•    The Elements of the Japanese Tea Ceremony are made to be aesthetically and harmoniously suited to every other utensil as to the season and to the ocassion.
•    Zen high priests and leaders bought great interest and high culture in tea among the higher classes including the collection of expensive imports of Chinese utensils and pottery, which thus began the emergence of Japanese refined tools of tea preparation.

Origins Of The Japanese Tea Ceremony

•    "Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage." - - Katkuzo Okakura
•     According to Japanese Buddhist Monks, the Four Value Principles of the Japanese Tea Ceremony are: Purity, Reverence, Respect and Tranquility.

Tradition and Historical Aspects

•    Tea is first prepared by the host, and then consumed by the guests. (The tea is bitter macha green tea made of powdered tea leaves).
•    The 'Way of Tea' led the way toward higher development of aesthetics and art in Japan.
•    The ceremony itself consists of many rituals that have to be learned by heart. Almost each hand movement is prescribed.

Cultural Value

•    Harmony in all things is the major, aesthetic concept which is the heart of traditional Japanese culture.
•    There are now about 100 different varieties of Japanese Tea Ceremonies, which take years to expertly learn how to do.
•    The Japanese Tea Ceremony is only performed on special occasions in honor of the noble or of very important people or as an honorary Thank You.

Links and References

•   SCSU Japanese Tea Ceremony Club - Local area university student organization, bringing Japanese culture to Central Minnesota.

•   The Tea Ceremony Utensils - Local link to a glossary that discribes the utensils that the three students from St.Cloud State University used for the Tea Ceremony performance.

•   The Origin Of The Japanese Tea Ceremony - Exerpts from Cha-no-Daijiten by Yuusuke Kubokawa and Keiichi Fukushima.

•   The Tradition and Historical Aspects - An Anthropological Perspective on the Japanese Tea Ceremony.

•   The Cultural Value - 'The Way of Tea' pertains to the creation of the proper setting for that moment of enjoyment of a perfect bowl of tea.

•   Cha No Yu - Japanese Tea Ceremony - Site showing the enire processes and steps of the guests and hosts of the Cha No Yu.

•   'Chado' The Way Of Tea - History, Origins of Tea, Zen Buddism and links to very informative Cyber Tea Sites.

•   Urasenke Foundation - Cultural Japanese Research Center and Afilliate Organizations explaining more about Japanese Culture and History and Tea Rooms.

•   Shodouka - View English webpages in Japanese characters without special browser plug-ins.

Acknowledgments

•   This site was created in recognition of  St. Cloud State University Students  from the  SCSU Japanese Tea Ceremony Club student organization in Central Minnesota, USA.

•   Jasper Stoneware Company, is a handmade pottery of wholesale and retail stoneware and porcelain wares and is located near Summerland in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, USA.

•   Stuart Johnson is 'A Minnesota Potter' who studied with Sudo Takeo in Mashiko, Japan. He can be reached at 1-320-253-2311.

•   Jasper Bond is 'A Minnesota Potter' who studied with Shimaoka Tutsuzo in Mashiko, Japan. He can be reached at 1-320-654-1634.

•   Many thanks to the three students from St. Cloud State University for their on-site demonstration of Cha-no-yu, the tradition of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, as presented to Jasper Stoneware Company, and friends on the afternoon of Saturday, July 1st, 2000.

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Created July 2, 2000
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Page last modified: July, 20th, 2000