests to reflect on humility. Once inside the room, guests will observe an alcove, called tokonoma, in which decorative objects, such as scrolls or flowers, have been placed for their admiration. The guests then sit and wait for the tea master to join them. The room is kept immaculately clean, as a tea master is schooled in cleanliness. (Connected to the main room is an anteroom, where the tea utensils are kept and washed.) Each object within the tearoom is imbued with significance, as is its placement. Care is taken to avoid repetition of colors or designs and to remove any monotony from the room. In its simplicity, then, the tearoom becomes a respite from the troubles that plague life in the world outside. In a place unconnected to the vulgarity of the everyday world, one can devote oneself entirely--for the duration of the age-old ritual--to the appreciation of beauty.

The event brings together four main tenets: peacefulness, purity, harmony, and respect for others. Within the sanctuary of the room, the participants are asked to concentrate on the natural beauty inherent in the surroundings: the sound of the teakettle, the light streaming into the room, the coals glowing in the fire, the scent of incense. The guests focus their attention on exquisitely crafted objects, such as the ceramic teapot or the calligraphy on a scroll--as a reflection of the universe's creative force, made manifest by human craftsmanship. Such focus keeps the participants mindful--that is, it allows them to concentrate their minds solely on the present moment. Within the tearoom, discussion is limited. The participants do not chat, but instead focus their conversation on appreciating the beauty before them. The ritual encourages the participants to live in the present moment--the objective of Zen Buddhism--by centering the senses on the event at hand, with no distractions from the commonplace. The tea master who conducts the ceremony has the task of creating a perfect instant in time.