by Jason Tsaddiq
The tea ceremony actually evolved from the act of war – Japan’s history is replete with violence and torturous events and atrocities. The samurai began using tea as a way to show superiority: who ever could properly identify the various teas was the better warrior. Eventually this tea contest of sorts was used to givereason to parley and to negotiate war strategy and armistices. The citizens, from the impecunious to the royal, relished the concept of having an event that momentarily gave way to peace and equanimity.[1]The emphasis on wabi(serenity) and sabi(simplicity), two concepts from Zen Buddhism, pervade the tea rituals.[2]Part of the serious reflection and meditation involved in a oriental tea ceremony comes from the concept ichigo ichiewhich means “one life, one meeting” to signify that this particular meeting, with this particular guest or guests, at this particular season will never happen again in this exact way. One must enjoy the meeting for it is ephemeral.[3]The host of a tearoom or teahouse usually studies under a tea school pedagogue for at least ten years so that he may portray another concept: that of gongfu which means “skill and care, to do things well.”[4]
Each country has her own details delineating a tea ceremony, using specific utensils delegated for the tea ceremony or making tea in the daily life. Russians use a samovar[5] to heat the water while they usepodstakanniki(under the glass)[6] from which to drink their tea. The Chinese use a kamato heat the water while they use a tenmokuor chawanfrom which to drink their tea.[7]The utensils used in Korea are often designed to show religious participants: the “Celadon or jade green, ‘punchong,’ or bronze-like weathered patinas for Buddhist tea rituals; the purest of white with faint designs in porcelain for Confucian tea rituals; and coarser porcelains and ash-stone glazes for animist tea rituals, or for export to Japan where they were known as ‘gohan chawan.’”[8]
Though not considered a “specific utensil,” gunpowder green tea is almost exclusively used in Morocco.[9]“Gunpowder” referring to tea, refers to the tea leaves being rolled into small pellet-shaped balls which unfurl as the boiling water is passed over.
The actual tea ceremonies practiced in various countries range from simplistic to elaborate though each ceremony is executed with planned attention to detail. The Chinese wedding tea ceremony begins on the wedding day to introduce formally the bride to the groom’s family. (The groom is introduced later to the bride’s family usually after the couple has had time to establish themselves in their new home.) The bride and groom will leave her home before daylight to hold the tea at his parents’ home. Because of the doctrine of respecting one’s elders, a particular order of serving tea is followed: the parents are served first, followed by the grandparents, grand-uncles and aunts, uncles and aunts, elder brothers and sisters, then elder cousins. While the bride is serving the tea, kneeling or standing, she must remember to serve her paternal lineage first, and then to serve her maternal relatives. The groom stands to her left while she greets each elder by using his official title and serves the tea. If, for some reason, a living relative is not present at the wedding tea ceremony, she will pour a cup of tea in his honor, and the spouse will drink it on his behalf. A deceased spouse or family member has no tea poured for him though another ritual may be performed to show honor. When the participants are finished with their tea, they are expected to leave a gift on the serving tray, usually money (called laissee) or jewelry which is often placed on the bride at the moment of giving. Depending on the family, she may look like a decorated Christmas tree by the ending of the sometimes intimate ceremony. Sometimes here at the wedding tea or at the actual wedding, a gift of tea is appropriate for the symbolism involved: the giver wishes that the happy couple would have as many children as tea leaves in the gift.[10]
The Moroccan tea ceremony may be simple or sophisticated as needed. The host’s making the tea in front of his guests included his rinsing of any grime from the two teapots and the leaves, adding sugar and tea leaves to the pots and allowing the leaves to steep. Then he will pour from both teapots simultaneously, filling the glasses half full. He will be preparing the next pot of tea while the guests are drinking this first strong tea – he will add more tea leaves, more sugar and mint leaves to the pots. Then more boiling water added to the pot begins the famed mint tea dainty.[11]
