| Tea ceremonies are ritual ways of preparing and | | | | with fresh cedar chopsticks. There are three different |
| drinking tea, and the custom itself is one which has | | | | courses, and once these have been consumed and |
| been strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism. Today, tea | | | | the guests are finished, the host removes the scroll |
| ceremonies are quite popular, and there are actually | | | | and replaces it with flowers. This Japanese Tea |
| several different tea ceremony traditions that take | | | | ceremony is definitely one of complexity and detail, |
| place around the world. Still, one of the most | | | | and one that has been revered since ancient times. |
| well-known and respected is the traditional Japanese | | | | Chinese Tea Ceremony |
| tea ceremony. | | | | This is another well known and incredibly respected |
| Japanese Tea Ceremony | | | | ceremony, as the art of drinking and serving tea plays |
| The ceremony itself takes place in a room that is | | | | a major cultural role in China. The Chinese Tea |
| designed and designated for tea, and it is better known | | | | ceremony is one which emphasizes the tea rather |
| as the chashitsu. This room is typically located within | | | | than the ceremony itself, and each step in the |
| the tea house, away from the residence, in the garden | | | | ceremony is meant to be a sensory exploration and |
| area. In terms of guests, the preferred number is four, | | | | appreciation. |
| although this may vary depending on the particular tea | | | | The teas that are typically used in this ceremony are |
| ceremony. | | | | particularly refined, such as oolong and red teas, and |
| One of the guests is chosen to be the main guest, and | | | | the style of tea drinking uses small cups to match the |
| they are then led, with the main guest in front, to a | | | | small, unglazed clay teapots that are used. These tiny |
| water sprinkled garden that is devoid of any flowers. | | | | cups are particularly popular in Fujian and Chiujao, in |
| Here the guests rid themselves of the dust of the | | | | southern coastal China above Canton. |
| world, and then seat themselves on the waiting bench, | | | | All tea ceremonies are significant and respected, and |
| or koshikake machiai, awaiting the approach of the | | | | each represents a different culture, a different part of |
| host who has the official title of being the house | | | | the world. Each is just as important as the next, even |
| master. | | | | though the traditions carried out within are very |
| Once inside the tea house, each guest is served a | | | | different from each other. |
| meal known as chakaiseki, which is served on a tray | | | | |