Chado

Tea: A Tradition that Promises
to Bring Both Vigor and Tranquility
to the World
An Art long forgotten!

Chado
-- the way of tea ---
The four principles of Chado
Harmony
Respect
Purity
Tranquility



The Japanese tea ceremony is the serving of tea, ritualized over time and rooted in Zen Buddhism. Sen Rikyu formed the style of amusement to treat guests with tea in the 16th century. Rikyu formalized chado, the way of tea and identified the spirit of Chado with four basic Buddhist principles of "Wakei Sei Jayku"; harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. In chado the expression "One time, one meeting" (Ichigo, Ichie) also is used often to explain the chado sprit.
Once Rikyu was asked what is "the way of tea" and he replied, “These seven rules are all; Make a satisfying bowl of tea, Lay the charcoal so that it heats the water efficiently; Provide a sense of warmth in winter and coolness in summer; arrange the flowers as they are in the field; Be ready ahead of time; Be prepared in case it should rain; Act with utmost consideration toward your guests.” The Questioner was not saticified with his reply and said to Rikyu. "Those are simple matters that everyone can handle." Rikyu's responce was "Humans know what are simple things, yet cannot execute simple things efficiently. If you are able to carry them out efficiently, I will be your disciple."

The seven guidelines for Chado
1. Create the feeling of coolness in summer and warmth in winter.
2. Set the charcoal so that the water will boil
3. Arrange the flowers as if they were still in the fields.
4. Make tea so that it tastes good.
5. Do everything ahead of time. (Be prepared for the unexpected.)
6. Prepare for rain even though it is fine.
7. Keep in mind thoughtfulness to others.
From this well known story, The way of tea could be considered the art of living which emphasises the importance of season, inviting guests and prepares for the gathering with great care.


Funny how a cup of tea often helps to clear our minds and allows us to recollect our thoughts and plan ahead.

Any one for tea?