Japanese Tea Ceremony

The Japanese tea ceremony, best known as the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity from the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. The ceremony occurs within a space created and chosen for tea. It is known as the chashitsu. Usually this space is inside the tea house, located apart from the home, within the garden.

The teishu guides the hanto, the primary guest as well as three or more other people through the chumon which symbolizes door between the coarse physical world and the spiritual world of tea.

The Japanese tea ceremony was developed by Zen Buddhists in the 14th century with four ideas in mind:  Wa - Harmony, Kei - Respect, Sei - Purity, and Jaku - Serenity.