Tea Ceremony - Urasenke

The Way of Tea concerns the creation of the proper setting for the moment of enjoyment of a perfect bowl of tea. Everything that goes into the serving of tea, even the quality of the air and the space where it is served, becomes a part of its flavor. The perfect tea must therefore capture the 'flavor' of the moment -- the spirit of the season, of the occasion, of the time and the place.  

The tea ceremony which we attended had the theme of sakura, or cherry blossom (the cherry blossoms are nearing full bloom in Osaka).  We began with a supplication before the tokonoma, an alcove that displays a scroll and a budding cherry tree branch in a vase.  

Next we were served a small sweet cake flavored and colored with cherry blossoms.

The tea was prepared from matcha, or powdered tea leaves.  A small amount of matcha was placed into each individual tea bowl, using a bamboo scoop called a chashaku, then hot water was added and the mixture was whisked using a bamboo whisk known as a chasen.  

A tea bowl was placed in front of each of us.  After bowing to the bowls, we picked them up and turned them in our hands two times.  The tea was consumed in three-and-a-half sips.

In its association with Zen, tea goes beyond entertainment, medicinal value, or temple ceremony; the preparation and drinking of tea can be an expression of the Zen belief that every act of daily life can potentially lead to enlightenment. This belief manifests itself in an aesthetic which seeks beauty in the imperfect and in the simple objects of everyday life.

Haiku #3

sakura float down

stillness in a city park

pink and ashen grey