The tea ceremony has a special place in Japanese culture. Preparing and drinking tea is a meditative process that brings tranquillity, and balance to participators, by allowing them to forget about the daily problems and immerse themselves into the way of the tea.
The ceremony also allows guests to enjoy the traditional Japanese hospitality and get to know the Japanese philosophy of living. In Japanese, the ritual of preparing and serving tea is usually called sadō or chadō, “the way of the tea” but is sometimes also referred to as ocha, a Japanese word for “tea” or chanoyu, meaning “hot water for tea”.
Why is the Japanese Tea Ceremony Important?
In Japan, a tea ceremony is a spiritual process, deeply rooted in Zen philosophy. The process is aimed at bringing harmony and inner peace to guests, by allowing them to take a break from the outside world and focus on the simple, transitory moment of serving and drinking tea. The traditional tea ceremony can last up to four hours, and it is composed of three steps — a meal, a serving of thick and thin tea. However, today, most places offer simplified versions of Japanese tea ceremonies, which…