Oriental tea ceremonies are overflowing with symbolism thus the attention to detail in every action and decision. Usually the punctilious host will fill the teacup only halfway full to leave room for “friendship and affection.”[12]For a tea held in a private tea room, the host cleans the room and the stone path to it to symbolize that the participant should cleanse himself of all impermanent burdens. The gardens are arranged specifically: the outer garden “is pleasant, with a free and light atmosphere”[13]with flowering trees whereas the inner garden must avoid the flowering trees, facilitating only mosses, ferns and other small plants. Symbolism throughout both gardens reign: “Rocks represent mountains, a pond stands for a[n] ocean, trees symbolize a forest, and a running stream of water reminds people of a river.”[14]Because water is the most prized purifier, “. . . the presence of water, and the wetness of the garden and its structures, is a metaphor for freshness, naturalness and purity.”[15]Each item should portray “serene tranquility and harmony with nature.”[16]Before entering the tea room by bowing through the low doorway (to symbolize humility), the guest will rinse his mouth and wash his hands to symbolize cleanliness and respect for others, as some utensils will be shared during the ceremony.[17]Sometimes, the guests will even remove their shoes and/or change clothes to show their removing all vestiges of chaos and evil.[18]In the alcove of the tearoom, usually a piece of art is displayed to symbolize the unity with nature; the artwork will be very simplistic in design to draw attention to nature yet will be of excellent quality to symbolize respect for the artist. “The striking beauty of ukiyo-e[19]lies in its economy of line and simplicity.”[20]Accompanying the artwork will be a plant, sometimes a single flower in a vase, sometimes a bonzai or some such other plant.[21]
Even though the host may be wealthy enough to purchase the finest porcelain teacups or bowls, usually very crude, almost deformed utensils are used to demonstrate the humility as each participant drinks from the ugly side of the cup. (This bowl portraying “unpretentious beauty” allows the poor to enjoy the ceremonial production.[22]) Using a communal bowl in some ceremonies shows the forbearance and humility of each guest as he must wait for others to drink and then he must ascertain his allowance to save some tea for the others in the group.[23]
Proponents of tea promulgate a myriad of physical benefits: a healthy weight loss, clearer skin, efficient kidneys, among others. Those who follow the ritualistic efforts of preparing tea (even from its planting, harvesting, and processing) usually find a protracted time to be at peace. Though many religious groups declare that one can be in tune with nature during the process of taking tea, one must question the premise on which the goal is based: being one with an inanimate object seems fruitless to say the least. Nonetheless, much can be said for the stopping of the hurry-scurry lifestyle, the deliberate incorporating of healthy habits, the profuse giving of honor and respect, the cultivating of friendships, the negotiating of armistices with an indefatigable enemy, and pausing to reflect on one’s life. A word of caution must be heard: any habit, though considered to be a good one, may develop into a cultish fiend and diminish the original goal. Nothing is sacred, in and of itself, in a tea ceremony, but if one chooses to spend time doing so, he should be reflecting on the orderliness and simplistic beauty of creation’s God and His goodness to allow such beauty in His nature. Many philosophies found in the various tea ceremonies can be found, in part, in the Holy Scriptures; however, the emphasis of the tea ceremony originators has usually been on the individual parts and procedures, completely ignoring the omnipotent God Who gave such beauty, peace, and tranquility. Such an error is frightening and damning.
[1]Steve Green, http://ezinearticles.com/?Tea-Ceremony-Symbolism&id=5141881(accessed April 11, 2013).
[2]Emi Kazuko, Japanese Cooking: the Traditions, Techniques and Recipes(London: Hermes House, 2005), 17
[3]Ibid.
[4]crazyfortea.com (accessed April 11, 2013).
[5] “This unique appliance accomplishes its task, [heating of the water] thanks to a tube which is soldered to the body of the samovar and holds smoldering charcoal or wood. The heat from the charcoal boils the water and keeps it hot.”Linda Delaine, http://www.russianlife.com/blog/tea-time-in-russia/ (accessed April 10, 2013).
[6]Podstakannikiare silver heat tempered tea glasses similar to the Turkish coffee cups. Ibid.
[7]http://japanese-tea-ceremony.net/equipment.html (accessed April 10, 2013).
[8]http://dev.laptop.org/pub/content/wp/en/Tea.html (accessed April 10, 2013).
[9]Jon Stout, http://ezinearticles.com/?Moroccan-Mint-Iced-Tea&id=1243470(accessed April 11, 2013).
[10]http://www.chinabridal.com/etiquette/proposal.htm(accessed April 10, 2013).
[11]Christine Benlafquih, http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/moroccanfood101/a/Tea_
Ceremony.htm (accessed April 11, 2013).
[12]The United Kingdom Tea Council.
[13]Dorinne Kondo, Man, “The Way of Tea: A Symbolic Analysis,” vol 20, no 2, (np:Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland), 293.
[14]Bobbie Kalman, Japan, the Culture, (NY: Crabtree Publishing Co, 1989), 7.
[15]Kondo, 294.
[16]Ibid., 293.
[17]Sarah Page, http://stevechurchill.articlealley.com/symbolism-of-tea-ceremony-1783811.html(accessed April 11, 2013).
[18]http://www.english.iup.edu/eaware/overview_of_tea.htm (accessed April 11, 2013).
[19]Ukiyo-e is oriental art in which natural, almost seemingly mundane items are depicted.
[20]Kazuko, 6.
[21]Page, (accessed April 11, 2013).
[22]http://www.english.iup.edu/eaware/japanese_tea_ceremony.htm (accessed April 11, 2013).
[23]http://www.english.iup.edu/eaware/symbolism_of_tea_bowl.htm (accessed April 11, 2013).