Samurai in the Edo period dedicated themselves not only to the martial arts but also to the ways of creating an atmosphere conductive to the soul. This consisted of ‘kado’ the way of flowers, ‘kodo’ the way of incense, ‘shodo’ the way of calligraphy and ‘chado’ the way of tea.

The sons of wealthy samurai families were introduced to these arts at a young age. They would rise at dawn and alongside their fellow classmates devote mornings to studying calligraphy and sacred texts, the garden arts and the complex rituals of the tea ceremony. The way of tea, like the way of flowers, incense and calligraphy are fine arts that samurai applied themselves to with great discipline.

Westerners who are unfamiliar with the peaceful arts of Japan will generally view the tea ceremony as a quaint, slightly peculiar experience and wonder why such a fuss is made over the ways of manipulating a bowl, spoon, cup etc. To a novice it may even seem tedious at times.

In Japan, tea is a religion in the art of life. The ideal of Teaism is the result of the Zen conceptions of greatness in the smallest of incidents. From my acquired knowledge of Japanese culture, I feel that the tea ceremony captures so much in terms of the arts, social customs and ideals of Japanese life.

Around the turn of the century when westernizing influences were revolutionizing Japan Kakuzo Okakura, scholar and curator of Japanese arts, played a significant role in the ‘reawakening’ of Japanese national heritage. Kakuzo, the son of a silk merchant born in Yokohama in 1862, dedicated his life to the preservation of Japanese arts and customs. In his lifetime he published numerous books including ‘The Book of Tea’ in an attempt to convey to the western world why Japanese feel as they do about certain aspects of their culture that are often misconstrued. Through the aesthetic tranquility of the ancient Japanese tea ceremony Kakuzo draws attention to the apparent differences between the Eastern and Western outlook on life. Kazuko speaks of ‘significance’ in the moment of our short lives and how the tea ceremony realizes this.

The philosophy of tea expresses a connection between man and nature, encouraging enjoyment in simplicity and appreciation of all that surrounds us – cuisine, paintings, imperfect porcelain, the cultivation and importance of flowers.

The tea room, known in Japanese as the ‘sukiya’, epitomizes extreme simplicity. The experience of the sukiya starts before you even enter the room. As you walk along the entrance pathway ‘roji’ you seem to break the connection with the outside world, your reality. Even in the midst of a bustling city such as Tokyo a remarkable disconnect can be found. The roji encourages the feeling of peace and tranquility and is generally lined with irregularly placed stepping stones resting on dried pine needles. A subdued light glows through the low beams of the ceiling as you pass by evergreens and weathered lanterns to approach the sukiya.

left: Exterior view of Japanese Tea House right: Flowers arranged for tea ceremony party. © ‘The History of Ikebana’ Kudo Masanobu.

The room itself is intentionally empty except for what may be placed there temporarily. From the moment you enter the senses feel awakened with a kind of anticipation – the bare interior frees your mind from distractions allowing you to notice every move and appreciate to the full extent every single item, gesture, sound around you. The cleanliness of the little room, shut off from sight and sound of the crowds outside is in itself conductive to direct ones thoughts from the outside world. A special place of honour called the ‘tokonoma’ is reserved especially for the display and viewing of flowers, embracing the beauty of each season. The presence of ‘kakemono’ (hanging scrolls) calls our attention to grace of design.

The tea ceremony is an example of how the simplest thing can be made into an art and spiritual experience. Etiquette elaborated to the finest niceties, the moral training involved in strict observance and correct manners bring all parts of the body into perfect harmony. That calmness of mind, serenity of temper, composure and quietness of demeanour are the first essentials for true appreciation of your tea ceremony experience. More than a ceremony it is a fine art, it is poetry and a discipline of soul – its greatest value.

Donna Canning