JAPANESE CULTURE- TEA CEREMONY

Japanese tea ceremony is a traditional ritual which is influenced by Zen Buddhism. There, powdered green tea is ceremonially prepared by a skilled practitionerand served to a small group of guests. the practitioner usually wears a kimona while guests may wear kimona or subdued formal wear. The tea cremony is usually celebrated in a seperated room and its called "chashitsu". Those tea rooms are usually small, a typical floor size being 4 1/2 the traditional floor is covered by "tatami" or mats of straw. Building materials and decorations are deliberately simple and rustic.

The utensils such as tea bowl(chawan) whisk(chasen) and tea scoop(chishaku) is ritually cleaned in the presence of the guests in the precise arrangement according to the rituals being performed when the ritual cleaning and preperation of he utensils is complete. The host will place a measured amount of green tea powder in the bowl and add the appropriate amount of hot water and whisk the tea using precise prescribed movements.

A tea ceremony can last between one hour and 4-5 hours depend
ing on the type of ceremony performed and the type of meal and tea served.