Samurai Journey: Tea Ceremony

Although dating back to between the 9th to 12th centuries (depending on which records you site), the Japanese Tea Ceremony was a critical part of Samurai life and tradition. Tea Masters, in fact, though typically not Samurai themselves, were actually permitted (along with sword-makers) to wear swords at their sides -- a privilege reserved otherwise only for Samurai -- and were highly sought after by Feudal Lords for their skills in conducting the beautiful but highly ritualized activities of serving Japanese Tea to guests (a very visible symbol of hospitality, respect and generosity).

For our time with Peri, we were introduced to three students of one of Chicago's renown Tea Masters, featured left to right in the above picture (Brian, Sarah and Christopher). Through the time together, we learned some fun and fascinating things:

* Japanese Tea is actually called matcha, and is served more as a thick "milk-shaky" liquid rather than what i have always thought of as "tea". What most of us think of as tea would be referred to by Japanese as "thin tea", and Buddhist monks in the mountains actually consume it "somewhat more akin to the thickness of pancake batter than anything else". It may sound strange, but the matcha was actually delightful, possessing a sweet and clean taste that possessed little of the bitterness i expected at those concentrations.

* Japanese tea accessories (such as the tea bowls) were highly prized as possessions, even to the point of extremity, and were highly guarded and passed down for generations. They were so valuable, in fact, that they were often used by Feudal Lords as ways of repaying valiant retainers or debts in lieu of land, castles or villages.

* The language used throughout the Tea Ceremony is an exchange of hospitality and generosity between the participants. When the tea is served, the server will always ask, "How is the temperature of the water?". In response, even if your lips are singed with 3rd degree burns, you are to respond, "The temperature is perfect!".

* Everything in the Tea Ceremony, when complete, is done in perfect reverse. You put the tea bowl down in exact reverse of how you picked it up. You exit the tea house in reverse of how you came in, even down to observing the flowers and tea accessories. When i asked why, the Tea Masters responded, "Because everything you touch or use should be replaced exactly as you found it. It is a principle for life, whether in relation to a neighbors's lawnmower or even the world in which we live. If you use something, return it in the same condition and position in which it was received." Pretty basic, huh? And yet, a great principle to live by.

Our Tea Master friends were great with Peri, carefully instructing her at each step of the ceremony and keeping the event fun and lively. Sami and i were astounded at the precision and efficiency of the ceremony, and developed a new appreciation for its mastery over time.