The Tea Ceremony

If it was the English who transformed tea drinking into a lifestyle, it was the Japanese who perfected it as an art form. The tea ceremony is the generally accepted translation for chadõ or sadõ, literally meaning “way of tea”. Also known as chanoyu, the ceremonial aspects are just one part of what is a deeply philosophical and profound occasion. It is not exaggerating to say that the tea ceremony is the essence of Japanese culture itself, embracing all divisions of visual art such as scrolled paintings and calligraphy, pottery, flower arranging and even architecture. The tea ceremony expresses the Japanese philosophy for life and etiquette, not just for drinking tea but for entertaining guests and being entertained. It teaches a person where they stand in society and how to behave.