The Japanese tea ceremony is called chanoyu or sado for the Japanese. It is basically a choreographic ritual of preparing and serving bitter tea, called the matcha, together with some sweet victuals to fight off the bitter taste of the tea. Each movement is predefined. The whole process is not about drinking tea, but is about aesthetics. .
The tea ceremony is an artistic pastime unique to Japan that features the serving and drinking of matcha, a powdered green tea. Though tea had been introduced into Japan from China around the eighth century, matcha did not reach the country until the end of the twelfth century. The practice of holding social gatherings to drink matcha spread among the upper class from about the fourteenth century. Gradually one of the main purposes of these gatherings, which took place in a shoin (study), became the appreciation of paintings and crafts from China in a serene atmosphere.
Under the influence of the formalities and manners that regulated the daily life of the samurai, who were then the dominant class in Japanese society, there developed certain rules and procedures that the participants in these tea parties were required to follow. This was the origin of the tea ceremony. The form of chanoyu that is practiced today was established in the second half of the sixteenth century, during the Momoyama period, by the tea master Sen no Rikyu.
Chanoyu involves more than merely enjoying a cup of tea in a stylized manner. The ceremony developed under the influence of Zen Buddhism, the aim of which is, in simple terms, to purify the soul by becoming one with nature.
The process of Japan's tea ceremony has a very long and meticulous way of preparation. The host can even spend days in preparing this event just to ensure that everything will go well. The tea ceremony itself is an extensive encounter especially if there are more included participants. The proceedings of the ceremony involve constant bowing and rotating of the bowl of tea that reflects the Japanese" respect for each other.
