CHANOYU – Way of Tea

The history of tea dates back to the 3rd century BC, when it was first mentioned in written records. Initially treated as a medicine and strengthening agent for many years, it became a beverage as time went by. It was initially cultivated in China as a long-guarded secret of tea farmers. Tea was introduced to Japan in 729, when emperor Shōmu served it to one hundred monks in the Nara palace.

Bodhidharma, one of the founders of Zen, spent a full nine years meditating before he reached inner awakening. He was so tired that his heavy eyelids were falling over his eyes. He was unable to overcome it. Despite mortal fatigue, he wanted to keep his eyes open. So he pulled out his lids and tossed them to the ground. A beautiful bush sprang up in that place – tea. Afterwards, students would come to listen to his teachings and whenever they felt tired, they picked the flowers of that bush and brewed them in hot water.

The tea ceremony is an ascetic form of spending one’s free time which involves preparing and drinking green tea. The shape of the ceremony that has survived to this day, and is still practised, developed in the second half of the 16th century, initiated by the greatest master of ceremony – Sen no Rikyū. The purpose of the tea drinking ceremony was to cleanse the soul to achieve harmony with the world and nature.