The Way of Tea

Many years ago a friend of mine from the museum traveled to Japan.

She asked if there was something I'd like from her visit

and I said "a tea set".

The set is from the Asahido Pottery Store in Kyoto.

The pottery store was established in 1869.

This is called Kiyomizuyaki, with exquisite and refined beauty, 

is one of the highest grade pottery and porcelains in Japan.

I think she has great taste. 

The cups *live* in a lovely wooden box
(that I believe I have photographed upside down).

They have the same design as the tea pot.

On the inside bottom of each cup,

is a flower and bird in blue.

"At the beginning of the ninth century Japanese visitors to China took home the fashion of tea. One in particular: the Buddhist monk Dengyo Daishi, studied in China until A.D. 705 and then took back some seeds to his monastery when he returned to Japan. Initially, tea was consumed only by Buddhist monks to keep themselves awake during long periods of meditation, although by the 13th century, tea had grown popular outside the monasteries. The Japanese began their own research on tea and evolved their own tea ceremony, which is very different from the Chinese way of tea. In China, the focus is on enjoying the flavor and taste of the drink itself, whereas in Japan the focus is predominantly on the ceremony.

Zen Buddhism is responsible for the focus of the Japanese way of tea, the "cha do." Cha do places  great importance on the harmony of the surroundings, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and peace, and respecting the tea and the tea set itself -- there is a very specific order in which to prepare the tea. Cha do is an occasion for teaching manners and protocols."*

*Information from THE WAY OF TEA: The Sublime Art of Oriental Tea Drinking

by Master Lam Kam Chuen

Thanks to our tea party hostesses.

These are just a few of the tea parties in the Land of Blog.

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

"Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world."

~T'ien Yiheng

Wishing you WELL and a JOY filled week!