Tea Drinking Ceremony In Japan: History And How To Do It

Illustration of the tea drinking ceremony in Japan (Photo: Pixabay/rolandoemail)

YOGYAKARTA The tea drinking ceremony in Japan has been carried out thousands of years ago. This tradition is believed to be related to the Buddhist religion that has existed since the 9th century in Japan.

In Japan, the tea drinking ceremony is called Sadoo or Chanoyu. This tradition is done by the host when hosting guests in traditional style.

Summarized from various sources, the history of the tea-drinking ceremony in Japan began when a Buddhist monk from China named Zawu introduced tea to the frozen Saga Emperor from 809 to 823. However, at that time, tea had not received much attention from Japanese society.

Until a few hundred years later, in the Kamakura period (1191-1333), a Buddhist monk Zen from Japan named Eisai succeeded in introducing the culture of drinking tea to the wider community.

Eisai studied this culture while studying in China. According to Chinese tradition, tea is used to increase preparedness while meditation. Therefore, this tradition of drinking tea has an influence from the teachings of the Buddhist religion of the Zen sect.

Initially, the upaca of drinking tea in Japan was only carried out by the aristocrats and was used as one of the celebrations of the important events related to the aristocrats. Chanoyou was carried out in a special small room.

However, Sen no Rikyuu, a devout Buddhist Zen, became a new pioneer by bringing thoughts about simplicity into this ritual.

Rikyuu's thinking was supported by an influential aristocrat at that time. The aristocrat asked Rikyuu to be the bearer of the ceremony in the ceremony he held.

Until finally, Rikyuu's thoughts succeeded in making the chanoyu tradition continue to exist today.

How To Perform Tea Drinking Ceremony In Japan

How to do a tea drink ceremony in Japan varies. Depending on the place and time. However, generally the hosts and guests will bend over each other and then purify themselves in the stone tub by washing their hands and mouth with water.

Next, take off footwear before entering the tea room through a small door, and sit in a predetermined order.

Guests will be treated to food in several sessions, while accompanied by sweet sakes and snacks. After eating, there is a break that the host uses to arrange a series of flowers and prepare a tea drink ceremony.

The tea drinking ceremony can take hours, which starts with a kaiseki dish, followed by a bowl of thick tea and ends with a bowl of dilute tea.

But lately, most of the upaca for drinking tea has recently been shortened and limited to enjoying a bowl of dilute tea.

Now the tea drinking ceremony in Japan is practiced as a hobby. In addition, there are also places that tourists can enjoy.

This is information about the tea drinking ceremony in Japan. Hopefully this article can add insight to the loyal readers of VOI.ID.